Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1910-08-11
CHAPTER XII.
Tho conselenee oulokened.

TIC NtuiChCHGOs
They had spent the morning to.
gether, but not as usual. Things were
different, conditions had changed. For
the first time in years the daily lesson
which she had given him was inter
mitted. To-day they were both at
school with Love for preceptor and
such willingness In their hearts as
made them ideal pupils. The storm
had died away as suddenly as it
had arisen. No visible evidence of 1t
was left save the tremendous thunder
of the long undulating seas upon the
outward barrier. The earthquake had
not greatly damaged the island, the
fallen cliff, a few PROSTATE palms here
and there, that was all. But there was
visible evidence in them Of the storm
through which they had passed and
which still held them in its throes,
in the tumult of their souls.
To the man the experience of the
morning was absolutely new and to
the woman 1t was so different from
what had hitherto transpired that it
was practically so. They luxuriated
in their emotions. They sat side by
side, hand in hand; they walked to-
gether, hand in hand. Yet it was the
woman who was the holder, the
woman who made the advances. The
man was not passive. Kiss for kiss,
look for look, word for word, touch
for touch, he gave, but the initiative
was hers not his. He was putting a
constraint of steel upon himself. Sha
saw that and was glad. 1t made her
bold. Womanlike she tried and tested
the blade that she had forged again
and again, growing daring in her im-
munity, Drawer in her trust.
They stood in one part Of their wan
derings before the door of what had
been her cave. Hand in hand they
looked down upon the heap of rocks
that he had torn away. It was moth
ing to him; to her 1t was incredible,
She could better estimate what human
strength was capable of than he. She
had standards of comparison which he
lacked.
at cannot be possible that you lifted
that boulder and that one, alone?" she
said, gazing at him wonderingly.
"At that moment, to release you,
could have torn the rock asunder," he
cried, throwing out his arms in a mag
nificent gesture Of strength and force
She caught his hand with her own
and once more pressed her lips with
in his palm.
Il don't know now to say how much
l love you," she cried.
Say that you win try to care as
much for me as for you and / viii
be content" he answered.
And so there was pretty rivalry
between them as to which loved the
more. In the midst of the strife o.
tongues the woman spoke. She could
not keep away from the subject.
"You love me-" she said at last, "be
cause you think me more than am
because" she ran on In spite OF hiI
protesting gesture, checking HIS deny
ing word, because you have seen M
other woman, because"
Il will not hear another word" h
cried, finding voice at last and stop
ping her. Il know not woman or MAJ
save as / know you and myself, saw
as you have taught me by the womei
Of whom you have read me in tina
single book we have. the women o
whom you have told me who hav'
played their parts In the world. Az
Of them together are not like you.1
'sThat Is because am alive ami
here and they are dead and away
Il ero IN coNrIHuEDA