Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-01-18

LAKE. drowning man he would have
graSped at straws, but he could not
voice his passionate query
She put tender arms round his neck.
Because you'll have me with you al
ways" she replied. Because always
1 shall be between you aud that
that terril,e hing"
1t seemed yE.th the spoken thought
absolute assurance of her power came
to her. Duane realized instantly that
he was in the arms of q stronger
woman thar she who had pleaded with
him that fatal day.
'Weu-weT he married and leave
Texas" she said, softly, with the red
blood rising rich and dark in her
cheeks.
Ray
Eyes we will, though you're laggard
In asking me, sir"
But, dear-suppoSe," he replied,
huskily. suppose there might be--be
children-a boy. A boy with his
fathers blood!"
Il pray God there will be. [ do
not fear what You fear. But even SO
he'll be half my blood"
Duane felt the storm rise and break
in him. And his terror was that of
Joy quelling fear The shining glory
of love in this woman'S eyes made him
weak as a child. How could she
love him-how could she so bravely
face future with him? Yet she held
him in her arms, twining her hands
round his neck, and pressing close
to him. Her faith and love and beauty
these she meant TO throw between
him and all that terrible past. They
we're her power, and she meant to
use them all. He dared not think of
accepting her sacrifice.
But Ray you dear, noble girl -
I'm poor. I have nothing. And I'm
q cripple"
'Oh, you1l be Well some day" she
replied. And listen / have money.
Ny mother left me well off. All she
had was her fathers Do you under
stand? Wen take Uncle jim and
your mother Wen go to Louisiana
to my old home. It's far from here.
There's q plantation to work. There
are horses and cattle-a great cypress
forest TO cut Oh, you'll have much to
do. You'll forget there. You'll learn
to love my home. It's a beautiful old
place. There are groves where the
gray moss blows all day and the night
ingaIes sing all pight."
p,,io5 byDlypn-
~. No, no, mol!
Yet he knew in his heart that he
was yielding to her, that he could not
resist her a moment longer. What
| was this madness of love?
wen be happy" she whispered.
ooh, l know. Come come come ~
Her eyes were closing, heavy-lidded,
| and she lifted sweet, tremulous, wait
ing lips.
With bursting heart Duane bent to
them. Then he held her, close pressed
to him, while with dim eyes he looked
out over the line of low hills in the
west, down where the sun was setting
| gold and red, down over the Nueces
| and the wild brakes of the Rio Grande
! which he was never to see again.
1t was in this solemn and exalted
| moment that Duane accepted happi-
ness and faced new life, trusting this
brave and tender woman to be strong
er than the dark and fateful passion
| that had Swallowed his past.
1t would come back-that wind of
flame, that madness to forget, that
driving, relentless instinct for blood.
| 1t would come back with those pale,
drifting, haunting faces and the ac-
cusing fading eyes, but all his life,
| always between them and him, render
| ing them powerless, would be the faith
and love and beauty of this noble
| woman.
(THE END) +