The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-08-20

] ne must always go on with the battl,
for the safeguarding of that manhoot
the consciousness Of which she ha,
. aroused.
All he knew was that. through the
medium of his love for her, whatever
In him of the spiritual remained OF
had been generated, was now awake
alive, strong. vital. indestructible-ar
impalpable current flowing from q
sane intelligence, through medium OF
her, back to the eternal truth, return.
Ing always. always, to the deathless
source from whence 1t came.
Lingering over the fruit the cham
payne breaking in the glasses stand
ing on the table between them, rim to
rim, Leila and Plank had fallen into
a low, desultory. yet guarded exchange
of words and silences.
Sylvia sprang up and pushed ner
chair into the farther corner against
the balcony rail, where no light fell
except the radiance of the stars. Here
siward Joined her, dragging his chair
around so that 1t faced her as she
! leaned back. tilted against a shadowy
| column.
! In the darkness his hand encounter
ed hers on the wooden rail, and the
tremor Of the contact silenced her.
She freed one finger. then let 1t rest
with its slender fellow prisoners.
There was no use in trying to speak
just then-utterly useless her voice In
the soft, rounded throat imprisoned by
the swelling pulses that frightened and
hammered and frightened.
Years seemed to fall away from her
slipping back. back into girlhood, into
childhood, drawing not her alone on
the gliding tide, but carrying him with
her. An exquisite languor held he
Drifting deliciously. her eyes some
times meeting his, sometimes lost in
the magic OF her reverie, she lay there
in her chair. her unresisting fingers
locked In his.
Odd little thoughts came lowering In
to her reverie-thoughts that seemed
distantly familiar, the direct, uncon-
scious impulses of a child To feel
was once more the only motive for
expression: to think fearlessly was
once more inherent; to desire was to
demand. unlock her lips, naively, and
ask for whrt she wished.
Under the spell she turned her blue |!
gaze on him, and her lips parted with
out q tremor.
what do you offer for what you I
ask? And do you still ask it? Is II
me you are asking me for? Because
you love me? And what do you give
lover
"Weigh 1t with the-other," he said
IL have-often-every moment since
have known you. And what win
teri! Her voice was almost inaudible.
'What winter-without your
"That hell is ended for me too. Syl-
via, know what l ask. And ask
know what offer. Win you take it?" !
Eyes" she said.
He rose blindly. She stood up. pale
wide eyed, confronting him. stamme'
ng out the bargain:
81 take all-all, every virtue, every
rice Of you. give all-all, all ! have
been, all / am, all | shall be! Is that
Oh, If there were only more
o give! Stephen. If there were only
more"
Her hands had fallen into his, and
hey looked each other in the eyes.
Suddenly through the hush of the
nchanted moment sullen sound
,roke, the sound of voice they knew,
raised, louder and loud
r, growing, profanely menacing.
Aghast, they turned in the darkness,
eering toward the lighted space be-
ond. Leroy Mortimer, his face shock
ugly congested. stood unsteadily bal
ncing there, confronting his wife, who
at staring at him in horror. AT the
anne instant Plank rose and laid 6
and on MOrtimer's shoulder, but Nor !,
mer shook him off with warning :,
ath. 6
"You and | will settle with each 9th !
+ tomorrow he said thickly, pointing r
puffy finger at Plank. You'll frd \
le at the Algonquin Trust. DO you
ear? That's where you'll settle this !,
latter-in the presidents office" He :,
God swaying and leering at Plank. !,
,peating loudly: "In Quarters office!
Understand? That's where you'll set -
e upl Seer
Leila, white face quivering, shrank ~
though he had struck her, and he N,
lrned on her again, grinning: "As for
,u, you come home! And that'll be =,
1out all for yours" Ia
Are you insane to make a scene
re this?" said Plank.
But Mortimer swung on him insult
gly and said: That's about all from
III, Leila. are you coming"
He stepped heavily toward her ~;
ank's sudden crushing grip was or We
5 fat arm above the elbow. and ne eX
1itted n roar of surprise and pain. bit
Don't touch him! Don't, In heaN- =
g Manner stammered Leila as Plank, WI
leasing him, stepped back beside her so'