Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-03-19
CHAPTER xv11.-(continued.>

Harlan forced back a smile. Har-
ward and 200 years Of his fathers Gull
ture had no answer to this. Il ought
to be angry" he muttered.
She was regarding him with her old
puzzled air Of respect. Il reckon" she
went on. that friends can give one
presents if they want to-" She sighed
pensively. You're funny ~pecple--you
and your mother and everybody. I
never can understand. And so
a great actress. and sometime come
back here again with lots Of clothes
and a bulldog on a chain"
"Aurelie!"
"a bulldog and q press agent"
"0h. Aurelie!! I'd rather have you
back again-the little wild-woods girl
Uncle Mich's girl-and not a prize
beauty and 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 l. Aurelie!"
tier. and with clothes-you ought to
love me a heap more, Harlan. if I
amount to something"
But I don't want you to amount to
anything!" His arm slipped down her
slenderness. he tried to shake her ang-
41iy anu 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-
tage. 1t was not so that his father had
loved-loved with this young lust of
triumph. this barbaric holding, of poig-
nant life II h 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 l cared!
l haven't n law or morals with you
You shall stay. Aurelie-by God. I
shan't have o go away to be cheap
ened n ground up in the cities with
all that life you'll lead! No-no!"
She looked up from his kisses. eff !
stay. you'll marry me?"
That's like you and old times. Har-
Ian! But to live here in Rome-oh.
they wouldn't have us!"
I'll make them have us!". He cried
1t fiercely to the town below them in
the dusky light.
Mr.. curran said you could be dis
were getting on fine. Oh. you'll have
to give that all up. Harlan!"
He was still. Then he muttered:
"But l love you. dear!"
Il know. But your mother-and what
they all think Of me! never knew I'M
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 1t,
dear? And then we let it go. Oh, we
We're right and the world was wrong!"
She drew his head to her and kissed
I'm - oF T.
Then she sat up and put his arm gently
aside and looked down long at the
valley. Somehow she could not quite
forget. A strange idea thai she had
exchanged places with Harlan grew in
her: Their last night in the hills it
had been she who was burning with
wild passion. this splendor of love that
considered nothing in all their lives
but love. And he had been the men
tor. his cool sane blood that had saved
then and held them pure.
And now. slowly, with her sense of
the bigness Of his love. grew the sense
of his unrealized sacrifice. 1t seemed
as if the long unequal years while he
was lighting down the handicap, win
ming his place despite her lacking-she
VINO had even no name except what
Lindstrom had given her. no p%arentage
save what a disreputable whisky ped
Ter chose to tell Of her: who was now
SHS wv - lllC1 VI 0Vll-Ine roll
unfolded to her. and she was curfously
shaken, cropping amid hazards. vet cool
with purpose.
Il want you to stay he pleaded,
Just to show these people how | love
you, Aurelie. Why. We car laugh at it
all together!"
She looked at him strangely still for
q time: N We can't Not always
Your father spent a fortune on your
And all his life, and your
mothers is centered on making you q
career. 1 know it. Why. all the coun-
ty sort OF feel that! It's curious how
things come to me afterward. I ant
blame EN- a bit. Somehow. It's all swee,
to me. Harlan. It's very fine. dear!
just is II I was away off and could
look at both Of us-and could smile
and a not"
Maybe. | don't care enough for YOU
any more!"
"Aurelie!"
We're not children any more" SHE
looked at him again, subduins the fen
derness Of her smile. He cache q
hand to touch her. and with her Indian
qulckness she evaded him. He followed
I'm old Mich's girl, still. I'm not edu-
Gated. and I've heaps OF manners to
learn. and lots of ways that hurt Won
and oh. how they'd hurt you some
time II we We're married.! l know! It's
Just as your mother said"
lowed her. ~
Don't you come! Harlan. I'd have
to give all the new life up-and j
wouldn't give 1t up. I've been happy-
splendidly happy-working. wouldn't
give anything up-for you!"
He stood staring after her as she
slipped away. He started again to fol-
low. ana abe 1ar0hod q uyar~S-- -