Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-05-26
IIn iIII M
MARY MlDTHORNE
GEORGE BARI ~McCUTCHEON
Author OF "GraustArk." "Truxton King" etc.
Copyright. 1911. BY Dodd, Mead 4 Co.
III III IN
CHAPTER V1u.-Continued).

Mr.: Carr is going" she said. singu-
,aaiy interested in was going on
and. accidentally, their hands touched.
lheN drew them apart as if each had
come in contact with "A burning coal.
Ihey laughed convulsively, in apology.
a strange man." said Eric
MAJ covering his confusion. Then
looke at me in a mighty strange way
out there. Just as If L had been doing
something 1 shouldn't have done"
She hesltated, uncertain whether to
odd to his distress of mind or to COM
pete What she had set out to do in the
beginning.
Your aunt told him yesterday that
she is afraid of YOU. Eric" she blurted
out wrathfully. She says you once
tried to kill Chetwynd. and that some
tunes she catches IA murderous look
IN your eyes when she offers the slight
est reproof or advice"
ERIC laughed. He was able now to
enjoy the situation. They expect me
to slaughter someone before l die he
chuckled.
She was very serious about it," pro-
tested Joan, d%ispleased by his levity.
she says that MIR; Presbrey works
Please don Taught" she cried, pouting.
Il shan't tell you anything MORE
- can't help laughing" he said.
Don't begrudge me the chance to laugh
at MI. Presbrey. Why, Joan, he gets
me on in a corner and prays over me
as NJ We're the original sheep that
was lost from the other 80 and 3. I'm
half way to the bad place all the time.
according to him.. n he's in a contin-
ual scrap with the devil over my re-
mains. But l ave good news for you:
MT. Presbrey says I've got a splendid
chance to get into heaven in spite of all
that III \ ln,,~ - IL - - 49, IT.
He'll get me in. slick as a whistle. He's
going to get Mary in. too. He's got
Uncle Horace and Aunt Rena waiting
at the gate right now. All they have
to do to get in is to die. Chetwynd,
too"
"You shouldn't scott" she cried. but
smiled in spite of the reproof.
Well: I'm glad that our father
doesn't believe I'm as bad as they make
me out" he said soberly. "He-he shook
hands with me twice out there, and told
me I'd find you here. That shows what
he thinks of me-
Her face frightened, a glorious light
suffused her eyes. her lips parted in a
warm, glad smile.
ooh, 1 am so glad. Eric. II was
afraid he might be prejudiced against
you. You know 10Y much store he
very hard when he wants to be. He
he has to be heartless sometimes. my
father does"
Eric returned her smile with one
equally enveloping. Suddenly the
shackles Of fear n self restraint fell
and in one swift rush overcame the
timid brain that stood in it's way. 1t
swept all resistance aside and tri-
umphed over reason. The look in her
warm. sweet eyes did the work. With
a half cry, he slipped from the lea.
md Cpr0n IN v1ne it'll OoFOoD 81.
really knew what had happened his
arms were around her and he had
kissed her, eagerly, bravely, full upon
the lips.
"Oh, Joan. JOAN" he whispered. She
did not move, ~ closed her eyes. and
Then he felt a dreadful fear stealing
over him. AS the chill of shame and
remorse began to creep over him. the
slender body quivered in his arms. and
he hand caught one of his as it was
about to be withdrawn. She convul-
sively pressed it to her lips. Then her
eyes opened and looked into his. Tears
swami in them as he looked down. dazed
unbelieving.
Eric, Erie she whispered. so soft
ly, SD timidly that he could hardly hear
the word. 'You dear. dear Eric"
He was dumb with JOY. His lips
moved. but the words remained smoth-
cred in his throat. She returned her
head on his breast and began to cry
softly. Physical expression Of love was
new and b%ewildering to them. They
were amazed, frightened. abashed.
"Are-are we going to be sweet
hearts?" he asked, out of the of
strange sensations. He only knew. or
felt, h a something vital was expected
of him in this wonderful moment. some
thing decisive. n honorable. n ex-
acting. Her handclasp frightened with
in yn11lrfap Any. forvNr Sho hid her SG2 med
face more completely in it's resting
place. n a delicious pink covered her
cheek and the little a that was left
exposed. He repeated the question, al
most breathless With the eagerness that
filled his soul, tingling from head to
that was growing so full and com
manding that he could understand it.
even as he doubted his senses.
The faintest nod of the head an
swered him. He caught his breath.
striving to find ar outlet for his feel
ings. The words came in A whisper:
1--we had dreams. but they were
never like this. Oh. I've dreamed 1t l.
GOO times. / never thought it could be
real. Are you sure. Joan? 1t isn't be-
cause I'm so strong you-you can't get
away. is it? You are not angry"
mo. no! Tim not angry. Eric h
cried softly. "Oh. I'm so sham
You-you don't think I'm bold and
He kissed her again. triumphantiy.
The eternal man in him was solving
the problem. Victory! Conquest! That
is the man of 1t.
II didn't believe it could aver hap
pen" he cried. aglow with bliss. IL
don't see how l ever got up the courage
to do it. Why, until now, I thought
you liked me Just on Mary's account.
What funny things girls are. And you've
been liking me = like this = all the
time?"
mot like this" she said wistfully,
looking I'D for the first time and meet