The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1916-01-27

iei Nohc up iIom beA~ktOn anu tuho
II Up"
She went over and struck a chord
then she came back and laid a hand
on his coat sleeve.
I'm not going TO try TO thank you
at all-now." she said. But you 60
home aud come back this evening and
well have little party. just you and
with music"
"Good-by" he said. Il reckon ye
haven't noticed it-but my rifles
standin' there in your rack "
Il was night OF starlight. with Just
sickle moon overhead and the music
OF the whippoorwills In the air. when
Anse presented himself again at the
school lie knew that he must break
on these visits because while she had
been away he had taken due account
ing OF himself and recognized that the
poignant pain OF locked lips would
drive him beyond control. lie could
no longer endure the unlit lamp and
the ungirt loin," Now the sight Of her
set him into a palpitating fever and a
burning madness He would invent
some excuse tonight and go away.
Then he came to the open door and
stood on the threshold transiixed by
the sight which greeted his eyes His
hat dropped to the floor and lay there
He thought he knew Juanita. Now
he suddenly realized that the real
Juauita he had never seen before. and
as he looked at her he felt infinitely
far away from her. He was very
dim. faint star In apogee.
She sat with her back turned and
her fingers straying over the keys of
the piano-and she was in evening
dress! The shaded lamp shone softly
on ivory shoulders and string OF
pearls glistened at her throat. Around
her slim figure the soft folds OF her
gown fell like gossamer draperies and
to his eyes. she was utterly and flaw.
lessly beautiful.
She had followed a whim that night
and dressed up" to surprise him. She
had promised him party and meant
to receive him with as much prepara.
ton as she would have made for roy.
atty. But to him II was only a dec.
laration OF the difference between
them. emphasizing how unaitairable
she was; how unthinkaby remote
from him own rough world
Then. as she heard his steps and
rose. she was disappointed because In
his face. instead of pleasure. she read
only tumult whose dominant note
was distress.
Don't you like me?" she asked. as
she gave him her hand and smiled uT
, at him.
Like youl" he burst out. then hi
caught himself with something like 4
gasp. Eyes, he said DULY. Il like
/ you"
For a while she played and sang
3 and then they went out to the porch
5 where she sank down in the barrel
{ stave hammock which hung ther,
and he sat In a split-bottom chair b.
Z her side
b He sat very moody and silent. hi
hands resting on his knees, trying L
|. repress what he could not long hop
I to keep under.
g She seemed oblivious to his deep ah
/ stractlon. for she was humming SOM
air low. almost under her breath
But at last she sat up and laughe,
[ a silvery and subdued yet happy littl
r laugh. She stretched her arms abov
|. her head.
: ITS good to be hack. ADse." sh
said softly. i've missed you-lots.
/. He dared not tell her how he ha
y missed her, and he did not recogniz
1 the new note in her voice-the hear
note. There was a strange silence be
e tween them. and as they sat, so clos
n that each could almost feel the other
i breath, their eyes met and held In
locked gaze.
!, Slowly. as though drawn by som
q occult power over which he held n
g control the man bent a little nearer
v little nearer. Slowly the girls eye
q dilated. and then. with no word. sh
suddenly gave a low exclamation. hal
q gasp, half appeal. all inarticulate. an
both hands went cropping out towar
him.
4 with something almost like a CRY
4 the man was on his knees by the han
@ mock and both his arms we're aroun
n her and her head was on his shoulder
Then he was kissing her cheeks an
y lips. and into his soul was coming
sudden discovery with the softnes
g and GOODNESS OF the flesh his lip
IA touched.
q 1t lasted only a moment, then sh
It pushed him back gently and ros'
d while one bare arm went gropingl
" across her face and the other han
u. went out to the porch post for sui
port
g. In voice low and broken she said
x. you must go!"
a mol" he exclaimed. and took
Is step toward her. but she retreated
o little and shook her head
Yes, dear-please. she almoI
ls whispered. and the man bowed in a
u quiescence.