The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1915-05-25
THE MAN WHO DARED

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shrub until II brought us to
recess in the canyon wall. grass
secluded and warm wit
tempered sunlight.
This, "'breathed Anna radiant
y, must have been made espe
tally for our delight. It's per
'ect! Now you find a nice spo
where We can go wading afte
unch. while ! unwrap the sand
Viches. I'll call you when tn,
spread is served
In a few minutes she trilled
her summons, and, returning,
i found her standing in "a
shaft of sunlight. She had
flung aside the ulster. Never
had l seen another woman SO
provocative with the sheer
flaunt of her loneliness.
stood for n moment en-
tranced.
Her clothes were sleek up
on her and of texture that
brought a play of high lights
shifting to every movement,
like the CLEAN of a bather's
suit. The dress was the color
of q wren's breast, with here
and there hint of ocher and
red. The hat, fitting the
head snugly, revealed only
the pink lobes OF her ears
and the bewitching nape of
the neck, where brown hair
began I'm a shadowy whirl.
My emotions surged tu-
multuously.
Ii revealed the bewitching
artistry of the practiced
siren, though 1 did not think
of It so then. And to the en-
ticement of her attire was
added the futher intoxicant
OF a perfume like wild plum.
Come on" she invited, knee
ing where the lunch was spread
Aren't you hungry? The col
fees poured and will be goin
She affected to be unaware &
my fascinated appraisal of he
until the impairment stare of tw
men in khaki who passed alon
the creek bank brought an excla
of fierce jealousy from m'
And then she only chuckled an
preened herself anew.
After lunch she took her siest
in natural arm chair formed b
the grotesque protruding roots G
an oak, while | smoked a pipe an
the wavering sun-dapple
on her arms and shoulders.
Once she crawled over to m
Ianguidly, stopped down as If t
caress me and then leaned bac
out of range of my arms with
smile. Again she ros
with sudden agility and dared m
to capture her while she circle
and lodged among the trees an
finally took refuge behind bou
der. When she surrendered tn
smile had left her face and her r.
spouse to my embrace was
heady as a cocktail.
We waded for half an houI
both of us mincing at the una'
customed contact of bare toe
with sand and pebbles, unit
Anna trying to startle me, los
her balance and sat ignominiou'
ly down in a silvery rifle an
then perched, on a boulder to ID
the sun dry her clothes.
It was a day Of intense de-
lights. We lived at high
pitch, Anna and l. There had
been times of late when l
had been disturbed by the
deep, smOldering wisdom In
her eyes, but today i was
content to sip the sweetness
of the hour, as were the wild
bees i'm their languid ravish-
ment of the madrona flow
ers.
We stayed in the canyon unit
1 silver of the moon hung in tn
1usk.
Anna seemed supremely happ
rs we rode homeward in tn
crowded train. IL she had de
signed the day to bring out tn
'inal measure of my idolatry, sh
lad succeeded, and had ever
.eason to know she had.
To my spoken and limited trib
ties she responded with a 10,
room that carried the deep bell
tote of passion. And when w
.eached Oakland she had agail
allowed me to assume the woo
ng.
/ was growing a little embar
.assed at the sheer display of Low
n her eyes as we stood waitinl
With the crowd at the ferry gate
when / saw a quick hint of terro
n her gaze. ] followed its direc
ion and saw a man look at he
With glowering intensity.
Hurry" she pleaded as tn
rate opened, Juggling at my arm
i want to avoid him--that man!
Looking back, saw him fol
ow, shouldering arrogant,
through the intervening crowd.
Sno.k,nuaI T,nypnrrnw \