Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1917-05-25
CHAPTER xv-continuea.
"Dream-mang she murmured.

"Dream-manp' she murmured.
AS consciousness returns after a
swoon, so did realization return TO
Alaire Austin. Family, uncertainty at
hrst, then with swift, strong effort,
she pushed herself out of Dawes reluc-
tant arms. They stood apart, fright
lened. Dawes gaze was questioning.
fAlaire began TO tremble and to struggle
with her breath
Are we-mad?" she gasped "What
have we done?"
There's no use fighting. 1t was
lhere-it was bound to come out. Oh,
sAlaire-!p'
DON'T" She shook her head. and,
avoiding his outstretched hands, went
to the edge of the veranda and leaned
weakly against a pillar, with her head
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:
No! 1t is useless to deny it-now
that we know. But / didn't know, IN
It'll moment ago"
1--WE 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- i wonder If I'm awake"
''Dream-man," she repeated, more
slowly. oh why did you come so
later"
80 later"
Eyes. We must think it out, the
best way we can. wonder what you
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. l 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 a failure | must be"
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-
thingl" She held up her Lands 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
lin his voice when he answered: your
husband has sacrificed his claim TO
Iyoa, as everybody knows. To my mind
ne has lost his rights. You're mine,
miner He waved vigorous gesture
of defiance "Pll 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.
Were both too shaken to talk sanely
now, so let's wait"
There's something you must under
stand before we go any further" Dave
insisted. I'm poor j haven't thing
u can call my own, so I'm not sure
have any right to take you away from
iall this" He turned hostile eye upon
their surroundings.
"Meney 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
Il have enough All my life I've had
Everything except the very thing you
ho
How I've envied other people, Do you
think I'll be allowed, somehow, to have
lit?"
Yes! I've something TO say about
that. You gave me the right when
YOU gave that kiss"
Alaire shook ner head. I'm not so
sure II seems easy now, while you
are here, but how will it seem later?
I'm in no condition at this minute TO
reason. Perhaps, as you say, it is all
a dream; perhaps this feeling | have
Just passing frenzy"
Dave laughed softly, confidently.
bats too new yet for you to under
4 stand-but wait. II is frenzy, witch
ery-yes. and more. Tomorrow, and
every day after, it will grow and grow
and grow Trust me, I've watched ii
I'm myself"
$50 you cared for me from the very
rstY Alaire questioned. 1t was the
oman's curiosity, the woman's hunger
"a hear over and over again that truth
(which never fails TO thrill and yet
PInever fully satisfies.
"Oh. even before that. / think When
YOU came to my fire that evening in
the chaparral. / knew every line of
| your face, every movement of your