Tombstone epitaph., 1917-03-11
CHAPTER xxIv-continued,


 The school buildings slept in silen shadows. except that from the ope, door Of the room where her piano stood there came c soft flooding O iAmplight-a single dash of orang. In the nocturne of silver and gray He went up very quietly. pausing tc drink of the fragrance of the honey suckie. and there drifted out to him as he paused. the music of the piano and the better music of her voice.
 She vas singing lore song.
 Though he had sent no word of his coming. she was once more in eve ming dress. all black save for a crim son flower at her breast and one in her hair. But this time the sight oi her in costume so foreign to the hills did not distress him; it was a night that called for wonders.
 She rose as the mans footster sounded on the floor. and then. al memory of their last meeting. the color mounted to her cheeks and he took her again fin his arms.
 1o -c.saA her hands tn =. s,,vui. 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 futter of her heart.
 "Listen." she protested. You must listen"
 But Bad Anse Havey laughed
 Ever since the first time saw ye." he declared. I've been listenin' It has been a duel always between you and me. But the duel's over now. an this time I win"
 She looked up and her pupils began to widen with that intense gaze which is the drawing aside of the curtains from a womans soul. and as though she realized that she could not trust herself to his eyes, she turned her face away. Only in It's 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 a 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.
 Tt 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 a tone of perfect finality:
 Your truce is over"
 But don't you see? You haven't answered one of my arguments"
 Anse Havey laughed once more.
 T didn't come to argue" he said; "I 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. Will you go over there or shall go back an fotch him here?"
 She took an involuntary step to- ward him with lifted arms. and then. with a strong effort, as if struggling against a spell, she drew back again. and her voice came very low and broken.
 T can't-I 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. We'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 TO 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. Comel"
 He raised both arms and held them out, and though for a moment she hung back, her eyes were still irresist- ibly held by his and the magnetism that dweIled in them. With a gasp ing exclamation that was half surren- der and half echo of his own triumph she swept into ais embrace.
 As she locked her fingers caressing- ly 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 arr.s grow ab-rpt- ly rigid and he was pressing her from him with a gentle insistence. while his face turned to peer into the moonlight with the tensity of one who is listen ing not only with his ears. but with every nerve of his being
 Slowly he drew back, still tense sud alert, and from his eyes the ten dsr siow died until they narrowed nd