Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-06-29
Knocked from her hand. She was an
woman and defenseless.

u.
woman and defenseless.
Alan felt a trembling in all his
limbs. L want to quit. too. Alix.'' he
said in his low vibrating voice. but
Tn afraid we can't. You see. I'm
beaten, too. While I was just in love
with your body we were safe enough,
out now I'm in love with you. It's
the kind of love a man can pray for
IN vain. No head in it: nothing but
heart Honor and diShonor become
any further than a tendency let
me tell you that a thoughtful
man is a most awful bore. When
caught sight of you l thought. What
a delightful little party but if you're
going to be pensive there are others
Alan glanced at her "Alix," he
said, nimicking her tone. 81 see in you
the makings of an altogether charming
woman. I'm not Speaking of the
palnstaking veneer-I suppose you
need that in your walk of Iife-but
what's under it. There may be Others
as you say. Pretty women have taken
to wearing men for bangles. But don't
you make a mistake. I'm not 8 ban
gle. I've just come from the unclothed
world of real things. To me a man is
just man and, what's more. a woman
is just a woman"
How un-American." said Alix.
Its more than that" said Alan,
''it's pre-American"
Alix was thoughtful in her turn.
Alan caught her by the arm and turned
her toward the west. A yawl was just
crossing the disk Of the disappearing
sun. AliX felt a thrill at his touch.
Its a sweet little picture, isn't it?"
she said but you mustn't touch me.
Alan. 1t can't be good for us
$50 you feel it too" said Alan, and
took his hand from her arm.
During the voyage they were much
together, not in dark corners but wag-
ing their battle in the open-two swim
mers that fought each other, forgetting
to fight the tide that was bearing them
out to sea. Alan was not a philander-
er to snatch an unrequited kiss. To
him kiss was the seal OH surrender.
But to AliX the game was its own
goal. AS she had always played it,
nobody had ever really won anything.
However, it did Lot take her long to
appreciate that in Alan she had an
opponent who was constantly getting
under her guard and making her feel
things-things that were alarming III
themselves like the Jump Of ones heart
into the throat or the intoxication that
goes with hot, racing blood.
Alan's power over women was in
voice and words. If he had been hid
eOus it would have been the same.
With his tongue he carried Alix away
and gave her that sense of isolation
which lulls woman into laXity. One
night as they sat side by side, a single
great rug across their knees, Alan laid
his hand under cover on hers. A culver
went through Alix' body. Her closed
hand stirred nervously but she did not
really draw it away. ALAN" she said
''I've told you not to! Please don't
It's common-this sort of thing"
Alan frightened his grip. ''You say
it's common" he said, because you've
never thought it out. Lightning was
common till somebody thought it out.
| sit beside you without touching you
and we are in two worlds. l grip your
hand-like this-and the abyss be-
tween us is closed. While 1 hold you
EOhing can come between"
AIiX' hand opened and settled into
his. For while they sat silent, then
Alix recovered Le"self. after ALL"
she said, we're not on a desert island
but on a ship With eyes in every cor
ner"
Alan leaned toward her. 'But if
we were, Alix! If we were on a desert
isiaEd-yOu and l.
For a moment Alix looked into his
burning eyes. She felt that there was
fire in her own eyes, too-a fire she
could not altogether control. She dis
engag ed herself and sprang up Alan
rose slowly and stood beside her. He
do not lock at her parted lips and hot
81 he Sky is Gear" he said, "where
did you drop from?' His eyes meas
ured her. She was ravishfng in a fur
toqu1 and coat which had yet to re-
ceive their baptism of import duty.
"Oh," said Alix, my presence is
humdrum. Just the usual returning
from six weeks abroad. But you! You
come from the haunts of wild beasts
and from all accounts you have been
one"
"Been one! From all accounts!" ex-
claimed Alan, a puzzled frOwn on his
face. Gust what do you mean?"
Thy started walking 81 meant that
even in : frica one can't hide from Pic
cadilly. IN Piccadi!!y you are already
known. Not as Mr. Alan Wayne, a
New York social satellite, but as a
Whirlwind IN shirt sleeves. Ten Per |
cent Wayne, in short" She looked |
at him with teasing archness. She |
could see that he was worried
Satellite is rather rough" remarked |
Alan. 81 never was that"
"All bachelors are satellites in the |
nature of things-sarellites to other
mems wives"
'Have you a vacancy?'' said Alan.
They both knew they We're embark
ing upon a dangerous game, but AliX
played it often. No pretty woman
takes her European degree without
ample occasion for practice and AliX