The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1914-09-26

] hldpptu the uIO"u Nluteltu itdNts III
| t. kissing turmoil.
He had flung her from him with
| such violence that she had fallen side
wise. Now she raised herself. kneel-
l ing In the feathery light, both hands
| clasped close to her breast, trembling
excessively with losthing and feeling
the dun earth.noor billow like a can
vas sea in 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 shivers.
The horrible - horrible - thing"
she said whlsperingly. 1T would have
bitten mel"
He came toward her, painting. and
grasping her hand, lifted her to her
feet. lie staggered slightly as he did
So and she saw his lips twist to.
gether oddly. "Ah." she gasped. ut
bit you' 1t bit you!"
NO" he said, Il think not"
"Lookl There on your ankle-that
spot"
81 did feel something, just that first
moment" He laughed uncertainty.
IT'S queer. My foot's gone fast
asleep"
Every remnant OF color left Ter
face. She had known a negro child
who had died of water.moccasin's
bite some years before-the child of a
house-servant. 1t had been wading in
the creek in the gorge. The doctor
had said then that II one of the other
children.
She grasped his arm. "Sit down"
she commanded. here. on 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 II till the ligature cut deeply,
while she knelt beside him. her lips
moving soundlessly, saying over and
over to herself words like these: II
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 1t would
take too long. Besides, the doctor
might not be there. There Is no ons
to do anything but me-"
She crouched beside him, putting
her hands by his on the stick and
wrenching 1t over with all her
strength. Tighter. tighter" she said.
1T must be tighter" But, TO her dis.
may. at the last turn the improvised
cord snapped. and the released stick
few dozen feet away.
Her heart leaped chokingly, then
dropped into hammer.like thudding.
He leaned back on one arm, trying
to laugh. but she noted that his breath
came shortly az 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 shudderlng. and her eyes dllating
with some determined purpose.
What are you going to de-
This" she said and he felt her
shrinking lips, warm and tremulous.
pressed hard against his instep.
He drew away sharply with savage
denial Mono! Not that! You
shan't! My lord-you shant!" 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. II
was-a moccasin, and it's deadly
Every minute counts"
l won't. No, stop! How do YOU
know? It's not going to-here. listen,
rake your hands away. Listen!-Lia
ten! can 90 to the house and send
Uncle Jefferson for the doctor and he
Mo- stop, say OHM sorry IL
hurt you. How strong you are!"
Let mel"
mo! Your lips are not for that
good God. that damnabe thing! You
yourself might be"
Let me- Oh how cruel You are,
1t was my fault But for me il would
never have"
mo- | would rather"
Let me! Oh If YOU died,"
With all the force of her strong
young body sh' wrenoAed away his
protestant hands A thirst and a sick.
ism feeling were upon him. a curious
irresponsible giddinoss. and her hair
which that struggle had brought in
tumoled masses about her shoulders
seemed to have little flames running
an over it, His foot had entirely lost
It's feeling. There was strange weak.
ness in his limbs
Moments of halfconsciousness ar
consciousness jumbled with strange
lmaginings, followed At times no fell
the pressure upon the wounded foot
was sensible OF the suction NJ the
young mouth striving desperately 10
draw the poison from the wound
from time to time he was conscious