Mountain advocate., 1916-01-28

he suddenly realized that the real
Juanita he had never seen before, and
as he looked u. her he felt infinitely
far away from her. lie was a very
dim, faint star in apCgee.
She sat with her back turned and
her fingers strdying over the keys of
the piano-arl she was in evening
dress! The shaded lamp shone softly
on ivory shoulders and a 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 a Whim that night
and dressed up" 70 surprise him. She
had promised him q party and meant
to receive him with as much prepara-
lion as she would have made for roy
atty. ou. 10 him it was only a dec
laration of the difference between
them, emphasizing how unattainable
she was; how unthinkably remote
from him own rough world.
Then, as she heard his steps and
his face, instead Of pleasure, she read
only a tumult whose dominant note
was distress.
Dent you like me?" she asked, as
she gave him her hand and smiled up
at him.
Like you'll" he burst out. then he
caught himself with something like q
asp. YES" he said duly, Il 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 a 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 humming some
air low, almost under her breath.
But at last she sat up and laughed
a silvery and subdued yet happy little
laugh. She stretched her arms above
her head.
IT'S good to be back. Anse," she
said softly. 1--WE missed you-lots."
He dared not tell her how he had
missed her, and he did not recognize
the new note in her voice-the heart
note. There was a strange silence be-
tween them, and as they sat, SC close
that each could almost feel the others
breath. their eyes met and held in a
locked gaze.
Slowly, as though drawn by some
occult power over which he held no
control. the man bent a little nearer.
a little nearer. Slowly the girls eyes
dilated. and then, with no word, she
suddenly gave low exclamation, half
gasp. half appeal all inarIiCulate, and
both hands went cropping out toward
him.
With scratching almost like q cry,
the man was on his knees by the ham
mock and both his arms we're around
her and her head was ON his shoulder.
Then ne was kissing uey cheeks and
lips and into his soul was coming a
sudden discovery with the softness
and GOODNESS OF the flesh his lips
touched.
1t lasted only @ moment, then she
pushed him back gently and rose.
while one bare arm went gropingly
across her face and the other hand
went out to the porch post for sup
port.
In a voice low and broken she said:
You mast go"
mol" he exclaimed, and took a
step toward her, but she retreated a
little and shook her head
Eyes, dear-please,' she almost
whispered, and the man bowed in ac-
quiescence. -
Good night" he said gravely, and
picking up his hat, he started across
the ridge.
But now there were no ghosts in
his life, for all the way over that
rough trail he was looking up at the
stars and repeating incredulously over
and over to himself: She loves mel"
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