The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1917-01-05

He Carried Her Now to That Cabin
Which Stood on the Balsam Knoll.
Harrigan would not let him abandon.
But he had run her down when he
caught sight of her, for she fed Ike a
wild thing before him. Floundering In
cedar swamp, soaked to the knees,
little blue befurred suit heavy with
black muck, he came up with her. She
was kneeling, shaking with terror face
hidden by her loosened hair, when he
bent over her and raised her to her
feet.
please" she whimpered, ooh,
please
Yet when he spoke her name her
head leaped back, and she recognized
him instantly.
II tried TO wait" she chartered with
all the voice she had left. 81 tried to
sit still until some one came for me,
but thought knew the way. tried
not to listen to the noises. | remem'
bered about the stars, and | knew
shouldn't run. But | thought you
were-I thought you were
Remembered terror choked her. Con-
sciousness slipped away.
By the same trail which once had led
him to the "city" Of Morrison he car
ried her now to that cabin which stood
on the balsam knoll In the crook Of the
west branch.
His head was spinning from fatigue
and the thrOb of the jagged tear above
his temple when the log building
streaked white with clay thinking
doomed up ahead, and yet Involuntary
he stopped there a moment with his
burden.
He had pictured many times a night
when he should bring her there, with
both OF them watching the mes u
the rapids and listening to the waves
Tipping the banks. This was not that
night. That night would never be. But
the rebellion and bitterness were gone
from his heart. After he had removed
her wet shoes and stockings and brush
whipped suit and sheer black blouse
and she slept the sleep of exhaustion
into which she had slipped from un
consciousness without even opening
her eyes he built fire and sat before
1t until morning came. And when Il
dawned and she walked dazedly while
he was preparing breakfast he had fin
ished reconstructlng many things.
Her eyes went from wall to wall
frightened still and questioning at first
so he merely nodded and went outside
and left her to remember alone. Re
turning with wood on his arm, he
found recollection of much In her gaze
She was looking at the thin heeled
buttoned boots before the fireplace, the
stockings and furred garments cleaned
Of mud and dried on the backs Of
chairs. A cloud Of color stole up from
the blanket edge at her throat to the
line Of her hair.
"You were wet" he explained sim
ply, "and you were too spent to helr
yourself. could not let you sleep In
them"
81 understand" her answer faltered
little. ~ was just thinking. knew
such things happened. but l thought II
was only in books"
Drowsily she watched him bending
over frying pan anc cofeepot, content
herself to lie and rest. But after 0
time, with fuller awakening, the band
age about his head claimed her atten
ton. To her it seemed impossible that
this smoothly shaven man In clean blue
shirt could be the same one who had
emerged from a struggle still sicken
ingly british to her. Involuntary she
shuddered a little without knowing
that he watched.
81 am going to the spring for fresh
water" he told her then. "There will
be time for you to dress. and breakfast
Will be ready when | come back
Submissive before his tone she re
Piled that she was hungry; that sht
would be ready too. She had donnet
blouse and skirt and stockings anC
shoes and finished braiding her hair
when lie re-entered. He showed her q
tin basin outside filled with icy water
for her face and hands. And then they
sat down in silence to breakfast.
Il told you that you would find out
some day." Barbara murmured finally.
Il warned you you would wake sud.
denly and see how shallow l am"
waking has been no sudden thing
with me. l finished with dreams a
long time back, but you are what you
have been always in my thoughts. It's
conditions I've walked to, not your
With unwilling gruffness he had
sometimes spoken to her, but never
with such constrained yeher
ITO be continued.)