Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1913-04-15
Copyright Dossb y The BoBDS-MERpILL co.

1
! the morning packing the valises. and
1 late in the afternoon began a down
stairs search for possessions left in
! the parlor.
The dusk was gathering as she en-
! tered the room, the corners of which
were already full of darkness. the fire
| playing on them with a warm, vary
/ ing light. Waves of radiance quiyered
and ran up the ceiling, here and there
| touching the glaze on picture glass
| or china ornament. The crude ugli-
ness Of the place was hidden in this
unsteady. transforming combination
Of shadow and glow. 1t seemed a
] rich. romantic spot, flushed with fire
| that pulsed on an outer edge of nys-
I.terious obscurity, center of familiar,
intimate life, round which GOODNESS
and the dark pressed.
She thought the room was unoccu-
pied and advanced toward the table,
then started before the uprising of
Dominick's tell figure from a chair in
a Swallowed corner. 1t was the first
| time they had seen each other alone
since their conversation of the day
| before. Rose was startled and agitat
ed, and her brusk backward move
ment showed it. Her voice, however,
was natural almost easy to casual
/ ness as she said:
! Il thought there was no one here,
you've hidden yourself in such a darl;
corner. came to gather up my books
and things"
He advanced into the light, looking
/ somberly at her.
Its true that you're going to-mor-
row." he said almost gruffly.
"Oh, yes, we're really going Ev-
erything's been arranged Horses and
sleigh are expected any moment
now from Rocky Bar. They rest here
all night and take US down in the
afternoon | think papad go crazy
If we had to stay twenty-four hours
longer"
IN follow in a day or two" he
said probably go down on Tuesday,
the doctor says"
She began gathering up the books.
reading the titles, and putting aside
those that were not hers
Pm so sorry it's over" she said
in a preoccupied voice without any
particular regret in it. The Mill on
the Floss is Mrs. Perleys. think"
I'm sorry, too" he commented,
very low
She made no reply, selected another
book, and as she held it up looking
at the back. said:
But it's not like a regular good
by. It's not as if you were going in
one direction and We in another Wen
see you in San Francisco, Of course. i"
Il don't think So" he answered
She laid the book on the table and
turned her face toward him. He stood
looking into the fire, not seeing the
face, but conscious of it, of it's express
sion. Of its every line.
DO you mean that we're not going
to see you down there at all?"
Yes, that's just about what !
meant" he replied
Mr.. Ryan," 1t was hardly mere
than a breath of protest, but it was
as stirring 10 the man as the whis-
per of love.
He made no comment on it. and she
said, with a little more of insistence
and volume.
But Why"
It's best not" he answered. and
turned toward her.
His shoulders were squared and he
held his head as man does who
prepares himself for blow His
| eyes. looking straight into hers, en-
veloped her in a glance soft and burn
ing, not a savage glance, but the en-
folding, possessive glance, caressing
and ardent, pleading and masterful of
lover.
The books that she was holding fell
to the table, and they looked at each
other while the clock licked.
ITS best for me not to come" he
said huskily. never to come
Very WELL" she faltered.
He came little nearer to her and
said:
You know what mean"
She turned away, very pale. her lips
trembling.
And you'd like me to come IL
could-if | were free?'
He was close to her and looked
down TO see her face, his own hard
the bones of the jaw showing through
| the thin cheeks.
You'd like me to-" he urged.
She nodded, her lips too dry to
speak.
20 Rose!" he whispered, whisper
that seemed to melt the strength OF
her heart and make her unvanquished
maiden pride dissolve into feeblenes
He leaned nearer and, taking her
by the arms just above the elbows
drew her 10 himself. into an embrace
close and impassioned, that crushed
her against him. She submitted pas
sively, in a dizzy dream that was rel
Their JOY nor pain. but was like a mo-
ment of drugged unreality. fearful and
beautiful. She was unconscious az ais
| lips pressed on her hair, but she felt
the beating OF bis heart beneath heI
/ cheek.
They stood thus for mo:aart, ris
ing above time and space They
seemed to have been cauSa, up to a
I pinnacle of life where the familiar
world lay far beneath them. 4 Joy
divine and dreamy. held tgem clssped
together, motionless ard mute. Cor 3
single point Of time beyond and out
side the limitations ehat had hereto
fore bound them
Bin Cannon had a question "a ash
his daughter and he came down stairs
TO the psrlcr where she had told hin
she was going. He hao dressed him
self fer supper, the most Important
Item of his toilet being pair o.
brown leather slippers. They wers
soft and made no sound. and steppins
briskly in them he advanced tc IN,
half-open parlor door, pushed 1T opeI
4 y, - -