Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1909-06-18

honest English language out OF shape
and meaning. knew should have
to laugh sooner or later. That's your
Dixie chlvalry, suppose. Well, I've
PLAYED with you long enough. Lieu
tenant Burrcl I'm tired of the game,
and you interest me no longer"
"You-you-say you've been playing
with met" stammered the man. The
bottom OF things seemed suddenly to
slide from under him. He was like
one sinking in some hideous quagmlre.
He felt as If he were choking.
"Why, Of course" she cried scorn-
fully, "just as you took me up for
amusement. You were such Il fine,
well dressed, immaculate mound OF
conceit that couldn't resist the temp
tation. and YOU hid your condescension
so poorly that thought you ought to
be taken down peg. knew | was
squaw, but wanted to see II were
not like other women, after all, and II
You were not like other men," She
was talking rapidly now. almost
shrilly, for she had never attempted to
act before, while he stood daZed ano
speechless, fumbling at bis throat
while she rallied at him. "You needn't
waste time debating whether I'm good
enough for you, because I'm not-de-
cldedly I'm not your kind, and you are
a joke to me-"
He uttered an inarticulate cry, but
she ran on unheedlng, her eyes wide
and glowing like Goals, her lips chalk
white. You see, it's time ! stopped
such foolishness anyhow. for I'm to
be married on Sunday"
"You arc going to be marrledT' be
muttered laboriously.
"Yes, TO Poleon. Why. that's been
understood for years"
He whirled upon the Canadian In
fury. and his words came hot and tum-
bling
"D-don't blame himv cried the girl
historically. at is all my doing. He
had no part in it."
"Yes," said Doret in a restrained
voice, "dis ain no work of mine"
you're liarw breathed the Ken
tuckian. now fairly wild with anger,
but the other looked him squarely be-
tween the eyes and made no move.
"M'sieu'." he cried. I'm livln' forty
year an never took no nam lax dat
before, but dcre's reason here wy l
can't max no answer"
"Why. you aren't really angry, lieu
tenant| Knocked Necia. ITS only the
Joke of an ignorant half breed girl
whose sense Of humor IS all out Of
gear. You mustn't quarrel over a
.quaw!'
She tainted him like balted badger,
for this thing was getting beyond her
control. and the savage instincts Of the
wilderness were uppermost.
"Ycu are quite right" he replied. -
am very foolish, and the laugh is with
you" His lips tried to frame smile.
but failed. He bowed low and. turning.
walked cut
The moment he was gone she cried
breathlessly:
You must marry me, Poleon. You've
got to do it noww
do you mean dat for sure?" he said.
Cant you see there's nothing else
for 1t after this? I'll show him that he
can't make me toy to suit his conven-
fence. I've told him | would marry
you on Sunday, and III do 1t or die. Of
course you don't love me, for you don't
know what love is, | suppose. How
could you" She broke down and be-
gan to catch her breath amid coughing
sobs that shook her slender body
though they left her eyes dry and fe-
verish. Tim very unhappy, b-but
I'll be a good-wife to you. Oh. Poleon
if you only knew
lie drew a long breath. When he
spoke his voice bad the timbre of some
softly played instrument. and trenor
ran through his words.
no! | don know wat kin Of love
10 dis, for sure. De kin of love