Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1913-11-20
CHAPTER "
IN THE WAY OF LOVERS

Presently they went along the back
ward path, on n side the stubble and
oak groves silvered by the moon and
on the other the abysmal valley De-
yond the sumacs on the cliffs edge.
His arm was about her, and at times
she stopped him to look up into his
grave face, to brush back the curls
from his temples and tell her story.
She moved him with this trust; all
their secret nights together this amaz-
ing summer she had been a thing of
wild woods lightness, GAGE and gaiety,
a defying little Cinderella, proud Of her
beauty, eccentric in her dress and pos
ing. He had not stopped to think
where 1t would all end. His cool blood
of the east had never reckoned on
such passion as had, summer long,
famed in her; he could not guess that
she was thanking God for his strength
which held her purely, even While the
call of youth to youth was in her eyes.
hummer night and young night have
no morality, and either lust or virtue
is an easy thing, costing nothing Of
the price the years bring.
you'd come tonight! After the trial
and your father sent Papa John to
Jail. l hate him! 1 wanted to nate
you'll" She shivered in the moonlight;
then kissed him. "Ill never come again
and meet you here-oh boy I won't go
on loving you" She stood with closed
eyes. the black hair falling straight
giving her face the fxity of a peni-
tent. But in her hair she had put, as
always, a flower. He drew her to him
and kissed tire blossom, and she
struggled murmuring, IT'S not right
you know how weak 1 am and then,
tomorrow-next day-you'll go leave
me-"
'\Vil1 hirH " hn uvhfo~4-11 III IL
grave smile. while it's tonight, let's
not think of that" And at her quick
surrender in his arms. the curious re-
morseful rapture that had stung him
all this summer Of his vacation, meet
ing her here alone. came to him. BY
sertion of his blood and tradition-he
really could not love her, he reasoned;
yet by night he met her there and
laughing gave up to it and to her. He
tried to tell himself that it was all a
summer trysting, that she would for
get with the cooling days and he away.
But she had seemed %stupefied by this
miracle Of loving him, the complete
ness Of yielding. Her days she went
about in a dream, lying blithely for his
sake. protecting his name, living only
for the hour h could steal to the hills
and await him.
IT'S monstrous,' she cried, putting
iIIlii ~ Jdll. lld oIu Tic aldWVGTS SAN
we'd win for? It's bad enough to be
crippled, but to lose be impris-
oned. It's just devilish-your fathe,
and everything"
He muttered some patient phrase O.
his culture and understanding.
Dear heart, it's rough. But yo,
wouldn't understand. His own negli.
gence was part of the accident-that's
how the law holds it. And the law
my dear-the judge interprets that a:
he finds H."
What did Lafe Mason say wee
win for?"
He smiled ct the courage in he,
tone. It's a way they have. Mayb,
Mason thought he could win
Nobody could win against Tannel
in court
"Aurelie?" He shook her sternly. 1
she nae damned his paternity 1t would
not have hurt more. MY father Is tn,
judge, you must remember"
And he sent Papa John to jail-fol
nothing. For swearing? Why, I ca,
swear, too"
He smiled his patience. 'Linstron
committed the worst Of contempt"
Contempt. Who cares for that
Suppose you had lost-suppose tn
case meant everything to you? You
family at home, waiting-hungry. Har
Ian? Really hungry, and you saw yol
were crippled and cheated and don
for? There's times when Knute an,
/ have gone to school with no break
fast. and for lunch we dug wei but
ternuts from under the leaves. An,
ia go to school with a flower In N,
hair and laugh and nobody'd know
Just proud wouldn't even tell you.
"Aurelie-not hungry" There wa
horror In his tone. Not to have enougl
to cato his class and breeding
was disreputable.
She smiled up through her tear
Mon dieu. yes-but what OF that
Many times we've been hungry"
He was more shocked than she coul
J guess Hunger was a luxurious etat
of mind incident to picnics and III,
j letics- Cine reverf really met pG0pl
hungry from having nothing o @,