The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1914-08-21
slapped the brown wintered leaves in

slapped the brown wintered leaves in
to a kissing turmoil.
He had flung her from him with
such violence that she had fallen side
wise. Now she raised herself, kneel-
clasped close to her breast, trembling
excessively with loathing and feeling
the dun earth-floor billow like a can
vas sea in a theater. Little puffs of
dust from the protesting ground were
wreathing about her set face, and she
pressed one hand against her shoulder
to repress her shiyers.
The horrible - horrible thing"
she said whisperingly. 1T would have
bitten mel"
He came toward her, painting. and
g%rasping her hand, lifted her to her
feet. He staggered slightly as he did
SO, and she saw his lips twist to-
gether oddly. All" she gasped. 1T
bit you! 1t bit YOU"
NO" he said. Il think not"
Look! There on your ankle-that
spot"
II did feel something, just that first
moment" He laughed uncertainty.
It's queer. My foot's gone fast
asleep"
Every remnant OF color left her
lace. She had known a negro child
who had died of a watermoccasin's
bite some years before-the child OF a
house-servant. 1t had been wading in
the creek in the gorge. The anctor
had said then that If one OF the other
children.
She grasped his arm. "Sit down."
she commanded, here, or this log,
and see."
Her pale fright caught him. He
obeyed, dragged off the low shoe and
barred the tingling spot. The firm
white flesh was putting up around two
tiny blue-rimmed punctures. He
reached into his pocket, then remem-
bered that he had no knife. AS the
next best thing he knotted his hand
kerchief quickly above the ankle,
thrust a stick through the loop and
twisted it till the ligature cut deeply,
while she knelt beside him. her lips
moving soundlessly, saying over and
over to herself words like these: Il
must not be frightened. He doesn't
realize the danger, but | do! | must
be quite collected. II is a mile to the
doctors. | might run to the house
and send Unc' jefferson, but it would
take too long. Besides, the doctor
might not be there. There is 10 one
to do ANYTHING but me-"
+. She crouched beside him. putting
her hands by his on the stick and
%wrenching It over with all her
strength. Tighter, tighter" she said.
1T must be tighter" But, to her dis
may. at the last urn the %improvised
cord snapped, and the released stick
few a dozen feet away.
Her heart leaped chokingly, then
dropped into hammer-like thudding.
He leaned back OH one arm, trying
to laugh, but she noted that his breath
came shortly as II he had been run
ming. Absurd he said, frowning.
How such-a fool thing-can hurt"
Suddenly she threw herself on the
ground and grasped the foot, with both
hands. He could see her face witch
with shuddering. and her eyes dilating
with some determined purpose.
What are you going to do"
This" she said. and he felt her
shrinking lips, warn and tremulous,
pressed hard against his fnstep.
He drew away sharply, with savage
denial. Mono! Not that! You
shan't! My lord-you shan't!" He
dragged his numbing foot from her
desperate grasp. lifting himself. push
ing her from him: but she fought with
him, clinging. painting broken sen
fences:
you must! It's the only way: 1t
was-a moccasin, and it's deadly.
Every minute counts"
Il won't. No, stop! How do you
know? It's not going to-here, listen!
Take your hands away. Listen!-Lis-
ten! ! q go to the house aud send
Uncle Jefferson for the doctor and he
No! stop, l say! OHM sorry II l
hurt you. How strong you are!"
Let mel"
mo! Your lips are not for that
good God, that damnable thing! You
yourself might be-
Let me! Oh, how cruel you are!
It was my fault. But for me 1t would
never have"
No! | would rather"
Let me! Oh, If you died."
With all the force Of her strong
young body she wrenched away his
protestant hands. A thirst and a sick
ish feeling were upon him, a curious
irresponsible giddiness, and her hair
which that struggle had brought In
tumbled masses about her shoulders,
seemed to have little flames running
all over 1t. His foot had entirely lost
its feeling. There was a strange weak
ness in his limbs.
Moments OF half-consciousness. or
consciousness jumbled with strange
imaginings, followed. At times he felt
the pressure upon the wounded foot,
was sensible OF the suction of the
young mouth striving desperately to
draw the poison from the wound.
From time to time he was conscious