The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1914-08-14

I was skeered: l was skeered! Hit
seemed so awful an wicked" She
shrank away, burying her face in her
arms and shivering in long. frightened
tremOrs. In a moment she raised her
face to his again, looking at him with
dark, beseeching eyes.
Il didn't do hit, did II" she cried dis
%tractedly. "Oh. say l didn't do hit"
she begged. Fer oh, I'm skeered!
I'm skeered er myself"
For a moment the strain and the ter
ror Of it had all but tossed her into
insanity. Looking at her distraught
face Adrian realized this with the
quick insight which underlay all his
apparent gay indifference and knew
that he must act and act quickly.
Sinking down beside her he took her
cold hands in his.
You po' little thing-po' little thing"
lie said soothingly.
did l do hit: Did l do hit?" she
breathed, her fear lit eyes imploring
him.
mo, yer didn't do hitter course yer
didn't he answered. God wouldn't
err let yer do hit. He wouldn't er let
err pO' little lonely thing fling herself
erway like that
His strong hands quoted her with
a gentle tenderness, and his voice was
very kind.
"Yer've lived so long erway from
folks up here that Yer got ter thinkin'
all sorts er GURUS things, but even eff
yer didn't believe hit, l reckon God
was er-keerin' fer yer all Their time.'
Suddenly he put out his arm and
drew her strongly to him. "An' I was
er-keerin', too," he said softly.
But his gesture startled her and she
drew away with quick fear.
Don't be ~skeered-don't be skeered
er me, honey" he murmured, and drew
her back to him, pressing her head
down against the hollow of his Shout
der.
Fol a moment Ellen struggled
against him, but he held her tenderly,
reassuringly, and at length she lay
still, for she was utterly weary and
half beside herself with fright, and in
her exhausted bewilderment she only
knew that it vas good for once to be
held in the shelter of a strength great
er than her own.
Outside the storm went on tumult-
uously, the rain beating upon the roof
and the lightning showing in OCCASION
al flares, but inside for a long time
there was silence.
At length. however, looking down at
her dark face, beautiful and pathetic
In its weary loneliness, a tender, whim-
steal smile began to play about Adrian
Blair's mouth.
who'd yer say hit was keered fer
yer:' he said at last, in scarcely more
than a whisper.
Low as the words were thew never.
theless broke the frozen spell Of FL
lens bewilderment, and the confused
mist of her mind cleared to a sudden
realization of the present, and with the
color sweeping Owe her face in hot
waves she struggled away from his
arms, looking at him again with fright
ened eyes.
But Adrian persisted in the question.
who did yer say keered fer yer:"
he said.
MARY Reddin said she did" Ellen
answered wonderingly, and made a
motion to rise to her feet.
But Adrian with a laugh drew her
suddenly back into his arms.
"Who did yer sny:' he repeated.
And MARY Keddin' Ellen faltered
again. though her voice shook and her
eyes We're wide with mingled terror
and surprise.
At her words Adrian stopped quick
~ II kissed her full upon the lips.
who: Who:" he cried again.
And Ellcn's heart leaped into her
throat with sudden. %astonished boun1
and she was silent.
Adrian laughed again, a low rinn,o
of triumph.
MARY Reddin. Mary Rcddinv, no
cried scornfuliy. I'm ergoin' ter toll
Yer now who loves yer sure 'uouyh"
Ellen's eyes lighted with a brilliant
establishment. and again Adrian kissed
her.
II alters knowed yer was ~erliyc" ho
said tenderly, but | never knowed
+! Jest what was ther word ter wake yer