The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-07-06
Copyright, 1909, by Albert Payson Terhune
 

l
 wore vest to-day"
 Why? Oh, you're coIdi You need
 this"
 ..No. I'd like it to roll up into a
 An this fre'n stay goin' all night ii
 I feed it up once or twice before morn in'."
 He picked up one of the longer
 boughs and swung it onto the blaze The sweep of his arm sent the end ot | the branch against Desiree She was
 rising from her tree-stump seat, at the
 moment; and the impact of the strong swung bushy end of the bough threw her off her balance. Not in the least
 hurt, she nevertheless lost her footing Ii and fell, with exclamation of dis
 may, to the ground.
 | At her cry, Caleb turned. Realizing
 that he had knocked her down and
 fearful lest she be badly bruised by | the blow. he sprang forward; and with
 a volley of loud self-reproach, lifted | her to her feet.
 The grip of his powerful arms gave | Desiree a sense of utter peace and pro- | lection. That and something more. | Something she could not-would not
 analyze. Unresisting she let her body
 rest inert in his mighty grasp the frac- t1on of an instant longer than was | perhaps really needful.
 And in that atom of time the mis- chief was made.
 i Conover was staring down at her in eager solicitude; still begging her to tell him if she were hurt. She looked | up, and their eyes met Hers were | sick with a love that transfgured her. And before their gaze. Conover's heavy
 face went blank; then filled with a light of wonder and utter rapture that fairly frightened the girl.
 His arms frightened about her in clasp that robbed her Of breath.-and
 of all will to breathe. She felt herself crushed against the mans chest and a yUo hYrr iad fr1 ecstatic kisses. Kisses wildly awk- ward and vehement: those of a man unused to giving or receiving caresses
 Kisses that kindled in the girl a swift bliss that blinded,-eflthralled her.
 For a moment Desiree stood move less, leaning back Imply in the iron arms that bound her to her lovers
 breast. His kisses rained down on her rapt, white face; upon her wide, starry eyes, her loosened hair.
 Then with a gasDing murmur of joy she could not put into words, she sud- denly threw her arms about Conover's thick neck and gave him kiss for kiss. The rank scent of tobacco upon his lips,-the brist1e of a day-o1d beard the ugly face itself with it's undershot jaw, it's square, crude masSiveness- all these things were nothing. Behind them she read and g1oried in the. love that blazed in the Fighters pale eyes. That was all she saw,-had ever seen would ever see.
 Whether for a minute or for cen tury the two stood clasped heart to heart, soul to soul, neither could ever remember. At last the great arms re- leased her. The triumphant love that Shone in COnovers face was again tinged with wonder that was almost reverence.
 ''Why in blazes didn't we know this before?" he demanded, hoarse and shaking.
 Speak for yourself,' sobbed the girl T'JrnE Enn al aIr a1xx Ever since was a child. Every min ute since then. There's just been you, Nothing. else counted. And-and you never!''
 Never cared?" he uueried. Girl, I've cared so much it was the life of me An because it was the life lived an tEe breath breathed. didn't even guess it. Never once. Oh it's like I'd folded. Why didn't you tell me? Why wasn't it like this two years ago? Dey, if I'd known-if I'd understood felt that way 'bout you. I'd a'-no, I wouldn't, either. I'd a kep' away for fear of breakin' my heart. For it wouldn't a seemed possible you could love me. Say you love me, girlr' he ordered, fiercely. Say it over an over-a lot of timesi'
 Love your" murmured Desiree. her SObS dying away. Love yOu?- Why,-"'
 With a sudden passion of adoration she flung her arms again about his neck, straining him close to her. She could not speak. She could only press her soft, hot face close-ever so close to his rough cheek; and cling fast to him as though she feared he might vanish, dreamlike, from her clasp.
 When you went away" he con tinifed after a divine, silence. cit was like the heart of me had been torn out. I didn't know what ailed me. I thought it was a. craze to work An | I worked till set all Granite to totter- in. An all the time it was you,-you! | Then when I saw you again, there at | the station in the mist. it seemed like l I'd come home l wanted to catch hold | of your dress an beg you never to get | out of my sight again. An I was | ashamed of feelin' that way. an I was afraid you'd find out an laugh at | me. I was wild in love with you, girl, | an I never knew it. Did-did you know I waS?"
 q always knew it." she whispered. | CT knew you loved me. That you cared | almost as much as I cared. But you never even suspected. And.-oh, how could I tell you?"
 Again they were silent for a space. Then she said, a little timidly:
 "God meant us for each other, dear love. I believe in such things. And so must you. And we have found | top of the world. Just as He meant us to- Oh, I must be good-so good-if I an, to deserve all this.''
 Deserve 20 he echoed in choked | amaze. "Girl. you make ne feel like | hidin' my head somewhere. What is there in all this for you? I'm a rough chap that most folks look down on. an the rest don't look at, at all. I got nothin' but my money Dey, I got you! An I'm the happiest man that ever got lest in this measly. heavenly wilderness. It ain't true An presently I'll wake up. But while it lasts"
 Tt will last forever, darling," she Forever and a day. We couldn't be brought together like this just to be parted again. Even Fate couldn't be as cruel as that. Tell me why you didn't know you loved me when you used to talk about marryirg-someone elSe,-I had to bite my lips to keep from calling to can't. It's I you love!'"