Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-10

ono could hear his boots squash
through the mud. And then suddenly
It happened. The trees, Just . yard d
% from the fre, were thick together.
tangled. She bent her head quickly,
instinctively. to avoid low hanging
branch, as he for the same reason
swerved little, and their cheeks LAY
close pressed against each others, hoe
hair sweeping his forehead. their lipa
mingling one apother's breaths. He
seemed to stumble; then his arms clog
ed about her In quick, fierce pressure.
clasping her. straining her to him, re-
Taxed as suddenly, and then he had
set her down inside the shelter he had
built.
| Quick her breath was coming now,
and across the fre for moment she
met his eyes. His face was gray, and
his hands at his sides were clinched.
"Tn-I'n get the seat out Of the car"
he said hoarsely. 1T win help to make
things more comfortable" And, turn
Ing abruptly. he started back for the
road again.
Helena did not move Mechanically
her eyes took in the little hut, crude.
but rainproof at least; branches heaped
across two forked limbs for q roof,
| the trunk Of big tree for the rear
wall, branches thrust upright into the
ground for the sides-the whole little
triangular shaped affair. The fire blaz.
ed In front Just within shelter at the
entrance, and beside it was piled quite
little heap Of fuel that he had gath
cred.
| He came back bringing the leather
upholstered seat, shook the rain from
1t and dried 1t with the help Of the
fire and his handkerchief; then set It
down inside the hut His face was
turned from her, and as he spoke.
breaking an awkward silence, his voice
was conscious, hurried
I'm not going to be gone q min
ute more than I can help, Miss VAIL
It's mighty rough accommodation for
you, but there's one consolation ct
least--youm be perfectly safe"
Helena seated herself and held her
skirt to the fire.
Gomez she said little duly.
Where are you goingi"
why, to get help, Of course" he
| told her.
| "Helpw She shook her head. "You
don't know where to find any; you only
know Tor certainty that there isn't
any within miles"
| II know there's q house few miles
back on the main road" he said. II
noticed 1t Is We came along"
| That's seven or eight miles from
here" she returned. "And it's raining
harder now than ever-mud up to your
ankles. 1t would take you hours to
reach It. I won't have you do any
thing like that for me. It's not to b
thought off,
Thornton stopped, placed knot upon
the fire. Strengthened up and faced her.
ITS awfully good Of you to think
Of me-" he said In q low tone, but.
really, you see-that is--what other
people might say-your-reputation
With a sudden cry, white faced, Hell.
ena was on her feet, staring at him.
her hands clutched at her bosom,
wild, demoniacal. mocking orgy In her
soul. Her reputation! 1t seemed she
| wanted to scream out the words-her
reputation!
Thornton's face flushed with quick
sweeping food Of crimson.
I'm . brute-a brute with : blum
dering tonguew be cried misefably.
"You had not thought OF that-and I
| made you. could have found another
excuse FOR going II had only had Wit
enough. / was brute once before to-
night and He stopped and for
moment stood there looking at her
stood in the freight. his face white
| again even in the ruddy glow-and
then he was gone.
Time passed without meaning to Hell
ena. The steady patter Of the rain
was on the leaves, the sullen. constant
drip Of water to the ground. and now.
occasionally. a rush Of wind. heavier
downpour. She sat before the Ore.
staring into 1t. her elbows on her
knees her face held tightly in her
hands. the brown hair. wet and way
ward now. about her temples. Once
she moved, once her eyes changed
their direction-to AZ them upon her
sleeve In q strange. questioning sur.
prise.
! Il let MIN 90 without his coat : shs
said.
It was early afternoon as Madison,
emerging from the wagon track and
walking slowly, started across the lawn
toward the Patriarch's cottage. Ho
was in a mood that he made no At
tempt to define. except that It wasn't
very pleasant mood. Before Thorn
ton had returned to Medley 1t had
been bad enough; after that, with his
internal car, It had been-hades!
He lifted his eyes as some one came
hurrying through the cottage door. It
was the Hopper. And then, to his sur
prise, he found himself being pushed
unceremoniously from the porch and
pulled excitedly behind the trellis
What's the matter with you! he
demanded angrily. fare you crazy =
"Tank de Lord youse have showed
upr' gasped the Flopper. Say. hon
est. / can't do nothin' wild him-he's
got me near bughouse."
4Whoy Madison scowled ifritably.
.'De Patriarch, of course. He's nOiy-
Gus an gittin' worse MI de time. He
won't eat an he won't keep still. He
| wants Helena an be keeps writin' her
l ~ 4 So a- a.