The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1914-05-28


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-noor billow like 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 shivsrs.
The horrible - horrible - thing!'
she said whisperingly. ct would have
bitten mel"
He came toward her. painting. and
grasping her hand. lifted her to her
feet. He staggered slightly as he did
so. and she saw his lips twist to-
gether oddly. "Ah." she gasped. 1T
bit you! It bit you'll"
NO" he said. II think not"
"Looki There on your ankle-that
spoti"
"I did feel something. Just that arst
moment" He laughed uncertainty.
IT'S queer. My foot's gone fast
asleep"
Every remnant OF color left her
face. She had known a negro child
who had d.ed OF a water-moccasin's
bite some years before-the child OF
hous e servant. II 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 OF the low shoe and
barred the tingling spot. The firm
white aesh was putting up around two
tiny bue-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 1t 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 I do! l must
be quite collected. 1t Is 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 one
ta-s~---..4Ai-o- S-------' .-----
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 dozen feet away.
Her heart leaped chokingly, ther
dropped into hammer-like thudding
He leaned back on one arm, trying
to laugh. but she noted that his breatf
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 thu
ground and grasped the foot with botf
hands. He could see her face twitcl
with shuddering. and her eyes dilatinl
with some determined purpose.
What are you going to do?"
This" she said. and he felt he
shrinking lips, warm and tremulouf
, pressed hard against his instep.
He drew away Sharply. with savag
denial. Mono! Not thatl Yo
shan't! My lord--you shant!" H
dragged his numbing foot from he
desperate grasp. lifting himself. push
ing her from him; but she fought wit
him. clinging. painting broken ser
tences:
you mustl It's the only way.
was-a moccasin. and it's deadly
Every minute countsl"
Il won't No. stopi How do 20
know? It's not going to-here. listen
Take your hands away. Listen!-Lii
. tenl I can go to the house and sen
Uncle Jefferson for the doctor and b
No! stop. l sayl Oh--I'm sorry II
hurt you. How strong you arei"
Let mel"
mol Your lips are not for that
good God. that damnable thingl Yo
yourself might be-"
Let me! Oh. how cruel you are
II was my fault. But for me 1t woul
o never have"
Q mo! / would rather"
Let me! Oh, II you diedi"
I. With all the force Of her stron
young body she wrenched away h
A protestant hands. A thirst and a sic
v ish feeling were upon him. curiot
!. irresponsible giddiness. and her ha
a which that struggle had brought
tumbled masses about her shoulder
la seemed to have little flames runnir
/ all over II. His foot had entirely 10
q Its feeling. There was a strange wea
II ness In his limbs.
a Moments OF half-consciousness
d consciousness jumbled with stranl
m imaginings. followed. At times he fe
Ie the pressure upon the wounded foe
m was sensible of the suction OF II