The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-05-01
CHAPTER XXI,

when he holds her handi"
CHAPTER XXI.
VIVA. wi6Tou Take,
When Dan. on the minute Of two,
went to the Savoy, Higgins. as was
her custom. did not meet him. Miss
Lane met him herself. She was read.
leg 9 E lsttsE bY ths table: End when
Dan was a6n6lnced she fut Il back In
its envelope. Blair had seen her only
tn soft clinging dresses, In white Wis
lonary clothes. or in her dazzling part
costume, where the play dress of the
dancer displayed her beauty and her
charms. Today she wore a tailor.
made gown. and in her dark cloth
dress. In her small hat, she seemed a
new woman-some one he hadn't
known and did not know, and he ex-
penenced the thrill man always feels
when the woman he loves appears in
IN unaccustomed dress and suggests a
new mystery.
"Oh. I say! You're not going out.
are you?"
In the lapel Of her close little coat
was flower he had given her. He
wanted to lean forward and kiss It as
1t rested there: She assured him:
II have Just come in; had an early
lunch and took a long walk-think Of
1t! haven't taken walk alone since
can remember!"
Her walk had given ner only the
ghost Of flush, which rose over her
delicate skin. fading away like a furl.
Ing flag. Her frailness, her slender
ness. the air of good breeding her
dress gave her, added to Dams deep
ening emotions. She seemed infinite.
ly dear. and thing to be protected
and fostered.
Cant you sit down for a minute?
I've come to make you real CALL"
"Of course" she laughed. But.
first, l must answer this letter"
His jealousy rose and he caught
hold Of her hand that held the enve-
lope. Look here, you are not to
write It II It Is to that damned scoun-
drel. took you away from him last
night and you are never to see him
! again."
For the first time the two really
| looked at each other. Her lips part.
ed as though she would reprove him,
and the boy murmured
That's all right. I mean what
say-never to see him again! Will
. you promise me? Promise mel can't
bear It! l won't have it,"
film Of emotion crossed his clear
young eyes and her slender hands
were held fast In his clasp. His face
was beautiful In its tenderness and in
righteous anger as he bent 1t on
, her. Instead Of reproving him as she
had done before, instead Of snatching
away her hands, she swayed, and at
the sight OF her weakness his eyes
cleared, and the film lifted like q cur.
tain. She was not fainting, but, as
her face turned toward his, he saw 1t
transformed, and Dan caught her in
her dark dress. the flowers in her bod.
Ice, to his heart. He held her as II
he had snatched her from q wreck and
in safe embrace lifted her high to
the shore Of coral strand. He kissed
her. first timidly, wonderingly, with
the sacrament Of first love on his
lips. Then he kissed her as his heart
bade him, and when he set her free
she was crying. but the tears on his
p; face were not all her tears.
Little boy, how crazy, how perfect.
Iy crazy! Oh, Dan-Dan!"
She clung to him. looking up at
him just as his boy-dreams had told
him girl would look some day. Her
face was suffused and softened, her
hps-her coral-red. fine. lovely lips
were trembling, and her eyes were
as gray, as profound as those seas
his imagination had longed TO explore
Made poet for the first time In his
life. as his arms were around her. he
whispered: You are all my dreams
come true. If any man comes near
you III kill him just as sure as fate
I'll kill HIM"
Hush, hush! | told you you were
crazy, We're both perfectly mad.
have tried my best not 10 come TO this
with you. What would your father
say? Let me go. let me go; I'll call
Higgins"
The boy laughed aloud. the laugh Of