Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-09-19
HEART OF. THE SUNSET
By Rex Beach
by Hps

Spellbound with delight; he held his
breath in ecstasy: only his toes moved,
and they wriggled like ten fat, brown
tadpoles.
In the midst of this recital Garcia
senior appeared in the door with
warning.
"Conc.,sl yourselves" he said, quick
". Some of our neighhcrs are COM
Ing this way" Inez led Or guests In
to the bedchamber, bare room with
dirt floor from the window of which
they watched Juan go to meet group
Of hOrsemen. Inez went out, too, and
Joined in the parley. Then, after
time. the riders gallOped away.
When Alaire, having watched the
party out of sight, turned from the
window she found that Dave had col
lapsed upon chair and was sleeping,
his limbs relaxed, his body sagging.
poor fellow, he's done up" Father
O'Malley exclaimed.
"Yes} he hasn't slept for days." she
whispered. Help me-" With the as
sistance of Dolores they succeeded In
lifting Dave to the bed, but he half
reused himself. Lie down, dear"
Alaire told him. "Close your eyes for
a few minutes. We're safe now"
Somebody has to keep watch" he
muttered, thickly, and tried to fight on
his fatigue. But he was like nnken
man.
"I'm not sleepy; I'll stand guard"
the priest volunteered, and. disregard
ing further protest, he helped Alaire
remove Dawes coat.
Seeing that the bed was nothing
more than a board platform covered
with straw mating. Alaire folded the
garment for a pillow; as she did SO
handful of soiled, frayed letters spilled
out upon the floor.
crest now, while you have a chance"
she begged Of her husband. "Jl t for
a little while"
"All right" he agreed. Call me IN
an hour. Couldn't sleep-wasn't
time" He shook off his WEAKNESS and
smiled at his wife, while his eyes
filmed with some emotion. "There Is
something l ought to tell you, butt
can't now-not now. Too sleepy" His
head dropped again; she forced him
back: he stretched himself out with a
sigh, and was asleep almost instantly.
Alaire motiote6 ths others out Of
the ROOM then stood looking down at
the man into whose keeping she had
given her life. AS she looked her face
became radiant. Dave was unkempt,
unshaven, dirty, but to her he was OF
godlike beauty, and the knowledge that
he was hers to comfort and guard was
strangely thrilling. Her love for Ed,
even that first love Of her girlhood,
had been nothing like this. How could
1t have been like this7 she asked her
self. How could she have loved deep
ly when, at the time. her own nature
lacked depth? Experience had broad
ened her, and suffering had uncovered
depths in her being which nothing else
Ing, she kissed Dave softly, then let
her cheek rest against his. Her man
Her man! She found herself whisper.
ing the words.
For a long time she sat gazing at
him tenderly; then she tiptOed out and
delighted the naked Garcia baby by
taking him in her arms and hugging
him. Inez thought the beautiful
senora's voice was like the music Of
birds.
1t was growing dark when Dave was
awakened by cool hands upon his face
and by soft lips upon his. He opened
his eyes to find Alaire bending ovar
him.
"You must get up" she smiled. 1t
is nearly time to go, and Inez is COOK
ing our supper
He reached up and took hex in blA
arms. She lay upon his breast, thrill
ing happily With her nearness to HIN.
and they remained so for while, wills
pering now and then, trying Intellectual
ly to voice the thoughts that deeded nd
expression.
"Why did you let me sleep so long"
he asked her, reprOachfully.
(TO BE CONTINUED)