The Southern herald., 1916-04-07

"'SHt DS ullle JIHglyt SO nad teI
Ter come up from Lexington and tun,
1t up"
She went over and struck a chord
then she came back and laid a hanC
on his coat sleeve.
I'm not going to try to thank you
at all-now," she said. But you &c
nome and come back this evening and
we'll have a 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"
1t 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. He 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. He could
no longer endure ''the unllt lamp and
the ungirt loin." Now the sight Of her
set him into palpitating fever and q
burning madness. He would invent
some excuse tonight and 60 away.
Then he came to the open door and
stood on the threshold transfixed by
the sight which greeted his eyes. His
nat cropped to the floor and lay there.
He thought he knew Juanita. Now
ne suddenly realized that the real
Juanita he had never seen before, and
as he looked at her he felt infinitely
rar away from her. He was a 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 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 it was only dec
laration Of the difference between
them, emphasizing how unattainable
she was; how unthlnkably 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 a tumult whose dominant note
was distress.
Don't you like mel" she asked, as
she gave him her hand and smiled I'D
at him
Like you!" he burst out, then he
caught himself with something like a
gasp. "Yes," he said duly. II like
you"
For a while she played and sang
and then they went out to the porch.
where she sank down in the barrel.
stave hammock which hung there
and he sat In split-bottom chair by
her side.
He sat very moody and silent. his
hands resting on his knees, trying to
repress what he could not long hope
to keep under.
She seemed oblivious to his deep alb.
Straction. for she was hummlng some (
air low, almost under her breath.
But at last she sat up and laughed
a silvery and subdued yet happy little l
laugh. She stretched her arms above
her head l
Its good to be back, Anse," she I
said softly I've missed you-lots."
He dared not tell her how he had l
missed her, and he did not recognize s
he new note in her voice-the heart s
tote. There was strange silence be- I
ween them, and as they sat, SO close |
hat each could almost feel the others
breath, their eyes met and held in a
ocked gaze. '
Slowly, as though drawn by some
'ccult power over which he held no t
ontrol, the man bent little nearer. I
little nearer. Slowly the girls eyes l
Hated, and then. with no word, she
uddenly gave low exclamation, half 4
asp, half appeal. all inarticulate, and I
9th hands went cropping out toward t
i'm. Il
With something almost like a cry, C
he man was on his knees by the ham.
lock and both his arms were around g
er and her head was on his shoulder. h
hen he was kissing her cheeks and "
ps, and into his soul was coming a II
ldden discovery with the softness
nd GOODNESS of the flesh his lips b
)uched.
1t lasted only moment, then she s.
lshed him back gently and rose, s.
lille one bare arm went groplngly
cross her face and the other hand eI
ent out to the porch post for sup
ort. h
In voice low and broken she said:
You must go!" W
mol" he exclaimed, and took b.
ep toward her, but she retreated a H
tile and shook her head hi
Yes, dear-please," she almost
hispered. and the man bowed in ac. W
liescence. n
Good night" he said VravaIv ond =,