Tombstone epitaph., 1917-03-04
you-for everything" she said

thdHh you-Aoi 0'ehytuiu8' Sno oeiu softly
 But Bad Anse Havey only answered fin an embarrassed voice: q reckon 1t might be little jingly, SO had fel- Ter come up from Lexington and tune 1t up."
 She went over and struck a chord. then she came back and laid a hand on his coat sleeve.
 I'm not going to try to thank you at all-now," she said. But you go home and come back this evening and we'll have a little party. just you and with music"
 "Goodby." he said. q reckon ye haven't noticed it-but my rifles standin' there in your rack"
 It was a night of starlight. with just a sickle moon overhead and the music of the whippoorwills in the air. when Anse presented himself again at the school. He knew that he must break on these visits because while she had been away be had taken due account ing of himself and recognized that the poignant pain of locked lips would drive him beyond control. He could no longer endure the unit lamp and the ungirt loin." Now the sight of her set him into d paipitating fever and a burning madness. He would invent some excuse tonight and go away.
 Then he came to the open door and stood on the threshold transfixed by the sight which greeted his eyes. His hat dropped to the floor and lay there.
 He thought he knew Juanita. Now he suddenly realized that the real Juanita he had never seen before. and as he looked at her he felt infinitely far away from her. He was a very dim, faint star in apogee.
 She sat with her back turned and her fingers strayiag over the keys of the piano-and she was in evening dress! The shaded lamp shone softly on ivory shoulders and a string of pearls glistened at her throat. Around her slim figure the soft folds of her gown fell like gossamer draperies and, to his eyes, she was utterly and flaw lessly beautiful.
 She had followed a whim that night and dressed up" to surprise him. She had promised him a party and meant to receive him with as much prepara- ton as she would have made for roy alty. But to him 1t was only dec laration of the difference between them, emphasizing how unattainable she was; how unthinkably remote Sro,,, bg,, ranub urorIJ Then, as she heard his steps and rose, she was disappointed because in his face, instead of pleasure, she read only a tumult whose dominant note was distress.
 Don't you like mel" she asked. as she gave him her hand and smiled up at him.
 Like you." he burst out, then he caught himself with something like gasp. Yes" he said duly. "I like you"
 For a while she played and sang, and then they went out to the porch, where she sank down in the barrel. stave hammock which hung there and he sat in split-bottom chair by her side.
 He sat very moody and silent, his hands resting on his knees, trying to repress what he could not long hope | to keep under.
 She seemed oblivious to his deep ab- straction. for she was humming some air low, almost under her breath. But at last she sat up and laughed a silvery and subdued yet happy little laugh. She stretched her arms above 1 her head.
 Its good to be pacK, Anse." she said softly. I've missed you-lots." !" He dared not tell her how he had missed her, and he did not recognize the new note In her voice-the heart | note. There was a strange silence be- tween them. and as they sat, so close that each could almost feel the others breath, their eyes met and held in a locked gaze.
 Slowly. as though drawn by some occult power over which he held no control, the man bent a little nearer. a little nearer. Slowly the girls eyes dilated, and then. with no word, she suddenly gave a low exclamation, half gasp, half appeal. all inarticulate, and both hands went groping out toward him.
 With something almost like a cry. the man was on his knees by the ham. mock and both his arms were around her and her head was on his shoulder. Then he was kissing her cheeks and lips. and into his soul was coming a sudden discovery with the softness and coolness of the flesh his lips touched.
 | It lasted only a moment, then she pushed him back gently and rose while one bare arm went gropingly across her face and the other hand went out to the porch post for sup port.
 In a voice low and broken she said: You must go!"
 | "No!" be exclaimed, and took a step toward her, but she retreated a little and shook her head.
 Yes. dear-please." she almost whispered, and the man bowed in ac quiescence.
 Good night" he said gravely. and picking up his hat. he started across the ridge.
 But now there were no ghosts ir | bic ASa e. nn ho -av nuar thot