Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1916-01-26

But Bad Anse Havey only answered
IN an embarrassed voice: Il reckon il
might be little jingly, so had fel
Ter come up from Lexington and tune
it up"
She went over and struck chord
then she came back and laid hand
on his coat sleeve.
I'm not going to try to thank you
at all-now." she said But you &c
home and come back this evening and
We'll have little party. just you and
with music"
"Good-by," he said. 81 reckon We
haven't noticed it-but my rifles
standin' there in your rack"
1t was night of starlight, with just
a sickle moon overhead and the music
of the whippoorwills in the air, when
Anse presented himself again at the
school. He knew that he must break
off these visits because while she had
been away he had taken due account.
ing OF himself and recognized that the
poignant pain of locked lips would
drive him beyond control. He could
no longer endure ''the unlit lamp and
the ungirt loin." Now the sight Of her
set him into a palpitating fever and a
burning madness. He would invent
some excuse tonight and go away.
Then he came to the open door and
stood on the threshold transfixed by
the sight which greeted his eyes. His
hot 20 he nd low
He thought he knew Juanita. Now
he suddenly realized that the real
Juanita he had never seen before, and
as he looked at her he felt infinitely
far away from her. He was very
dim, faint star in apogee.
She sat with her back turned and
her fingers straying over the keys OF
the piano-and 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" to surprise him. She
had promised him q party and meant
to receive him with as much prepare
ton as she would have made for roy
atty. But to 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
rose, she was disappointed because in
his face, instead Of pleasure, she read
only a tumult whose dominant note
was distress.
Don't 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 a
gasp. "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
anu u0 sat III d SPllI-potIOAA ShoAA w
her side.
He sat very moody and silent, his
hands resting on his knees, trying to
repress what he could not long nope
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
silvery and subdued yet happy little
laugh. She stretched her arms above
her head.
tits good to be back, Anse," she
said softly. 'I've 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 strange silence be
tween them, and as they sat, so close
that each could almost feel the others
breath, their eyes met and held in g
locked gaze.
Slowly, as though drawn by some
occult power over which he held nc
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, hall
gasp, half appeal, all inarticulate, anc
both hands went cropping out TOWARD
him.
With something almost like cry
the man was on his knees by the ham
mock and both his arms were around
her and her head was on his shoulder
Then he was kissing her cheeks an6
lips, and into his soul was coming 9
sudden discovery with the softnesi
and GOODNESS of the flesh his lips
touched.
1t lasted only a moment, then she
pushed him back gently and rose
while one bare arm went gropinglJ
across her face and the other hant
went out to the porch post for sup
port.
In a voice low and broken she said;
"You must go!"
mol" he exclaimed, and took
step toward her, but she retreated
little and shook her head.
yes. dear-please." she almos
whispered, and the man bowed in &C
| quiescence.
Good night" he said gravely, and
picking up his hat, he started across
the ridge.
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