Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1916-02-05
CHAPTER xxIV-continued.


shadows. except that from the open
door of the room where her piano
stood there came a soft flooding of
Iamplight-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 drffted out to him.
as he paused. the music of the piano
and the better music of her voice.
She was singing 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
took her again in his arms.
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 that they must find
their way back to the colorless level
of friendship. he could feel the wild
f1utter of her heart
Listen" she protested. You must
listen"
But Bad Anse Havey laughed
Ever since the first time | saw
ye.'' he declared I've been istenin'
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
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 it's profile could
he read the struggle between mind
and heart. and what he read filed
him with citation.
'Anse." she said in a very low
voice. give me truce. For one hour
let me think: it involves both our
lives fer always: let me at least have
tue chance to be sane 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 her
face buried in both hands. When at
length she looked up she was smiling
rather wanly.
1T can't be, dear" she said. But
while she argued with words and os-
tensible reasons. the night was argu- !
ing. too-arguing for him with all it's |
sense-steeping fragrance and alluring |
cadences and appeals to sleeping fires
in their hearts.
And while she talked he made no |
response, but sat there silently atten- |
tive At last he looked at his watch |
and put 1t back in his pocket He |
rose and said quietly. but with a tone
of perfect ffnality:
Your truce is over"
But don't you see? You haven't
answered one OF my arguments"
Anse Havey laughed once more
Il didn't come to argue he said;
81 came to act He drew from his
pocket the license and the ring.
Brother Anse Talbot is waitin' over
at my house to marry US. Will you
go over there or shall 1 go back an
fotch him here?"
She took an involuntary step to-
ward him with lifted arms. and then,
with a strong effort. as if struggling
against a spell. she drew back again,
and her voice came very low and
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 to
ye- we've taken my life away from
me an. made il little scrap of your
own Iife-ye've let us both come to
needin' each other more than food an
drink an breath. For me there's no
lite without We. In all the earth there's
Just you-you-you. For every true
woman in the world a day comes when
there's just one man. an for every
man there's just one woman When
that day comes nothin' else counts.
That's why all them reasons of yours
don't mean anything"
His voice had the ring of triumph
as he added: You're goin' to marry
ne tonight. Gomez
He raised both, arms and held then,
out. and though for a moment she
hung back, her eyes were still irresist-
ibly held by his and the magnetism
That dwelled in them. With a gasp
tag exclamation that was half surren-
Ger and half echo of his own triumph
abe swept into mis- embrace.
AS, she locked her fingers caressine-
ty behind his dark head she wished
Tor words fine and splendid beyond the
ordinary to tell him of her love But
no phrases of eloquence came.
Then she felt his arrss grow ab-~pt-