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

~
The school buildings slept in silent
shadows, except that from the open
door Of the room where her piano
stood there came a soft flooding of
lamplight-a single dash of orange
in the nocturne of silver and gray.
He went up very quietly, pausing to
drink of the fragrance of the honey
suckle, and there drifted out to him,
as he paused, the music of the piano
and the better music of her voice.
She was singing a love song.
Though he had sent no word Of his
coming, she was once more in eve
ming dress. all black save for a Grim
son flower at her breast and one in
her hair. But this time the sight of
her in a costume so foreign to the
hills did not distress him; it was a
night that called for wonders.
She rose as the mans footstep
sounded on the floor, and then, at
memory of their last meeting, the
color mounted to her cheeks and he
tOOh uSI again III HE al huo.
She raised her hands to his Shout
ders and tried to push him away, but
he held her firmly. and while she
sought to tell him hat they must find
their way back to the colorless level
of friendship, he could feel the wild
flutter of her heart.
Listen she protested. "You must
listen"
But Bad Anse Havey laughed.
Ever since the first time | saw
ye." he declared, 1--WE been listenin'.
1t has been a duel always between
you and me. But the duel's over now,
an this time I win"
She looked up and her pupils began
to widen with that intense gaze which
is the drawing aside of the curtains
from a woman's soul, and as though
she realized that she could not trust
herself to his eyes, she turned her
face away. Only in its profile could
he read the struggle between mind
and heart, and what he read filled
him with citation.
"Anse," she said in a very low
voice, give me a truce. For one hour
let me think; it involves both our
lives for always; let me at least have
the chance to be ane Give me an
hour"
The man stepped back and re.
leased her, and she turned and led
the way out to the porch, where she
sank down in the hammock with ner
face buried in both hands, When at
length she looked up shefwas smiling
rather wanly
1T can't be, dear" she said. But
WRITE che argued with words and os
tensible reasons, the night was argu
ing, too-arguing for him with all its
sense-steeping fragrance and a~lluring
,cadences and appeals to sleeping fires
in their hearts!
And while she talked he made nc
response, but sat there silently atten
tive. At last he looked at his watch
and put it back in his pocket. He
rose and said quietly, but with a tone
of perfect fnality;
Your truce is over"
But don't you see? You haven
answered one of my arguments"
Anse Havey laughed once more.
II didn't come to argue" he said
sT came to act" He drew from hi
pocket the license and the ring.
Brother Anse Talbot is waitin' owe
at my house to marry us. VIII YOU
go over there or shall l go back an
fotch him here2'
She took an involuntary step tc
ward him with lifted arms, and then
with a strong effort, Is if strugglinI
against a spell, she drew back again
and her voice came very low an
broken.
Il can't can't" she pleaded
"But | wish to God | could"
Then Anse Havey began to speak.
we've talked, an I've listened t
We. Ye've taken my life away fror
me an made it a little scrap of you
own Iife-ye've let us both come t
needin' each other more than food al
drink an breath. For me there's n
life without We, In all the earth there
Just you-you-you! For every tru
woman in the world a day comes whe
there's just n man, an for ever
man there's just one woman. Whe
that day comes nothin' else count
That's why all them reasons of your
don't mean anything"
His voice had the ring of trump
as he added: You're goin' to MARI
me tonight. Comet"
He raised both arms and held the
out, and though for a moment ST
hung back, her eyes we're still irresis
ibly held by his and the magnetisi
that dwelled in them. With a gas
ing exclamation that was half sure
der and half echo Of his own trump
she swept into his embrace.
AS she locked her fingers caressin
ly behind his dark head she wisht
for words fine and splendid beyond tt
ordinary to tell him of her love. B
no phrases OF e~loquence came.
Then she felt his arms grow ab-uI
ny rigid and he was pressing her fro
him with a gentle insistence, while b
face turned to peer into the moonlig
with the tensity Of one who is liste
ing not only with his ears. but wi
every nerve Of his being.
Slowly he drew back. still ten
and alert, and from his eyes the te
der glow died until they narrowed Il
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