Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-04-13
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|ARRlER
BY
REX BEACH
~ coPYRldMrleoe.lY HARPER q hR0MERS

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She pondered long and hesitated
modestly when she saw its low cut,
which exposed her neck and shoulders
In totally unaccustomed manner, for
1t struck her us amazingly indecent
until she scurried through her maya
zines again and saw that its construc-
ton, as compared with others, was
most conservative. Even so she shrank
at sight Of herself below the line Of
sunburn, for she was ringed about like
a blue winged teal, the demarcation
being more pronounced because Of the
natural whiteness Of her skin. She
sat down, dress and all, in the thick
softness Of great brown bearskin
and thought 1t over.
How odd 1t was, now that she con-
sidered 1t, that she needed no aid with
these alien garments; that she knew
instinctively their every feature; that
there was no intricacy to cause her
more than an fnstant's trouble.
She was interrupted in her reverie
by the passing Of a shadow across her
window and the stamp of mans feet
on the planks at the door. OF course
1t was Poleon, who had come back to
see her. So she rose hastily, gave one
quick glance at the mirror above her
washstand, choosing the side that dis
torted her image the least, and, hear
Ing him still stamping, perfunctorily
called:
Come in! I'll be right out"
She kicked the train into place be-
hind her, looping the shawl carelessly
about her in way to veil her modesty
effectively. She crossed proudly to the
reading table to give him fair view
Of her splendor and was in the mid
die Of the room before she looked up.
Taken aback. she uttered a little stran-
gled cry and made quick movement
Of retreat, only to check herself and
stand with her chin high in the air,
while wave after wave Of color swept
over her face.
"Great lovely dove" calculated Bur-
rell fervently, staring at her.
ooh, II thought you were Poleon.
He In spite of herself she glanced
toward her room as If to flee. She
writhed at the utter absurdity Of her
appearance and knew the lieutenant
must be laughing at her. But fight
would only make it worse. Burrell,
however, was not laughing.
II was looking for your father" he
said, wondering If this glorious thing
could be the quaint half breed girl of
yesterday. There was nothing Of the
native about her now, for her 1.-the
young figure was drawn up to its
height and her head, upon which the
long black braids were coiled, was
tipped back in naughty poise. She
had flung her hands out to, grasp the
table edge behind her, forgetful of her
shawl, which dropped traitorously and
showed such rounded lines as her Or
binary dress scarce limited at. This
was no Indian maid, the soldier vowed.
No blood but the purest could pulse in
such veins; no spirit save the highest
could fash in such eyes as these. A
Jealous rancor irked him at the
thought of this beauty intended for
the Frenchman's eyes.
"Can't you show yourself to me as
well as to PoleonT' he said.
Certainly notw she declared. "He
bought this dress for me, and put it
on to please him. After he sees it
will take it of, and
"Don't-don't take 1t off-ever," said
Burrell. IT thought you were beauti-
full before because Of your quaintness
and simplicity, but now'-his chest
swelled-"why, this is breath from
home. You're like my sister and the
girls back in Kentucky, only more
wonderful
Gam IT she cried eagerly. "Am
like other girls? Do really look as If
I'd always worn clothes like these?"
"Born to them," said he.
Her warmth and unaffected frank
ness suffused him as she stood out,
turning to show the beauties of her
gown, her brown hands futtering
TREMENDOUSLY as she talked.
cts my first party dress, you know,
and I'm as proud of it as Molly is Of
her rubber boots. It's too big In here
and too small right there That girl
must have had a bad chest. But 9TH
erwise it fits me as If it had been
made for me, doesn't 1t? And the
shoes-aren't they the dearest things !?
See" She held her skirts back, show
ing her two feet side by side, her
dainty ankles slim and shapely in their
silk.
'"They don't wear as we'll as mecca
SINS" Both laughed delightedly till he
broke in impulsively:
"Oh, girl. don't you know how beau
tiful you are?"
"Of course do,' she cried, Initiating
his change of voice, then added naive
~, That's why hate to take it or"
Where did you learn to wear things
like that?" he questioned. where did
you get that-well, that airw
ut seems to me I've always known.
There's nothing strange about 1t. The
buttons and the hooks and the eyes are
all where they belong. It's instinct, I
suppose, from fathers side"
Probably. dare say should un-
derstand the mechanism of a dress