The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1910-12-29
CHAPTER XVII.
THE OTHER SIDE or THE NOON.

THE next thing that Loveland
knew he was sitting In bog.
which felt quite soft and com
= fortable-so comfortable that
be at first believed himself TO be in
bed. waxing out OF bad dream. Then
with flash he remembered all that
had happened and scrambled up In a
cold sweat OF fear for lesley.
A cataract Of sparks which show
cred before his eyes dimmed his sight
at first. but In a moment he saw a
slight gray clad figure lying on the
ground not far away.
Lesley he cried. Lesley
But she neither stirred nor an.
swered.
Down he dropped on both knees be
side her and raised Der upon his arm.
Her eyes were closed. and through
the chiffon veil be could see The long
lashes dark on the pallor OF her cheeks
The ground where she lay was
spongy after a day OF heavy rain,
which had soaked through the thick
carpet Of dead grass deeply into the
earth. The girls position was easy.
giving Loveland the hope that no
bones were broken. and there was no
stain Of blood on the white face or
the soft brown hair. But she lay
very still. There was no fiutter Of
the eyelashes. no faint gasping FOR
breath.
Sick with fear that she might be
dead. Loveland's memory refused the
barrier between them. He was con-
sclous only Of his love for her.
"Dearest-preclous one-dnrlingl' no
called her. "For Gods sake. wake up
Speak TO me-only speak to me! Iloye
you sou
Instantly she opened her eyes wide.
shIvering little 10 bis arms. and look
ed up at him. half dazedly nc first
then smiling as a woman might who
has dreamed Of a distant lover and
wakes TO ind him near.
"rhank God you're not ieadT he
stammcred.
"And thai you're notr' she sn0varsd
family. "you-you're not much hurtT'
-Not at all. and II were It wouldn't
matter" Loveland assured her fervent-
~. IF only I hadn't let you drive or
II hadn't talked TO you! It's all my
fault. What shall do IL you're In.
juredy
T-rm all right and-and rather
happy whispered Lesley. II don't
think anything's the matter at oil. ex-
cept little shock"
"Let me lift you up for a minute. so
that we can make sure whether you
are hurt. said Val. "rll do It so gen
tly.-
"No. I'd rather lie still, Just as I
am" the girl answered.
would you be more comfortable II
laid your head on the groundT'
mo. keep Il on your arm. please !
like Il there. I feel as II Id been
dreaming she murmured on. II
dreamed that you--that you called me
your darling: that you said you loved
me-"
Forgive mc-' exclaimed Loveland.
"rcculdn't help II. was half mad"
Then Il wasn't a drcam7.
$40; II wasn't dreaiu.r he con.
fesscd. Even though you think me at
impostor you can't believe me a Who'll.
" unrcdeemed. villain or you wouldn't
have taken. me into your house. for
cbarity's sake though II was. SO you
must know now that you've nothing to
fear from my love-"
lis Il real lovc-tcll met" she asked.
her head nesting comfortably against
his arm
Its the realest thing about me-it's
grown TO be the whole Of me-" Love.
land broke out. Nothing else mat.
tiers. That's why I should have had
to kill myself n you'd been hurt-or--
but can't speak OF II. Thank God,
you're alive and not injured. Yes
thnt's enough for me--i,'s got 20 be
enough, and ought TO be happy
though you're going 10 belong to ON
other man,
"yop xon|dn.t avg Napied n W1{