The Dolores star., 1917-03-02

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eazno becaqDo-rD dyin'-an' wanted
% ~ b yoar asnsi"
sYoa shan't die" ne hreathed
nsrcsay bstWesa heg tssth. NY arms
shall always b around yoa."s
But he ahook His bead and his fig-
ure sasgsd little against her knees.
Il mOW-Whea I'm aoos,- he saiA
slowly. TITS an right nov-rve done
got hsrst That's enough-I loves ye-"
For . time ahs wondered whether
he had lost Consciousness, and she
laid him down slowly and brought
cushions with which to soften his DO
sition. h was almost daybreak now.
She sat there beside him. and a. her
heart beat close 70 him he seemed to
draw from Il some Of its abundant VI
tality. for he revived little. and
though his eyes were closed and she
had TO bend down to catch his words.
bis voice grew somewhat stronger.
Il amt never felt Ionesome-before.
But out there-dyin' by myself-the
last Of my family-I had to come.
Dyin' amt like iivin'-I couldn't die
without ye."
You aren't dying" she argued des-
perately. you sha'nt die"
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 lafd his head very gently on the
pillows and rose to her feet. In the
instant she stood transHgured. Deep
in her violet eyes blased such Q blue
IRE ~ that which burns at the hot.
test heart OF name. 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
and clenched her hands. The dis
ciple Of peace was gone. and there
stood there in its 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 1t. She
pointed to the door.
Get you!" she exclaimed scorn.
fully. mo man but q Havey crosses
that threshold while live. I'm q Ha.
vey now and we live or die together.
Get you!" Her voice broke with .
wild laugh. LET them come!"
No bitterly bred daughter Of the
hills was ever 80 completely the
mountain woman as this transformed
and reborn girl of the cultured East.
She moved about the place with q
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 door. Foxs Book of
Martyrs' fell at her feet. and she
kicked 1t viciously to one side.
She went and stood before her rack
Of guns. and her lips curled as she
caught up q 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. Nov let 'em
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,"
Then Juanita blew out the lamp and
stood silent An the hush that comes
before dawn. She did not have to
wait long. for soon she heard hoof.
beats in the road, and they stopped
Just at the turn.
Hello. stranger!" she shouted. and
It took all her strength to command
her voice. "Halt where you are"
There was an instant's silence in
the first misty gray that was bringing
the veiled sunrise.
A stifled murmur Of voices came
from the road, and she caught the
words, "He's in thar all right" A
moment later someone called out sui
lenly from the shadows:
"We gives ye three minutes ter
leave thet house. We're a-comin' in.
an we'd rather not ter harm ye. Git
out quick"
"Ye can't save me, dearest. It's
too late. For Gods sake. go out, -
pleaded Anse Havey tensely.
Her answer was to cry out into the
dawn in a voice that could not be mis-.
understood. "Anse Havey's in here.
Come and get him." and for added EN-.
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