The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1916-11-16

form swayed with him, pressing closer
She held her face up, and he was COM
PEELED to look. 1t was wonderful now !:
white, yet glowing with the red lips
parted, and dark eyes alluring. But
that was not all. There was passion,
unquenchable spirit, woman's resolve,
deep and mighty.
II love you, Duane!' she said. "For
my sake don't go out to meet this out
/ law face to face. It's something wild
in you. Conquer it if you love me-"
Duane became suddenly weak, and
when he did take her into his arms
| again he scarcely had strength to lift
her to a seat beside him. She seemed
more than a dead weight. Her calm
ness had fed. She was throbbing, pal
pitating, quivering, with hot, wet
cheeks and arms that chung to him
like vines. She lifted her mouth to
him, whispering, kiss mel" She
meant to change him, hold him.
Duane bent down. and her arms
went round his neck and drew him
close. With his lips on hers he seemed
| to float away. That kiss closed his
eyes, and he could not lift his head.
He sat motionless, holding her, blind
and helpless, wrapped in a sweet, dark
glory. She kissed him-one long, end
less kiss-Or else a thousand times.
Her lips, her wet cheeks, her hair, the
softness, the fragrance Of her, the ten
der clasp of her arms, the swell of
her breast-all these seemed to inclOse
him.
Duane could not put her from him.
He yielded to her lips and arms,
watching her, involuntarily returning
her caresses, sure now of her intent,
fascinated by the sweetness Of her,
bewildered, almost lost. That was
what it was to be loved by woman.
His years of outlawry had blOtted out
any boyish love he might have known.
This was what he had to give up
all this wonder Of her sweet person,
this strange fire he feared yet
loved, this mate his deep and tortured
soul recognized. Never until that
moment had he OWNED the meaning
of a woman to man. That meaning
was spiritual in that he saw there
might have been for him, under hap
pier circumstances, a life of noble
deeds lived for such woman.
Don't go! Don't go" she cried,
as he started violently.
II must. Dear, good-by. Remember
I loved you'll"
He pulled her hands loose from his,
stepped back.
cray, dearest-I believe-I'n come
back - he whispered.
These last words were falsehood.
He reached the door, gave one last
piercing glance to fix forever in men,
DRY that white face with it's dark,
staring, tragic eyes.
duane !"
He fled with that moan like thunder,
death, hell in his ears. To forget her,
to get back his nerve, he forced into
mind the image Of Poggin-Poggin had
sent the cold sickness of fear to his
marrow. There was a horrible thrill
in his sudden remembrance that
Poggin likewise had been tainted with
fear Of him. The dark tide over
whelmed Duane, and when he left
the room he was fierce, implacable,
steeled to any outcome, quick like a
panther, somber as death, in the thrall
of this strange passion.
There was no excitement in the
street. He crossed to the bank corner.
A clock inside pointed the hour of
two. He went through the door into
the vestibule, looked around, passed
up the steps into the bank. The clerks
were at their desks. apparently busy.
But they showed nervousness. The
cashier paled at sight of Duane. There
were men-the rangers-crouching
down behind the low partition. All
the windows had been removed from