The Ozark spectator., 1916-12-20

 guns, and that bullet was the same kind as the one cut out of you. By gum! Boy, 1t d have killed you If 1t a stayed there."
 Tt would indeed, uncle," replied Duane, and the old, haunting, somber mood returned.
 But Duane was not often at the mercy of childish old worshiping Uncle Jim. Miss Longstreth was the only person who seemed to divine Duane's gloomy mood, and when she was with him she warded off all sug- gestion.
 One afternoon while she was there at the west window, a message came for him. They read it together.
 You have saved the ranger service to the Lone Star State.
 Ray knelt beside him at the window, and he believed she meant to speak then of the thing they had summed. Her face was still white, but sweeter now, warm with rich life beneath the marble; and her dark eyes were still intent, still haunted by shadows, but no longer tragic.
 "Fm glad for MacNelly's sake as we'll as the states" said Duane.
 She made no reply to that and seemed to be thinking deeply. Duane shrank little.
 "The pain-is it any worse today?" she asked. instantly.
 "No; it's the same. It will always be the same. I'm full of lead, you know. But don't mind little pain"
 "Then-!t's the old mood-the feary" she whispered. Tell me-"
 "Yes. It hamts me. I'll be well soon-able to go out. Then that that hell will come back"
 No. mol" she said with emotion.
 "Some drunken cowboy, some fool with a gun, will hunt me out in every town, wherever l go,' he went on miserably. "Buck Duane! To kill Buck Duapep
 Hush! Don't speak so. Listen. You remember that day in Val Verde, when l came to you-pleaded with you
 
 terrible hour for me. But it showed me the truth. I saw the struggle be- tween your passion to kill and your love for me. I could have saved you then had l known what I know now. Now l understand that-that thing have to kill another man, thank God "
 Like drowning man he would have grasped at straws, but he could not voice his passionate query.
 She put tender arms round his neck. Because you'll have me with you all ways" she replied. Because always l shall be between you and that that terrible thing"
 It seemed with the spoken thought absolute assurance of her power came to her. Duane realized instantly that he was in the arms of stronger woman than she who had pleaded with him that fatal day.
 "We'll-well be married and leave Texas" she said, softly, with the red blood rising rich and dark in her cheeks.
 "Ray!"
 "Yes we will, though you're laggard in asking me, sir.'
 But, dear-suppose," he replied, huslSily, suppose there might be-be children-a boy. A boy with his father's bloodT
 'I pray God there will be. I do not fear what you fear. But even so- he'll be half my blood"
 Duane felt the storm rise and break in him. And his terror was that of joy quelling fear. The shining glory of love in this woman's eyes made him weak as q child. How could she love him-how could she so bravely face future with him? Yet she held him in her arms, twining her hands round his neck, and pressing close to him. Her faith and love and beauty ---these she meant to throw between him and all that terrible past. They were her power, and she meant to use them all. He dared not think of accepting her sacrifice.
 But Ray you dear, noble girl - Tin poor. I have nothing. And I'm a cripple"
 "Oh, you'll be well some day." she replied. And listen. I have money. My mother left me we'll off. All she had was her fathers Do you under stand? We'll take Uncle Jim and your mother. We'll go to Louisiana to my old home. It's far from here. There's a plantation to work. There are horses and cattle-a great cypress forest to cut. Oh. yOuIl have much to