The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-01-29
CHAPTER xxlv-continued.


door of the room where her piano
stood there came a soft flooding Of
Iamp1ight-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 drifted 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 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
ne 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
flutter of her heart
Listen she protested. you must
listen"
But Bad Anse Havey laughed.
Ever since the first time saw
ye,'' he declared, Give been listenin'
It 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
to widen with that intense gaze which
is the drawing aside of the curtains
from W'oman's soul, and as though
she realized that she could not trust
herself to his eyes, she turned her
face away. Only in its profile could
he read the struggle between mind
and heart, and what he read filed
him with elation.
"Anse." she said in a very low
voice. give me a truce. For one hour
let me think: it involves both our
lives for always: let me at least have
the chance to be sane. Give me an
hour"
The man stepped back and re-
leased her. and she turned and led
sank down in the hammock with her
face buried in both hands. When at
length she looked up she was smiling
rather wanly.
at can't be. dear" she said. But
while she argued with words and os-
tensible reasons. the night was argu-
ing, too-areuing for him with all its
housekeeping fragrance and alIuring
: 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 it back in his pocket He
rose and said quietly. but with a tone
of perfect f1nality:
Your truce is over"
But don't you see? You haven't
answered one of my arguments.
Anse Havey laughed once more.
81 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 l go back an
fotch him here?"
She took an involuntary step to-
ward him with lifted arms, and then,
with strong effort. as if struggling
against a spell. she drew back again,
and her voice came very low and
broken.
81 can't can't" she pleaded
But wish to God | could"
Then Anse Havey began to speak.
%2IE
ye. Ye've taken my life away from
me an made it little scrap of your
own life-ye've let us both come to
needin' each other more than food an
drink an breath. For me there's no
life without ye In ali the earth there's
just you-you-you! For every true
woman in the world 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
me tonight. Comet"
He raised both arms and held them
out. and though for a moment she
hung Ue1CAP A0A yes SIlll
IDLY held by his and the magnetism
that dwelled in them. With a gasp
ing exclamation that was half surren-
der and half echo of his own triumph
she swept into mis- embrace.
AS she locked her fingers caressing-
Iy behind his dark head she wished
for words fine and splendid beyond the
ordinary to tell him of her love. But
no phrases of eloquence came.
Then she felt his arr1s grow ab-rpt-
ly rigid and he was pressing her from
him with a gentle insistence. while his
face turned to peer into the moonlight
with the tensity of one who is listen.
ing not only with his ears, but with
every nerve of his being.
Slowly he drew back. still tense
and alert. and from his eyes the ten
der glow died until they narrowed No
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