Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1917-09-21
CHAPTER xv-continued.

AS consciousness returns after
swoon, so did realization return to
AIaire Austin. Family, uncertainly at
first, then with swift, strong effort,
she pushed herself out Of Dawes reluc-
tant arms. They stood apart, fright
ened. Dawes gaze was questioning.
Alaire began to tremble and to struggle
with her breath.
"Are we-mad?" she gasped. "What
have we done"
There's no use fighting. It was
here-it was bound to come out. Oh,
Alaire-!W
"Don't!" She shook her head, and,
avoiding his outstretched hands, went
to the edge of the veranda and leaned
weakly against a pillar, with ner head
jim the crook Of her arm. Dave fol-
lowed her, but the words he spoke
were scarcely ineligible.
Finally she raised her face to his:
1''No! 1t is useless to deny it-now
THAT we know. But I didn't know, un-
it'll moment ago."
give known all the time-ever since
the first moment I saw you,' he told
iher, hoarsely. ''To me you're all there
lis; nothing else matters. And you love
me! I wonder if I'm awake"
/ "Dream-man," she repeated, more
slowly. "Oh, why did you come SO
taate?"
$50 later"
"Yes. ;. We must think it out, the
gbest way we can. wonder what you
think Of me?"
"You must know. There's no need
for excuses; there's nothing to explain,
Except the miracle that such great
happiness could come to fellow like
me-"
Happiness? It means anything but
that was miserable enough before,
what shall do now2"
"Why, readjust your life," he cried,
roughly. "Surely you won't hesitate
after this?"
But Alaire did not seem to hear him.
lShe was staring out into the night
fagain. 'What a failure must bel"
she murmured, finally. 81 suppose I
should have seen this coming, butt
didn't. And In his house, too! This
dress is his, and these jewels-every-
thing" She held up her hands and
stared curiously at the few rings she
wore, as If seeing them for the first
time. "How does that make you feel =
Dave stirred; there was resentment
an his voice when he answered: your
husband has sacrificed his claim to
you, as everybody knows. To my mind
he has lost his rights. You're mine,
{mine!" He waved a vigorous gesture
of defiance. "I'll take you away from
him at any cost. I'll see that he gives
you up, somehow. You're all have"
"Of course the law provides way,
but you wouldn't, couldn't, understand
now / feel about divorce" The mere
mention Of the word was difficulty, and
lcaused Alaire to clench her hands.
,"We're both too shaken to talk sanely
now, SO let's wait"
There's something you must under
stand before we go any further" Dave
insisted. SIN poor; ! haven't thing
I can call my own, so I'm not sure
have any right to take you away from
all this" He turned hostile eye upon
their surroundings.
money means so little, and it's so
easy to be happy without it," Alaire
told him. "But I'm not altogether poor.
Of course everything here is Eds, but
1 have enough. All my life I've had
everything except the very thing you
Eoffer-and how I've longed for that /!
How I've envied other people! Do you
think I'll be allowed, somehow, to have
lt?"
'Yesl I've something to say about
that. You gave me the right when
you gave that kiss"
Alaire shook her head. "I'm not so
sure. 1t seems easy now, while you
are here, but how will 1t seem later?
I'm in no condition at this minute to
treason. Perhaps, as you say, it is all
a dream; perhaps this feeling I have
lis just passing frenzy"
Dave laughed softly, confidently.
'Tt's too new yet for you to under
stand--but wait. It is frenzy, witch
ery-yes, and more. Tomorrow, and
every day after, it will grow and grow
and grow! Trust me, I've watched it
an myself"
$50 you cared for me from the very
ifirst?" Alaire questioned. It was the
woman's curiosity, the woman's hunger
tc hear over and over again that truth
which never fails to thrill and yet
never fully satisfies.
"Oh, even before that, think When
you came to my fire that evening in
the chaparral, knew every line of
your face, every movement Of your
body, every tone of your voice, as a
man knows and recognizes his ideal.
But it took time for me to realize all
that you meant to me-"
Alaire nodded. Eyes, and 1t must
have been the same with me-" She
met his eyes frankly, but when be
reached toward her she held him away.
.''No, dear. Not yet, not again. not
boxo Tho Ioh TT would ho