Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-01-18

beats. He felt the outcaSt'S need of
love. And she gave up to the enthral-
ling moment. She met him halfway.
returned kiss for kiss, clasp for clasp,
her face scarlet, her eyes closed, till
her emotion overcame her and she fell
back upon his shoulder.
Duane suddenly thought she was
going to faint. He OWNED then that
she had understood him, would have
denied him nothing. not even her life.
in that moment. But she was over
come. and he suffered pang Of regret
at his unrestraint.
Presently she recovered, and she
drew only the closer, and leaned upon
him with her face upturned.
He felt her hands on his, and they
We're soft, clinging, strong, like steel
under velvet. He felt the rise and
fall, the warmth of her breast. A ire
NOR ran over him. He tried to draw
back, and If he succeeded a little her
form swayed with him, pressing closer.
She held her face up. and he was COM
PEELED to look. It was wonderful now:
white, yet glowing, with the red lips
parted, and dark eyes alluring But
that was not all. There was passion,
unquenchable spirit, woman's resolve,
deep and mighty.
II love you, Duane!" she said. For
my sake don't go out to meet this out
law face to face. It's something wild
In you. Conquer it. if you love me-"
Duane became suddenly weak, and
when he did take her into his arms
again he scarcely had strength to lift
her to seat beside him. She seemed
more than dead weight. Her calm
ness had fed. She was throbbing, pal
pitating, quivering, with hot wet
cheeks and arms that clung to him
like vines. She lifted her mouth to
him. whispering, kiss men' She
meant to change him, hold him.
Duane bent down. and her arms
went round his neck and drew him
close With his lips on hers he seemed
to float away. That kiss closed his
ewes. and he could not lift mis- head.
He sat motiOnless, holding her, blind
and helpless, wrapped in a sweet, dark
glory She kissed him-One long, end
less kiss-or else a thousand times.
Her lips, her wet cheeks, her hair, the
softness, the fragrance of her, the ten
der clasp of her arms, the swell of
her breaSt-all these seemed to inclose
him.
Duane could not put her from him.
He yielded to her lips and arms,
watching her, invOluntarily returning
her careSses, sure now of her intent,
Fascinated by the sweetness Of her,
bewildered, almost lost. That was
what it was to be loved by a woman.
His years of ohtlawry had blotted out
any bOyish love he might have known.
This was what he had to give up
all this wonder of her sweet person,
this strange fire he feared yet
loved, this mate his deep and tortured
soul recognized Never until that
moment had he OWNED the meaning
of a woman to a man. That meaning
was spiritual in that he saw there
might have been for him, under hap
pier circumstances, a life Of noble
deeds lived for such a woman.
Don't go! Don't go!' she cried,
as he started violently.
81 must. Dear, good-by. Remember
I loved your
He pulled her hands loose from his,
stepped back.
RAY, dearest-I believe-Tn come
back!" he whispered.
These last words were falsehoOd.
He reached the door, gave one last
piercing glance to fix forever in MEM
Dry that white face with its dark,
staring, tragic eyes.
''Duane!"
He fed with that moan like thunder,
death, hell in his ears. To forget her,
to get back his nerve, he forced into
mind the image Of Poggin-Poggin had
sent the cold sickness Of fear to his
marrow. There was a horrible thrill
In his sudden remembrance that
Poggin likewise had been tainted with
fear of him. The dark tide over
whelmed Duane, and when he left
| the room he was fierce, implacable,
steeled to any outcome, quick like a
panther, somber as death, in the thrall
of this strange passion.
There was no excitement in the
street. He crossed to the bank corner.
| A clock inside pointed the hour Of
| two. He went through the door into
| the vestibule, looked around, passed
| up the steps into the bank. The clerks
were at their desks, apparently busy.
But they showed nervousness. The
| cashier paled at sight Of Duane. There
were men-the rangers-crouching
| down behind the low partition. All
| the windows had been removed from
! the iron grating before the desks.
| The safe was closed. There was no
money in sight. A customer came in,
spoke to the cashier, and was told to
come tomorrow.
| Duane returned to the door. He
| could see far down the street, out
into the country. There he waited,
and minutes were eternities. He saw
| no person near him; he heard no
sound. He was insulated in his I'M
natural strain.
At few minutes before half past
| two a dark, compact body of horsemen
| appeared far down, turning into the