Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-04-14

quantity Of tinder-dry excelhoe
The stun caught Instantly, pufhng into
brilliant patch Of blaze; she rose
and stood back, en- silhouette, delicate
~ poised at attention. waiting to zee
that her work was well done. He
could not take his gaze from her.
So what ne had trified and toye4
with. fought with and prayed against
doubted and questioned, laughed %
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 hnger-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 of to
leeward in great, red-bosomed volutes
ana whorls picked out with flying Fegi.
ments of sparks.
They seated themselves with their
backs to the are and at respectful
distance from It., where they could
watch the letting blades Of light that
ringed the far-on headland Whitaker
reclined 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 il really
so canny, this place. Or else I'm
balmy. I'm seeing things--shapes that
stir against the blackness, of there be-
You'd the light. moving, hating, star
ing, hating us for butchering their age.
old peace and quiet. Maybe I'll for-
get to see them, II you'll talk to me
a little"
II can't talk to you." he said. un-
gracious in his distress.
"You can't? It's the first time Its
been noticeable, then. What's respon.~
sible for this all-of-a-sudden change,
Of hearth" N
That's what's responsible" The,
words spoke themselves almost against !.
his will. ss IS
you're very obscure. Am i to On.
derstand that you've taken sudden
dislike to me, SO that. you can't treat
me with decent civility7"
"rve always understood women
knew what men meant before the men
did, themselves" His voice broke n
little. "Oh, can't you see how It ID
with me? Can't you seer he cried.
"God forgive me! | never meant to
infiict this on you. at such a dmel
/ don't know why I have. -
I "You mean." she stammered IN .
voice Of amaze-'.you mean-loye3
Can you doubt 1T" N
+ mo : i. not after what's hap
pened, I presume. You wouldn't have i
followed-you wouldn't have fought -
to save me from drowning-l supposs
III you hadn't-cared. -. But 4
didn't know" n q
Then you're not-onended :? Ne
asked. sitting up. y
"why should I ber The nrelight
momentarily outlined the smiling half
wistful cOuntenance she turned to him.
"What woman would be who received i
as great and honorable tcOmplimene
from you, Hugh7 0nly.,--again the
whimsical little laugh that merged into
Z smothered slight wish / knew lg
wish you knew what1' (. Il
whats going on inside that extra-
ordinary head Of yours ~hafs,in The
mind behind the eyes that 30 Ofteas
md staring at me so curiously."o
He bowed that head between hands
that compressed cruelty his temples.
II wish knew he groaned In pro.
test "Since you called me to SUPPER
while ago. by name-I don't know
why-your voice, as you used It then.
has run through my head and through,
teasing my memory like strain OF
music from some half.remembefed
song. It half-maddens me; feel 80 &
strongly that everything would be %
straight and plain and clear between +
u.s. II could only fasten upon that
fugitive, indeAnable something that's
always huttering just beyond my 4
graspl"
"You mean all that-honestlys' she
demanded in an oddly startled voice.
Most honestly" he looked up In
excitement. you don't mean you've
felt anything OF the sortr
mo. her voice broke as II with
weariness-T don't mean that pre-
cisely, I mean s. Probably don't
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