Macon beacon., 1917-08-03
CHAPTER XV-ContInued.

~
Alalre Austin. Family, uncertainty Mt
first, then with a swift, strong effort,
she pushed herself out OF Dawes reluc-
tant arms. They stood apart, fright
ened, Dawes gaze was questioning
Aluire began 10 tremble and to struggle
with her breath,
Are we-mndT she gasped What
have we doneW
"There's no use fighting. 1t was
here-it wns bound to come out. Oh,
Alaire-,."
Don't" She shook her hcad, and,
avoiding his outstretched hands, went
10 the edge Of the yeranda and leaned
weakly against Il 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:
mo, 1t is useless to deny it--now
that we know. But | didn't know, un-
tn moment ago"
1--WE known all the tme-eyer since
her, hoarsely. 'ro me you're nll there
IS; nothing else matters. And you love
met | wonder If I'm awake"
"Dream-man," she repeated, more
slowly. "Oh, why did you come so
mteN
80 later
"Yes. We must think It out, the
husl way we can. wonder what you
thiuk Of me|
"Nou must know. There's no need
for excuses; there's nothing to explain,
except the miracle that such great
happiness could come to fellow like
me"
"IIappness2 1t means anything but
that. | was miserable enough before,
what shnll | do nowT
"Why, readjust your life," he cried,
roughly "Surely you won't hesitate
after thls?'
But Alnire did not seem to hear him.
She was staring out into the night
again. "What a failure | must bel"
should have seen this coming, butt
didn't And In his house. too! This
dress Is his and these jewels-every-
thlng" She held up her hands and
stared curiously Mt the few rings she
wore, as If seeing them for the first
time. "How does that make you feelT'
Dave stirred; there wns resentment
In his voice when he answered: Your
husband has sacrificed his claim to
YOU, as everybody knows. To my nina
he has lost his rights. You're mine,
mine" He waved Il vigorous gesture
of defiance. "I'll take you away from
him at any cost. I'll see that he gives
you up, somehow You're all ! have
"Of course the Inv provides way,
but You wouldn't, couldn't, understand
how | feel about divorce" The mere
mention of the word was difficult, and
caused Alairc to clench her hands.
"Werc both too shaken to talk sanely
now, SO let's wait"
There's something you must under
insisted. I'm poor; l haven't thing
/ can call my own, so I'm not sure
have any right to take you away from
all this" He turned hostile eye upon
their surroundings.
Money 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
have enough. All my life Eve had
everything except the very thing you
otfer-and how I've longed for that
How I've envied other people! Do yot
think I'll be allowed, somehow, to have
it?"
YES! I've something to say about
that. You gave me the right wher
You gave that kiss
Alaire shook her head. I'm not ST
sure. 1t seems easy now, while yol
are here, but how will it seem later
I'm in no condition at this minute t
reason, Perhaps, as YOU say II is nj
dream; perhaps this feeling | hay
Is just a passing frenzy.
Dave laughed softly, confidently
"lt's too new yet for YOU TO under
stand-but wait 1t IS frenzy, witch
ery-yes, and more, Tomorrow, an
every day after, it will grow and groN
ana grow! Trust me, I've watched
In myself"
$50 you cared for me from the yer
hrst?" Alaire questioned. 1t was III
vomanS curiosity, the woman's hunge
to hear over and over again that trut
which never fails to thrill and "
never fully satisfies.
"Oh, even before that, think. Whe
YOU came to my fire that evening
the chaparral, l knew every line
your face, every movement of yo'
body. every tone of your voice, as
man knows and recognizes MS idei
But 1t took time for me to realize
that you meant to me-"
Alaire nodded. "Yes, and 1t mu
have been the same with me-" 81
met his eyes frankly, but when
reached toward her she held him ava
'No, dear. Not yet, not again, n
until we have the light. 1t would
better for us both If you went aw
pnu