Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1917-03-10
CHAPTER xIV-continued.
II =

leu pYfe OF impressive proportions :
and by that time it was quite dark
SO dark, indeed, that he had been
forced TO hunt up a yard lantern,
carrying the which the girl had ac-
companied him on his two final trips.
Here he said clumsily, when all
was ready, offering her matches. You
light 1t, please--for luck"
Their fingers touched as she took
the matches. Something thumped in
his breast, and a door opened in the
chambers of his understanding, letting
in light.
Kneellng at the base of the pyre,
she struck a match and applied it to
a quantity of tinder-dry excelsior.
The stuff caught instantly, putting into
/ fl brilliant pttch of blaze; she rose
and stood back en- silhouette. delicate
| ly poised at attention, waiting to see
that her work was we'll done. He
/ could not take his gaze from her.
SO what he had triffed and toyed
with, fought with and prayed against,
/ doubted and questioned, laughed at
| and cried down, was sober, painful
fact. Truth, heart-rending to behold
| in her stark, shining beauty, had been
/ revealed to him in that moment Of
brushing finger-tips. and he had looked
! in her face and known his unworthi-
! ness; and he trembled and was afraid
| and ashamed.
The girl retreated to his side, re-
| turning the matches.
A tongue Of flame shot up from
the peak of the pyre, and column of
! smoke surpassed it, swinging off to
| leeward in great, red-bosomed volutes
and whorls picked out with flying regi-
| ments of sparks
They seated themselves with their
backs to the fire and at a respectful
distance from It, where they could
watch the letting blades Of light that
| ringed the far-Off headland. Whitaker
| reClned on an elbow, relapsing into
moody contemplation. The girl stirred
uneasily, turning her head to look at
| Whitaker
! You know" she said with a con-
| fused attempt to laugh: "this is really
so canny, this place. Or else I'm
| balmy. I'm seeing things-shapes that
stir against the blackness, off there be
| yond the light, moving, hating, star
ing, hating US for butchering their age
old peace and quiet. Maybe I'll for
get to see them, If youm talk to me
little"
II can't talk TO you" he said, I'M
| gracious in his distress.
you can't? It's the first time It's
been noticeable, then. What's respOn-
sible for this all-of-a-sudden change
Of hearth"
! That's what's responsible" The
words spoke themselves almost against
| his Will.
You're very obscure. Am I to IN
derstand that you've taken a sudden
dislike to me, so that you can't treat
me with decent civility"
'Tve always understood women
knew what men meant before the men
did, themselves" His voice broke a
little. "Oh, can't you see how 1t is
with me? Can't you seer" he cried.
"God forgive me! / never meant to
lnfiict this on you. at such a time
I don't know why I have :"
You mean" she stammered in a
/ voice Of amaze-"you mean-love?
Can you doubt it?'
mo not after what's hap
pened, I presume. You wouldn't have
| fOllowed-you wouldn't have fought so
to save me from drowning-I suppose
If you hadn't-cared. But
didn't know"
Then you're not-offendedT he
asked, sitting up.
why should I be-" The freight
momentarily outlined the smiling half
wistful countenance she turned to him.
I What woman would be who received
/ as great and honorable a compliment
from you, Hugh? Only"-again the
| whimsical little laugh that merged into
a smothPred sight wish l knew !"
Wish you knew whatf"
whats going on inside that extra
! ordinary head of yours; what's in the
mind behind the eyes that I so often
find staring at me so curiously."
! He bowed that head between hands
/ that compressed cruelty his temp les.
Il wish I knew" he groaned in pro-
test Since you called me to supper,
a while ago. by name-I don't know
1 why-your voice, as you used 1t then,
/ has run through nay head and through,
I teasing my memory like a strain Of
music from some half-remembered
song. II half-maddens me; feel so
strongly that everything would he go
| straight and plain and clear between
US. II l could only faster upon that
fugitive, indefnabIe something that's
always futtcrinG Just beyond my
grasp"
You mean all that-hOnestlyT she
demanded ia an oddly startled voice.
| Most honestly" He looked up in