Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-02-03


life" he said, "an l reckonI nights
well-fnish out-'twon't be long. It's
too late to begin now
For while he lay gasping. then
spoke again, weakly:
Just kiss me-dearest-thet' what
l come for
After a pause he spoke again
There's one thing-I've got to ask
We: Why did We swear-ye didn't care
for me-in court?"
Her head came up and she an
swered steadily:
Dearest, I'd never asked myself
that question until the lawyer asked
it. didn't know the answer myself.
but if l did love you, meant to tell
you first; It was our business, not his
l was there to help you, and it
wouldn't have helped you to tell them
that / was fighting for my own heart.
And, besides, / didn't know then,
quite
She went on bathing and stanching
his wounds as best she could, but a
spirit of despair settled on her. There
were so many of them, and they were
so deep and ragged!
81 didn't-come for help" he told
her, and through the CRIME and blood
flashed a ghost of his rare and boyish
smile. I'm past mendin' now. |
came because-Pm dyin'-an' wanted
to die in your arms!"
"You shant de-" she breathed
fiercely between her teeth. My arms
shall always be around you"
But he shook his head and his fig
ure sagged a little against her knees.
Il know-when I'm DONE" he SAID
slowly. Its all right now-Tve done
got here. That's enough loves ye."
For a time she wondered whether
he had lost consciousness, and she
laid him down slowly and brought
cushions with which to soften his po-
sition. 1t was almost daybreak now.
She sat there beside him, and as her
heart beat close to him he seemed to
draw from it some of it's abundant vi
tally, for he revived a little, and
though his eyes were closed and she
had to bend down to catch his words,
his voice grew somewhat stronger.
81 amt never felt lonesome-before.
But out there-dyin' by myself-the
last of my family had to come.
Dyin' amt like livin'-I couldn't die
without ye."
You aren't dying" she argued des-
perately. "You sha'n't die
yes" he said, I'm dyin'-an' now
the sooner-the better-I reckon"
She bent lower and held him very
suffering horribly, dearest she
groaned.
1T amt that" His breath came
with great difficulty. They'll come
back here. They'll get me yet-an' I'd
ruther die first"
She laid his head very gently on the
pillows and rose to her feet. In the
instant she stood TRANSPORTED. Deep
in her violet eyes blazed such a blue
FIRE as that which burns at the hot
test heart of flame Around her lips
came the grim set of fight and blood
lust.
The crushed flower on her bosom
rose and fell under violent tempest
of passion The skirt of her evening
gown had been torn in her effort to
carry him. Somehow one silk stock
ing was snagged above her slipper
His blood REDEEMED her white arms
and bosom. She drew deep breath
aud clenched her hands. The dis
ciple of peace was gone, and there
stood there in it's stead the hot
breathed incarnation of some valkyr
lowering over the din Of battle and
urging on the fight.
. Yet her voice was colder and stead
Ter than he had ever heard it. She
pointed to the door.
Get you'll" she exclaimed scorn-
fully. mo man but a Havey crosses
that threshold while | live. I'm Ha-
vey now and we live or die together.
Get you'll" Her voice broke with a
wild laugh. Let them comeE
No bitterly bred daughter of the
hills was ever so completely the
mountain woman as this transformed
and reborn girl of the cultured East.
She moved about the place with
steady, indomitable energy. With
strength borrowed Of the need, she
upset the great oaken table and bar
ricaded the door, laughing as she
heard the clatter of pedagogic vol
umes on the floor. Fox's Book of
Martyrs fell at her feet, and she
kicked it viciously to one side.
She went and stood before her rack
of guns, and her lips curled as she
caught up a heavy-calibered repeater
with all the fierce desire of drunkard
for his drink. She stood there loading
rifles and setting them in an orderly
line against the wall. She devastated
her altar of peace with the untamed
joy Of barbarian sacking temple.
Then she turned and saw in the
mans eyes wild glow of admiration
that burned above his fever, and she
said to him once more, Now let EN-
come"
He shook his head, but strangely
enough her love and awakened feroc-
ity had strengthened and quickened
him, like brandy, and he pleaded:
Drag me over where / can get just
one shot"