The Holly chieftain., 1909-05-28
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turu toOStu HIS uhN tI iuitlrS hhsV-
rial. He ragged about the room like
wild animal and vented his spite on
every inanimate thing that lay within
reach. As yet his mind grasped but
duly the fact that she was to marry
another. but gradually this Thought In
turn took possession of him. She
would be some one else's wife In TWO
days. The thought drove the lover
frantic, and he felt that madness lay
that way If he dwelt on such fancies
for long.
AS he grew calmer his reason began
to dissect the scene that had taken
place in the store. and he wondered
whether she had been lying to him.
after all No doubt she had been en-
gagged to the Frenchman and had al
ways planned to wed Poleon. for that
was not out of reason. She might
even have set out mischievously to
amuse herself with him. but at the
recollection of those rapturous hours
they had spent together he declared
ajOud that she had loved him. and him
only. Every instinct in him shouted
that she loved him in spite OF her
cruel protestatfons
A man came with his supper. but he
called to him to begone. There are
those who believe that In passing from
daylight to darkness a subtle transi-
ton occurs akin to the change from
positive to negative In an electrical
current and that this intangible. un-
traceable atmospheric influence exerts
q definite psychicnl effect upon men
and their modes Of thought. Be this
as 1t may, 1t Is certain that as the
night grew darker the lieutenant's
mood changed. He lost his fierce an
ger at the girl and reasoned that he
owed 1t to her to set himself right In
her eyes; that In all justice to her he
ought to prove his own sincerity.
An up river steamboat was just land
ing as he neared the trading post-a
freighter, as he noted by her lights.
In the glare at the river bank he saw
POleon and the trader, who had evil
IDENTITY returned from Lees creek. and
without accostlng them he hurried on
to the store. Peering In from the dark
ness, he saw Alluna. No doubt Necia
was alone in the house behind. So he
stumbled around to the back to find
the window OF her room aglow behind
Its curtain, and, receiving no answer
to his knock, he entered, for 1t was
customary at Gales to waive cere-
mony. Inside the big room he paused,
then stepped swiftly across and rap
ped at her door, falling back pace as
she came out.
Instead of speaking at once. as he
had planned. to prevent her escaping.
he was struck speechless,. for the
vision that met his eyes was that
which he had seen one bla4he spring
morning three months before. but to
night there was no shawl to conceal
her sweetly rounded neck and sh0ul-
ders. whose whiteness was startling
against the black Of the ballroom
gown. The slim gold chain hung
around her neck. and her hair was
piled high, as before. He noted every
smallest detail as she stood there wait
ing for him to speak, forgetful Of ev-
erything else.
She had put on the gown again to
see II perchance there might be some
mark of her blood or breed that had
escaped her previous scrutiny, and. as
there was no one to observe her. she
had attired herself slowly. absorbed
in her whimsy. Her wistful beauty
dazed the young man and robbed him
of the words he had rehenrsed. but as
she made to flee from him. with q
pitiful gesture. toward her room the
fear Of losing her aroused him and
spurred his wit.
Don't go away! l have something
must tell you. I've Thought 1t over.
and you've got to listen, Necia."
II am listening" she answered very
quietly.
"Understand me, I'm not whining,
and I'm willing to take my medicine.
couldn't talk or think very straight
this afternoon. hut you were wrong
Eyes. know now was wrong. 1t
was most unladylike. wasn't 1t? But,
you see. I am only little savage"
II don't mean that. mean you were
wrong when you said l had played
with you. In the sight of God, swear
you We're mistaken. You have made
me love you. Necia. Can't you see"
She made no sign.
IF YOU can't owe 1t to you and to
myself to set you right. ] am not
ashamed to acknowledge my love- and
even when you are married to Poleon