Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1914-03-27
CHAPTER xv11.-(continued.)

Harlan forced back a smile. Har-
ward n 200 years of his fathers u 4
ture had no answer to this. Il ouSnt
to be angry" he muttered.
She was regarding him with her Ole
puzzled air Of respect. II reckon she
presents IL they want to!" She sighed
pensively. You're funny peop!e-you
and your mother and everybody. L
never can understand. And so
l van to go away and be
a great actress. and sometime come
back here again With lots OF clotnes
and a bulldog ON u chain"
"Aurelie!"
"a bulldog and a press agent
."Oh, Aurelie. I'd rather have you
back again-the little wild-woods girl
Uncle Mich's girl-and not a prize
beauty n an actress-not a Bit"
He had reached to take her hands.
and with them drew himself down be-
side her. She laughed blithely: "Har-
Ian. I'm a heap prettier than 1 used to
be. amt II"
Not amt T. Aurelie!"
well. then-something else! Pref
tier. and with clothes-you ought to
love me a heap more. Harlan. if 1
amount to something"
But 1 don't want you to amount to
anything!" His arm slipped down her
slenderness. he tried to shake her ang-
rily; n then. with a great passionate
pity. he swept her UP in his arms in the
old way-her breath upon his lips. the
CULVER of her warm flesh against his
own. He was no more the boy: a new
mans madness to possess her beat on
him. 1t overbore his control. his heri-
age 1T was not so that his father had
loved-loved with this young lust Of
triumph. this barbaric holding of poig-
nant life and the beauty that was in
her. A flame. a observation-disclosures
1t was he held Aurelie. it was sweet to
Know she was lying in his arms. still
and content. IF you knew how I cared!
l haven't any law or morals with you
It's just you-and want you to stay;
You shall stay. Aurelie-by God. I
shan't have you go away to be cheap
ened and ground up in the cities with
all that life you'll lead! No-no!"
She looked up from his kisses. If I
stay. you'll marry me?"
Yes. dear-a thousand times!"
That's like you and old times. Har-
Ian! But to live here in Rome-oh.
they wouldn't nave us!"
I'll make them have u.s." He cried
1t fiercely to the town below them in
the dusky light.
mi. Curran said o could be dis
triet a tt4s ne next year; ~ And that you
to give that all up. Harlan!".
He was still. Then he muttered:
But 1 love you. dear!"
II know. But o II mother-and what
they all think of me! new knew UNI
til yesterday how bad they thought"
dear. It'll be the big brave way. oh.
we were right before! The night
seemed big and generous. didn't it,
dear? And then we let it go. Oh. we
We're right n h world was wrongi"
She drew his head to her and kissed
HIM ~ c0fk H,r~I,1o,~- t. l-- ----
Then h sat up and put his arm gently
aside and looked down long at the
valley. Somehow she could not quite
forget. A strange idea that she had
exchanged places with Harlan grew in
her. Their last night in the hills II
wild passion. this splendor Of owe that
considered nothing in all their lives
but love. And he had been the men
tor. his cool sane blood that had saved
hem and held them pure.
And now, slowly. with her sense Of
the bigness Of his love. grew the sens
OF his ~unrealized sacrifice. 1t seemed
as II the long unequal ear while he
was fighting down the handicap, win.
ming his place despite her lacking-sh.
who had even no name except what
Lindstrom had given her. no parentagt
Ter chose to tell of her: who was nov
the towns daughter Of evil-the rol
unfolded to her. and she was ~curiousl,
shaken. cropping amid hazards. yet COO
with purpose.
Il want o to stay" he pleaded
you. Aurelie. Why. we can laugh at 1
all together!"
She looked at him strangely still 70
q. time. mo. We can't Not always
Your father spent a fortune on you
education: And all his life. and yeu
mothers Is conferred on making you
career. I know it. Why. all the coun
ty sort of feel that! It's curious hoy
things como to me afterward. I can
blame EN- a bit. Somehow. it's all swee
to me. Harlan. It's very fine. dear
Just is II I vas away off and coul
look at both of us-and could smil
and say mol"
Maybe. I don't care enough for 70
n more!"
"Aurelie!"
We're not children any more" sh
derness OF her smile. He reached
hand to ouch her. and with her India
~Quickness she evaded him. He followe
g step on the trail as she retreats
I'm old Mich's girl. still. I'm not edit
Gated. and I've heaps Of manners
and OH. how they'd hurt you som.
time II we were married! I know! It
Just al your mother said"
"Aurelie!" he cried again and 70
lowed her.
Don't you come! Harlan. I'd ha,
to give all the new life up-and
wouldn't give 1t up. I've been happy.
splendidly happy-working. I would1
give anything up-for youi" &
He stood staring after her as 81
slipped sway. He started again to fc
low. and she laughed q warning In Il
dusk Of the laureled trail.
I've Just been thinking-and I dol
love you."
CHAPTER XVII.