Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1912-01-10


be about he swerved his horse toward
her, his arm went around her sud-
denly. Taken completely off her guard
she could make no resistance, indeed
she scarcely knew what to expect un-
til he crushed her to him and kissed
her, almost roughly, full on the lips.
How dare you," cried the girl, her
face aflame, freeing herself at last.
and swinging her own horse almost to
the edge Of the road which here ran
on an excavation some fifty feet above
the river.
How dare II" laughed the auda-
cious man, apparently no whit
abashed by her indignation. when 1
think Of my opportunity 1 am amazed
at my moderation"
Your opportunity; your modera-
tion?"
Eyes, when had you helpless
took but one kiss; l might have held
you longer and taken hundred"
"And by what right did you take
that one?" haughtily demanded the
outraged young woman, looking at
him beneath level brows while the
color slowly receded from her face.
She had never been kissed by a man
other than blood relation in her
life-remember, suspicious reader,
that she was from Philadelphia,-and
she resented this sudden and unau-
thorized caress with every atom and
instinct Of her still somewhat conven-
tional being.
But aren't you half way engaged to
me?" he pleaded in justification, see
Ing the unwonted seriousness with
which she had received his impudent
advance. Didn't you agree to give
me CHANGER"
Il did say that I liked you very
much" she admitted, mo man better,
and that thought that you might"
"Well, then" he began.
But she would not be interrupted.
II did not mean that you should en-
joy all the privileges of a conquest be-
fore you had won me. l will thank
you not to do that again, sir"
1T seems to have had a very diff
rerent effect upon you than it does
upon me-" replied the man coolly. 81
loved you before, but now, since I
have kissed you, worship you"
ut hasn't affected me that way" re-
torted the girl promptly, her face still
frowning and indignant. Not at all,
and"
Forgive me, Enid" pleaded the
other. Il just couldn't help it. You
were so beautiful 1 had to. 1 took the
chance. You are not accustomed to
our ways"
us this your habit in your love af-
fairs?" asked the girl swiftly and not
without spice of feminine malice.
Il never had any love affair be-
FORE" he replied with ready mascu-
line mendacity, "at least none worth
mentioning. But you see this is the
west; we have gained what we have
by demanding every inch that nature
offers, and then claiming the ALL
That's the way we play the game out
here and that's the way we win
"But have not yet learned to play
the game as you call it, by any such
rules" returned the young woman de-
terminedly, ''and it is not the way to
WIN me III i am the STAKE.
What is the way?" asked the man
anxiously. "Show me and I'll take it
no matter what it's difficulty"
"Ahs for me to point out the way
would be to play traitor to myself"
she answered, relenting and relaxing
you must find 1t without assistance.
can only tell you one thing"
And what is that?"
you do not advance toward the
goal by such actions as those OF a
moment since"
Look here" said the other sudden
ly. II am not ashamed of what did,
and I'm not going to pretend that l
am, either"
You ought to be-" severely.
We'll, maybe so, but I'm not; I
couldn't help it any more than 1 could
help loving you the minute saw you.
Put yourself in my place."
''But I am not in your place, and l
can't put myself there. do not wish
to. If it be true, as you say, that you
have grown to-care so much for me
and so quickly"
''If it be true?" came the sharp in
terruption as the man bent toward
her, fairly devouring her with his bold,
ardent gaze.
well, since it is true" she admit
ed under the compulsion of his pro-
test. THAT fact is the only possible
excuse for your action"
you find some justification for me,
them"
mo, only a possibility, but whether
it be true or not, 1 do not feel that
way-yet."
There was a saving grace in that
last word, which gave him little
heart. He would have spoken, but
she suffered no interruption, saying:
II have been wooed before, but"
True, unless the human ~ace has
become suddenly blind" he said softly
under his breath.
"But never in such ungentle ways"