Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1916-12-20

stantly.
all the voice she had left. ~ tried to sit
18TH until som one came for me. but |
thought ! knew the way. ! tried not 10 lis
ten to the noises. ! remembered about
the stars. and I knew | shouldn't run But
] thought Won WERE though. Won we're
Remembered terror choked Ter. Con
seriousness slipped away
BY the same trail which once had led
him 70 the "city' of Morrison he carried
her now to that cabin which stood on the
balsam knoll in the crook of the west
branch. Nor was il far. for she had trav-
eled straight. though in the wrong direc-
Ition. But il was long after dark when the
river cleaned ahead of him through the
trees. jet and CLASSY in the deep pools,
streaked with blurred star reflections in the
rifles. A grown woman is a grown mans
burden, even though she seem very small
TO him, and Steve had TO travel slowly.
His head was spinning from fatigue and
the throb of the Jagged tear above his tenn
pie when the log building. Streaked white
with clay chinking. doomed up ahead, and
yet involuntarily he stopped there a mom-
ent with his burden.
He had pictured many times a night
when he should bring her there. with both
Of them watching the moon in the rapids
and listening TO the waves Tipping the
banks. This was not that night. That
night would never be. But the rebellion and
IA. 80 t-o,o IL baar+ After
he had removed her wet shoes and stock
ings and brush whipped suit and sheer
black blouse and she slept in exhaustion
into which she had slipped from uncon-
lscnnsneSs without even opening her eyes
he built a fire and sat before II until morn
ing came. And when it dawned and she
walked dazedly while he was preparing
breakfast he had finished reconstructine
many things.
Her ewes went from wall to wall, fright
ened still and questioning ut first. 30 he
merely nodded and went outside and left
her to remember alone. Returning with
wood on his arm, he found recollection of
much in her gaze. She was looking ut the
thin heeIed. buttoned boots before the fire
place, the stocking and furred garments
cleaned Of mud and dried on the backs Of
chairs. 4 cloud of color stole mp from
the blanket edge 1T her throat to the line
of her hair.
"You were wet" he explained simply.
."and Won were too spent to help Yourself.
| could not let You sleep in them"
~ understand" her answer faltcred a
little. Il Was just thinking. ! knew Snch
things happened. but I thought Il was
only in books"
Drowsily she watched him bending over
frying pan and coffeepot, content herself
to lie and rest. But after n time. with full
Ter awakening. the handage about his head
claimed her attention. To her il seemed
impossible that this smoothly shaver mar
in clean blue shirt could be the same one
who had emerged from a struggle still sick
%cninglv british to her. 1nvoluntarily she
shuddered a little without knowing that
he watched.
~ am going to the spring for fresh wat
er.'' he told her then. "Therc will he time
for YOU to dress. and breakfast viii be
ready when ! come back"
SuhAnl-~lNe ncIOTe n- lont Sht requiem
that she was hungry; that she would be
ready. too. She had donned blouse and
| skirt and stockings and shoes and finish
| ed hraiding her hair when he entered
lie showed her n tin basin outside filled
with icv water for her face and hands. And
then they sat down i'm silence to breakfast.
~ told YOU that YOU would find ont some
.. - ~l 4.,nn~ - ,vnrr
ed YOU YOU would wake suddenly and sec
| how shallow | am
Until she had finished eating he wonld
not talk. But she had finished low. He
faced her with an abruptne~S that startled
her.
waking has been no sudden thing with
me. | finished with dreams 2 long time
back. bu, you are what YOU have always
been in my thoughts. It. conditions I've
walked TO. not you"
With unwilling gruffneS-. he had some
times spoken 10 her. but never WIN con
strained vehemence such a. that.
.Nhv should | find fault ~ anything
van have done or failed To dof" he de-
manded If both her and himself. "Why
should Won be apologize or regretiuif
Such 4 thing ~ I had to do two days ago
has held no place in your world and never
could. but | can't find 1t in myself 7" be
apologetle. either, because IT J. n part
of mine. meant 10 Kill hlm-wanfei ="
kill him-because | was certain OF Your
That was indicative; that Wa
foolish Of n man. But a. for the rest ~
NJ. L.va H. aII ~ M nvprl