The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1911-11-29

AAfSN a. ACA uOOAs uOW much time II
took him to clear it way, he had no
idea. He had no thought but that he
must open a passage and get to her
dead or alive.
1t was not wise for him to expend
breath in cries, but until he had some
reply he could not keep silent. After
that, when her answer came to him.
he worked more quietly save for those
periods when he felt that he must
hear her voice to enable him to go on.
Such was the furious energy OF his
toll that by and by the great mass Of
rock was cleared away save one huge
boulder which fairly blocked the en-
trance. It was light outside now. A
gray dawn and full of storm. Through
the wider interstices she could see him
plainly. She knew now that her res
cue was only a matter of time. A
branch Of tree for a lever and his
strength would roll the rock away.
She started to tell him but he caught
a glimpse of her white face pressed
against a crevice and the sight in
spired him. With a great burst Of
strength. the like Of which possibly
had never been comprised by mortal
man since Samson pulled apart the
pillars Of the temple, he rolled the
great rock aside and stood in the en-
trance, gasping, painting. with out
stretched arms.
But step divided them. That step
she took. With a sob OF relief she
fell upon his breast, naturally. newt
ably. His splendid arms swept her
! close to him. Her own hands met about
his neck. With upturned face she
looked upon him in all the abandon
ment Of perfect passionate surrender
He bent his head and kissed her, the
first time in all his years that his lips
had been pressed upon another mouth
He chung to her there in that kiss as
II to make up in one moment for all
the neglected possibilities of the past
as II never in all the bringings forth
Of the future should such another op-
portunity be afforded him. He felt
for the first time in his life the beat
OF another human heart against his
own, the rise and fall Of another hui
man breast. the throbbing of another
human soul. Tighter and tighter
his arms strained her to him. She
gave herself up in that mad, delirious,
awful moment to the full flow Of long
checked passion, and kiss for kiss,
pressure for pressure, and heart beat
for heart beat, she made repsone-
1t was too much. II was the man
who broke away. There was nothing,
no experience, no remembrance to
teach him. 1t was all surprise. He
thrust her from him slowly Her hands
fingered about his neck. but his back
ward pressure would not be denied.
He held her at arms length, her hands
outstretched to him. her bosom pant
ing, her eyes shining, her cheeks
aaame in the gray dawn. Yielding,
giving up to him absolutely, yet some
thing, the magnificent metal Of the
man. the restraints through which he
had gone, the long battles with his
own passion. rose to his soul and gave
him mastery once more.
"Womanl woman!" he whispered
no mere local name would represent
her now. She was humanity to him
Woman" he whispered. my Cod
my Godl"
He turned away, sank down on one
of the great houlders that he had
thrown aside and buried his face in
his hands, his body shaking with emo
lions he could scarce define but well
understood. The woman threw herself
down on her knees before him and
took him once more In her arms.
Man" she said. Il love you"
She drew his hands away from his
face: she laid her own face in his
bleeding palm and kissed It.
"Man." she said. her lips wet with
his own blood in a sort Of wild, bar.
barrie sacrament. man. loveyou."
He stared at her as one distraught
He had dreamed Of this. he had mag
ined II, he had prayed for II. he had
hoped for II. but no revelation that
had come to him in the years Of their
association equaled In its binding
brillianey, in its intense illumination,
the revelation IN that woman's voice
in that woman's eyes. In that woman's
touch.
Man." she said again. Il love you
Do you understand Do you know
what It means?''
Then he found his voice. He took
her hand and pressed it against his
heart
q know" he whispered. Il under.
stand here"
He rose to his feet. stopped, caught
her By the shoulders and lifted her to
his level. A piece Of rock Ill bal
anced on the edge Of the cliff fell
crashing. The place was dangerous
Without a word he slipped his arm
beneath her. lifted her up As he might
have done a child and carried her Out
upon the sand away from the beetlin1
crags Of the rocky wall. She nestled
in his arms with a sense Of JOY and
satisfaction and helplessness cared fol-
so exquisite that It was almost pain
He sat her down presently on the
sand and knelt before her. The sun
light sprang through the gray haze
on the horizons edge and lighted her
face as he peered into It. Suddenly hs
threw himself prostrate before hel
and his lips upon her feet.
Not there. she whispered. laying
her hand upon his bent head. "bul
here. here in ny arms. upon ny heart
for Man. Man. love you
Then kneeling by her aide he tool
her once more within bis arms
"But you have not said she begaE
at last. that you loved me-"
There Is no word. he said. softly
in that speech that you have laugh
me which Is equal to what feel. Yo'
I. don't know how I have looked upoI
you and longed for you ever since yo'
made me know and feel that was
man with a mans soul Night afte
night have watched 5ou - you ven
70 your nook IN the rocka- But TIA
you have taught me honor and consid
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