Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-12-30

hardened and the jaw angle stiffened
and the lips drew themselves into
old line of warlike sternness.
She looked again into the face of the
mo~untaineer, the feudist, of the Eiid
creature turning to stand at bay.
For a moment they remained mo-
tionless, and her fingers rested on
his arms and felt the strain on his
tautened biceps.
Cod" he muttered almost in
audibly.
What is it," she whispered, but
he replied only with a warning shake
of the head.
Once more he stood listening, then
gently turned her so that his body
was between her and the outside
world. He thrust her back into the
open door and followed her inside.
What is it, Anse? What did you
hear out there?" Her face had gone
pallid and she chung to his arms with
a grip that indicated no intention of
release.
"Nothin' much. Just the crackin' Of
a twig or two; just some steps in the
bush that was too cautious to sound
honest; little noises that wouldn't
mean much if l didn't know what they
do mean. They weren't friendly
sounds. They're after me-"
Who? What do you mean?"
Her voice came in a low panic of
whispering, and ever as she spoke the
man was listening with his head bent
toward the closed door.
He laughed mirthlessly under his
breath.
Il don't know who they've picked
out to get me. 1t don't matter much,
does it? But l know they've picked
tonight. I've been lookin' for it, but
it seems they might have let me have
tonight" His lips smiled, and for
an instant his eyes softened again 20
tenderness. This was my night
our night"
Suddenly he wheeled and caught
her tiercely in his arms holding her
very close, and now her heart was
beating more wildly than ~before-beat-
ing with a sudden and sickening ter
ror.
He bent low and covered her tenn
pies and cheeks and lips and eyes
with kisses.
God knows, when / came here to-
night" he declared, talking fast and
passiop2toly, 81 didn't aim to ever go
eUay again without we. Now I've got
to go, but if l come through, an there's
a breath or a drop Of blood left in
me, I'll be back. I'm a comm back,
dearest, if l live"
Her answer was a low oan
He released her at last and went
over to the gun-rack.
Standing before her shrine of guns,
in her temple Of disarmament, he
said slowly: Dearest, l was about
the last man to leave my rife here
an l reckon I've got to be the first
to take it out again. I'm sorry. Will
you give it to me or must I take il
without permission?"
She came slowly over, conscious
that her knees were trembling, and
that ice-water seemed to have taker
the place of hot blood in her veins.
IF you need it," she faltered, take
it, dear-nothing else matters Which
one shall l give your"
my own" His voice was for the
instant imperious. It was almost az
if someone had asked Ulysses wha'
bow he would draw in battle. e,
reckon my own guns good enough fol
me. 1t has been till today"
She withdrew the rifle from tn
rack herself, and he took it from he,
trembling hands, but when he hat
accepted it she threw her arms abou
him again and chung to him wildly
her y e wide with silent suffering
and dread.
The crushing grasp of his arms hur
her and she felt a wild joy in tn
pain. Then she r~esolutely whispered
Go, dearest, go! Time is preciou
now. God keep you!"
"Juanita," he said slowly, II hav
refused to talk to you in good speech
l have chung to the rough phrases an
the rough manner of the hills, bu
l want you to know always, mos
dear one, that I have loved you nc
only fiercely, but gently too. No tel
derer worship lives in your own worlt
II don't come back, think of tina
God knows l love you"
Don't, Anse!" she cried with
smothered sob. Don't talk like a sof
muscled lowlander! Talk to me
your own speech. 1t rings of strength
and God knows"-her voice broke, an
! she added with fierce tenderness, &c
knows, dear, eagle-heart, you need q
the strength Of wing and talon t
! night"
Then she opened the back door vel
: cautiously on the shadows that ere
into inky blackness, and saw him 81
away and melt instantly into Il
: murk.
CHAPTER XIV.
Out there the moon was. settin