Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-03-09

and the sight of the dim-set stars. His
haste now became something crying that
dashed him fiercely, for he seemed to be
standing still, and so began to mutter
at the crawling stream and to complain
of his thews, which did not drive him
fast enough, only the sound he made was
more like the whine of hound in leach
or a wolf that runs with hot nostrils
close to the earth.
Runnion drove his Peterborough to-
wards the shore with powerful strokes,
and ran it's nose up on the gravel, rose,
stretched himself. and dragged it farther
out, then looked down at Necia.
well, what is it, yes or no? Do you
want me for a husband, or for a mas
ter?" She covered in the stern, a pale,
fearful creature. finally murmuring:
''You-you must give me time"
mot an another hour. Here's where
you declare yourself; and remember,
don't care which you choose, only you'd
better be sensible"
She cast her despairing eyes up and
down the river, then at the wilderness
on either shore; but 1t was as silent and
unpeopled as if 1t had been created that
morning. She must have time; she would
temporize, pretending to yield, and then
betray him to the first conner; promise
exacted under duress would not be bind
ing.
'In go quietly" she said, in faint
voice.
II knew you'd see that I'm acting
square. Comet Get the cramp out OF
yourself while 1 make pot Of coffee
He held out his hand to assist her, anu
she accepted it. but stumbled as she
rose, for she had been crouched in one
position for several hours, and her limbs
were stiff. He caught her and swung
her ashore; then, instead of putting her
feet TO the ground, he pressed her to
himself roughly and kissed her. She
gave a stifled cry and fought him off,
but he laughed and held her the closer.
"Ain't l good for one kiss? Say, this
is the deuce of an engagement. Come
now"
mo, no. no." she gasped, writhing like
a wild thing; but he crushed his lips to
hers again and then let her go, whereup-
on she drew away from him painting,
dishevelled. her eyes wide and filled with
horror She scrubbed her lips with the
back of her hand as If to erase his
mark while he reached into the canoe
and brought forth an axe, bundle of
fod and a coffee-pot; then, still chuckling,
he gathered a few sticks of driftwood
and built a fire. She had a blind instinct,
to fee, and sought for means of es-
cape, but they were well out upon the
bar that stretched a distance of three
hundred feet to the wooded bank; on
one side of the narrow spit was the
scarcely moving, half stagnant water of
a tiny bay or eddy, on the other the
swift, gliding current Juggling at the
beached canoe, while the outer end of the
gravelled ridge dwindled down to nothing
and disappeared into the river. At sight
Of the canoe a thought struck her, but
her face must have shown some sign of
IT, for the man CHANGED to look at the
moment, and, seeing her expression,
Strengthened himself, then gazed about
searchingly. Without a word, he stepped
to the boat, and, seizing it, dragged it
entirely out upon the bar, where her
strength would not be equal TO showing
II off quickly, and, not content with this,
he made the painter fast, then went back
to his fire The eagerness died out of
her face, but an instant later, when he
turned TO the clearer water of the eddy
TO fill the coffee-pOt, she seized her
chance and sped up the bar toward the
bank The shingle under foot and her
noisy skirts betrayed her, and with an
oath he followed. 1t was an unequal
race, and he handled her with rough,
strong hands when he overlook her.
so! You lied TO me! Well, I'm through
with this foolishness. If you'll go back
on your word like this you'll 'bawl me
cut before the priest, so I'll forget my
promise, too, and you'n be glad of the
/ chance to marry me-"
l. Let me gog' she painted. I'll marry
you. Yes, yes, I'll do it, only don't touch
me now!
( He led her back to the fire, which had
begun to crackle. She was so weak now
that she sank upon the stones shivering.