Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-04-21

ering with words and caresses some
thing that had striven with him to be
heard. something that instead of
dying grew stronger the more utterly
this innocent maid yielded to him. 1t
was as if lie had ridden impulse with
rough spurs in fierce desire to dis
lance certain voices and in the first
mad gallop had lost them. but now far
back heard them calling again more
strongly every moment. A mans hon.
or If old may travel feebly. but its
about his people that had raised this
uneasiness and indecision. he thought
Why had lie ever started 1t?
"The marvellous part of it ALL" con-
tinued the girl. sis that it will never
end. ! know ! shall love you always.
Do you suppose am really different
from other girls?'
Everything is different tonight-the
whole world" he declared impatiently.
1--WE had big handicap" she said.
'but you must help me to overcome it
I want to be like your sister"
He rose and piled more wood upon
the fire. What possessed the girl? 1t
was as If she knew each cunning joint
Of his armor. as If she had realized her
peril and had set about the awakening
of his conscience deliberately and with
cautious wisdom beyond her years.
Well. she had done 1t, and lie swore to
himself Then he melted at the sight
of her. crouched there against the
shadows. following his every move
ment with her soul in her eyes, the
tenderest trace of smile upon her
lips.
When she beheld him gazing at her
she tilted her head sideways daintily,
like little bird.
"Oh. my! What fierce you are all
ut once!'
Her smile flashed up rs If illumined
by the leaping blaze and he crossed
quickly. kneeling beside her.
He piled up a great sweet scented
couch of springy boughs and fashioned
her pillow out of bundle of smaller
ones. around which he wrapped his
khaki coat: then lie removed her high
laced boots and taking her tiny feet.
one in the pnlmiof either hand. bowed
his head over them and kissed them
with n sense of her grarinus purity
and his own unwortlineSs lie spread
one Of the big gray blankets over her
and tucked her in while she sighed in
delightful lanGu'S. looking up ut him
all the time.
an sit here beside you for awhile. .
he said. 81 want To smoke ~ hit"
At times Il great desire To feel her
in his arms. to have her IN his breast.
surged over him. for he had lived long
apart from "G.4I;'s.. ....,. III, solitude OF
the night seemed! ~ meek him. He
was a strons NAN. and in his veins
ran the blood of hayward forbears
who We're wont to possess that which
they conquered in the lists of love
mingled With which was the blood OF
spirited southern women who had on
occasion loved not wisely. according to
Kentucky runlor but only too we'll
Nevertheless they were honest men
and women. If oversentimental, and
had transmitted to him heritage OF
chivalfy and II high sense of honor and
courage. Her love had placed bar.
rier between them greater and more
insurmountabic than her blood.
He gently withdrew his fingers from
her grasp and. seeing the other side OF
the wicliiup. covered himself over
without disturbing her and fell asleep
1t was early dawn when Necia crept
to him.
II dreamed you had gone away" she
said, shivering violently and drawing
close. "Oh. it was terrible awaken.
ing
Il was too tired to dream" he said.
$50 / had to come and see il you
were really here"
He quickly rekindled the fire, and
they made hasty breakfast. Before
the warmth of the rising sun had pen.
etrated the cold air they had climbed
the ridge and obtained wondrous
view of broken country. the hills
alisht with the morning rays. the val.
leys misty and mystical
II wish Stark was not one of Lees
party" he said once He may mis-
understand our being together this
way"
But when he learns that we love
each other hat will explain every
thing"
Il am not so sure He doesn't know
you as Lee and Poleon and your ia
Their do think we had better say
nothing at all ahout-yon and me-to
any one"
They chung to the divide for several
hours. then descended into the he'd of
q stream. which they followed until 1t
Joined larger one Il couple of miles
below. and there. sheltered In II grove
of whispering frs. rhey found Lees
cabin nesting in a narrow. forked val.
r q Il j.