The Ordway new era., 1917-03-02
CHAPTER xxIv-Continued.
~

door OF the room where her piano
stood there came a soft flooding OF
lamplight-a single dash of orange
In the nocturne of silver and gray.
He went up very quietly. pausing TO
drink of the fragrance of the honey
suckle, and there drifted out to him.
as he paused, the music OF the piano
and the better music OF her voice.
She was singing a love song.
Though he had sent no word OF his
coming. she was once more in eve
ming dress, all black save for Grim
son flower at her breast and one in
her hair. But this time the sight OF
her in a costume so foreign to the
hills did not distress him; it was
night that called for wonders.
She rose as the mans footstep
sounded on the floor, and then. at
memory of their last meeting. the
color mounted to her cheeks and he
took her again in his arms.
She raised her hands to his shoul-
ders and tried to push him away, but
he held her firmly. and while she
sought to tell him that they must find
their way back to the colorless level
of friendship. he could feel the wild
fiutter of her heart.
Listen she protested. You must
listen"
But Bad Anse Havey laughed.
Ever since the first time I saw
ye." he declared, i've been listenin'.
1t has been a duel always between
you and me. But the duels over now.
an this time l win"
She looked up and her pupils began
to widen with that intense gaze which
is the drawing aside of the curtains
from a woman's soul. and as though
she realized that she could not trust
herself to his eyes, she turned her
face away. Only in its profile could
he read the struggle between mind
and heart, and what he read filled
him with elation.
"Anse," she said in a very low
voice. give me truce. For one hour
let me think; 1t involves both our
lives for always; let me at least have
the chance to be sane. Give me an
hour"
The man stepped back and re-
leased her, and she turned and led
the way out to the porch, where she
sank down In the hammock with her
face buried in both hands. When at
length she looked up she was smiling
rather wanly.
1T can't be. dear she said. But
while she argued with words and os-
tensible reasons. the night was argu-
ing. too-arguing for him with all its
sense-steeping fragrance and alluring
cadences and appeals to sleeping fires
In their hearts,
And while she talked he made no
response. but sat there silently atten-
tive. At last he looked at his watch
and put it back in his pocket. He
rose and said quietly. but with tone
of perfect finality:
Your truce is over"
But don't you see? You haven't
answered one of my arguments"
Anse Hayey laughed once more.
81 didn't come to argue" he said;
II came to act" He drew from his
pocket the license and the ring.
Brother Anse Talbot is waitin over
at my house to marry us. VIII you
go over there or shall l go back an
fotch him here?'
She took an involuntary step to-
ward him with lifted arms, and then,
with strong effort, as if struggling
against a spell, she drew back again,
and her voice came very low and
broken.
81 can't can't" she pleaded.
But / wish to God I could"
Then Anse Havey began to speak.
we've talked. an I've listened to
ye. Ye've taken my life away from
me an made it little scrap of your
own life-ye've let US both come to
needin each other more than food an
drink an breath. For me there's no
life without ye In all the earth there's
Just you-you-you! For every true
woman in the world day comes when
there's Just one man, an for every
man there's just one woman. When
that day comes nothin' else counts.
That's why all them reasons Of yours
don't mean anything"
His voice had the ring of triumph
as he added: You're goin' to marry
me tonight. Come"
He raised both arms and held them
out. and though for a moment she
hung back, her eyes were still irresist.
IDLY held by his and the magnetism
that dwelled in them. With a gasp
ing exclamation that was half surren-
der and half echo of his own triumph
she swept into nis embrace
AS she locked her fingers caressing-
1y behind his dark head she wished
for words fine and splendid beyond the
ordinary to tell him Of her love. But
no phrases Of eloquence came.
Then she felt his arms grow abrupt
~ rigid and he was pressing her from
him with gentle insistence, while his
face turned to peer into the moonlight
with the tensity Of one who il listen