Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1917-11-03
CHAPTER XV-Continued.

first, then with a 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 struggl
with her breath.
Are we-mad?" she gasped. "Wha
have we done?"
There's no use fighting. 1t wa
here-it was bound to some out. Oh
Alaire-!w
DON'T" She shook her head, and
avoiding his outstretched hands, wen
to the edge of the veranda and leaned
weakly against pillar, with her heaC
in the crook of her arm. Dave fol
lowed her, but the words he spoke
were scarcely Ineligible.
Finally she raised her face to his
mo! 1t Is useless to deny it-nov
that we know. But l didn't know, I'M
til moment ago"
"Ive known all the time-ever since
the first moment saw you," he told
her, hoarsely. ITO me you're all there
is; nothing else matters. And you love
me! | wonder If I'm awake"
"Dream-man," she repeated, more
slowly. "Oh, why did you come so
late?"
$50 late?"
"Yes. We must think 1t out, the
| best way we can. wonder what Won
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 a fellow like
me-"
Happiness? 1t means anything but
that. / was miserable enough before,
what shall do now?"
why, readjust your life," he cried,
roughly. Surely you won't hesitate
after this"
But Alaire did not seem to hear him.
She was staring out into the night
again. "What failure l must bep
she murmured, finally. II suppose
should have seen this coming, butt
didn't. And in his house, too! This
dress is his and these jewels-every-
thingw 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 feelf
Dave stirred; there was resentment
in 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 vigorous gesture
Of defiance. "Ill 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 a way,
but you wouldn't, couldn't, understand
how feel about divorce" The mere
mention of the word was difficult, and
caused Alaire to clench her hands.
"We're both too shaken to talk sanely
now, so let's walt"
"There's something you must under
stand before we go any further" Dave
insisted I'm poor; haven't thing
| can call my own, so I'm not sure l
have any right to take you away from
all this" He turned a 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
| have enough. All my life I've had
everything except the very thing you
offer-and how I've longed for that
How I've envied other people! Do you
hink I'll be allowed, somehow, to have
it?"
Eyes! I've something to say about
that. You gave me the right when
you gave that kiss"
Alaire shook her head. 'Im 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
reason. Perhaps, as you say, 1t is all
dream; perhaps this feeling l have
is just passing frenzy"
Dave laughed softly, confidently.
TITS too new yet for you to under
stand-but wait. 1t is frenzy, witch
ery-yes, and more. Tomorrow, and
every day after, 1t will grow and grow
and grow Trust me, I've watched 1t
In myself"
$50 you cared for me from the very
firstT Alaire questioned. 1t was the
woman's curiosity, the woman's hunger
to 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, i knew every line of
your face, every movement of your
body, every tone of your voice, as a
man knows and recognizes his ideal.
kut it took time for me to realize all
hat you meant to me-"
Alaire nodded. "Ses, and 1t must
have been the same with me-" She
met his eyes frankly, but when he
reached toward her she held him away.
mo, dear. Not yet, not again, not
until we have the tight, 1t would be
better for us both If you went away
now.
"No, no! Oh, I have so much to say
I've been dumb all my life, and you've
Just opened my lips"