Alma record., 1914-02-19

no doubt yon-found II entertaining.
II must have still further amused you
to be taken for an architect?"
81 am flattered." he replied, with
trace of bitterness. Ito have suggested
even for a moment. so worthy a call
ing"
At his answer she put out her hand
with sudden gesture. as II bmntly
thrusting the matter from her con-
Germ. and turning went back along the
tree-shadowed path.
He followed glumly, gnawing his
lip, wanting to say ne knew not what,
but wretchedly tonguetied, noting
that the great white moth was still
waving its creamy wings on the dead
stump and wondering If she would
take the cape jessamines. He felt an
embarrassed relief when, passing the
roots where they lay. she stopped to
raise them.
Then all at once the blood seemed
to shrink from his heart. With a
hoarse cry he leaped toward her,
seized her wrist and roughly dragged
her back, feeling as he did so, sharp
fiery sting on his instep. The next
moment, with clenched teeth. he was
viciously stamping his heel again and
again, driving into the soft earth a
twisting root-like something that
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-
ing in the feathery light, both hands
clasped close to her breast. trembling
excessively with loathing and feeling
the dun earth-foor billow like a can
vas sea In q theater. Little puffs Of
dust from the protesting ground we're
wreathing about her set face. and she
pressed one hand against her shoulder
to repress her shivers.
The horrible - horrible - thing!"
she said whisperingiy. 1T would have
bitten mel"
He came toward her, painting. and
grasping her hand. lifted her to her
feet He staggered slightly as he did
80, and she saw his lips twist to-
gether oddly. "Ah." she gasped. 1t
bit you! 1t bit you!"
NO." he said. II think not"
Look! There on your ankle-that
spot!"
II did feel something, just that first
moment" He laughed uncertainty.
TITS queer. My foot's gone fast
asleep"
Every remnant of color left her
face. She had known a negro child
who had died of a water-moccasin'
bite some years before-the child Of
house-servant. It had been wading In
the creek in the gorge. The doctor
had said then that If 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 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: 81
must not be frightened. He doesn't
realize the danger, but l do! l must
's n collected. 1t Is a mile to the
GoCtor .. / might run to the house
and send Unc' Jefferson, but it would
take too long. Besides. the doctor
might not be there There is no 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 turn the improvised
cord snapped, and the released stick
flew a 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 as If 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 twitch
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, warm and tremulous,
pressed hard against his instep.
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
tences:
you must! It's the only way. It