The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1913-01-17
Love That Was Stanch.

The plaintive note drove all doubt
from his mind. His dream had come
true. She was incomparably fairer
than his waking hours had pictured
her during the five years Of proba-
ton; only in fond dreams had she ap-
peared to him as she now appeared
In reality.
My little Christine" he murmured.
II have been so afraid" she was say
ing, still searching his soul through
his eyes. Il am still afraid, David. 1t
has been a long time. So many things
may have happened. We were such
young, foolish things. Oh, David, you
don't know how l have wished and
planned and striven to make myself
what you would like if you were ever
to come to see me again. +"
You are perfect-you are divine"
he cried. Il can't believe it! You
really care. Christine? You have not
changed. 1t has always been the same
with your
Changed, David" she whispered.
her lip trembling, a sudden mist swim
ming in her sweet young eyes.
changed"
You do love me? I am not dream
ing? 1t is really you?"
Both had forgotten the tall woman
who stood over there by the window,
her hands clasped, her heart in the
eyes that looked upon them.
He quickly lifted the girls hands to
his feverish lips. There he held them
for many minutes while he steadied
his rioting senses, regaining control OF
his nerves. He looked down Upon the
dark, soft hair and worshiped. A red
rose rested there. He bent over and
kissed her hair-and the rose.
Then she looked up.
Il do love you, David" she said
| softly. Are you-are you sure that
! you-Oh, David, are YOU sure?'
: For answer, his eager arm stole over
her shoulder and she was drawn close
to his breast. She raised her lips to
greet the kiss. Her little hand
. clutched his with a sudden convulsive
ecstacy. He felt the warm, quick
breathing-and then their lips met.
Il am very sure" he murmured, his
voice husky with emotion. There
never has been a minute in which |
was not sure, Christine, my darling.
You have forgotten-you can over
look those old days which | was Little
Starbright? ?" she whispered wondering
ly. They will make no difference
now?"
Il loved you then. You and | and
- 49, --. -,.x AJ1~r ~ ,tr1pr
er and dearer with the years that
have
She broke away from him, putting
her hands to her cheeks In pretty con
fusion.
"Oh. mother, IL forgot you were
there. | forgot everything Later
on. after Mrs. Braddock had gone to
her fathers room. he sat with Chris
tine on the low, deep sofa under the
bookshelf gallery. Her hands We're
clasped in his. They had but little to
say to each other in words. Their eyes
spoke the thoughts that surged up
from their united hearts. She had
thrown aside the light, iilmy wrap.
and the sweet, velevety skin Of her
neck and shoulders cleaned in the
soft light. Her perfectly modified,
strong young arms were as clear and
white as marble.
For long stretches at a time he per-
mitted himself to fall into silent, rapt
contemplation of this perfected bit of
womanhood. Every childish feature
that he remembered SO we'll had been
subtly vignetted by the soft touch OF
nature. He was sensing for the first
time the vast distinction between nj
teen and twenty-five distinction with
out the difference, for she was the
same Christine after all. A delicate
bit Of magic vas being performed be-
fore his very eyes. The slim, glrllsn
sweetheart of other days was being
effaced. The soft, ~insinuatlng lowell
ness of young womanhood, with all
it's grace, all it's charms, was being re-
yealed to him as if by some wonder
full process in photography new
shades. new lights, new tints, all in
effably Joyous in tone. He could not
remember when her hair was so SOFT
and vavy at the temples, nor had IL
over seemed to caress her ears so ador
Il M
ably. Why was it that he had never
noticed the delicate arch OF her eye
brows? Why had he failed to see the
limpid sweetness in her eyes? And
her hair. too, seemed to cling different
" about the slim, round neck. What
magic sculptor had chiseled her lips
into their present form? Her chin, her
nose, her broad, white brow-whyh had
he never observed them before? And
what vas this strange, new light in
the dark eyes-this look that was no
longer childish, no longer inqulsit1ve.
but steady with understanding?
The girl Of fifteen was gone. This
was the perfect, well blown human
flower. the woman The woman!
Slender, beautifully nodded, sinuous.
incomparabYy fine-the woman. He
closed his eyes in sudden subjugation
TO that thing called rapture. He held
her close strained to his W triumph
hD1u Che uoo h{cl