Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-08-17

he replied Il know what ! am going
to say will sound mawkish like the
rawlings OF hero OF romance-bu
frankly, | hoped there was another
reason oh, yes, | did. well. you
said made good impression on YOU
i hoped i dared 10 hope that might
have had something TO do with your
taking the risk
81 think | intimated that | replied.
"Not as mean it," he answered
quickly. Miss Foote, I've seen lot
in NV life. but | never saw a woman
who impressed me quite as YOU did
last night It's good thing its dark
In here. or | wouldn't dare tell YOU
that thought YOU my ideal woman.
Hang it. I'm only cop, but | made up
my mind To try and see more OF YOU
sometime. didn't expect II TO pc this
way, but | may never have another
chance to tell YOU Just what | feel.
MAY ! 90 on
His last words drove the last shreds
of resistance. OF dallying. from me |
might never have another chance 70
hear the speaking Of the words any
woman wants To listen TO AT least once
in a lifetime Why. ! asked myself,
should ! put off their saying merely
because | had known tins man 10
whom my heart ana soul cried out 50
small time? II the end came here in
this cell, at least | would know what
he felt for me, and he should know
that my heart answered the call of his
own
GO on" ! let myself whisper.
1T il this. then" he continued Il
love you. 1t is a funny place to say it,
isn't it, Lucille? But | love you Aud
| hoped when YOU said | had made
good impression on you last night that
there might be more to he"thing than
you said, Oh. it was nervy, and all
that. hut ! hoped -that--you could
find ii in your heart to"
Love you?' ! questioned | moved
toward him in the darkness swineing
my chain along the wall
Yes" said Danny softly "Gnuli YOU
Lucille? If this is to be the end Of Us,
could YOU give me your love for the
hours we have left?'
My throat ached felt my eyes
wet without knowing exactly why /
was weeping. ! put out my hands and
CROPPED toward the sound of his voice,
and my hand touched his arm and lay
there, clutChng the cloth of his coat
Danny" began. and faltered
Danny Danny, dear"
His hands seized my arm, He came
toward me, creeping forward. His
between his palms
Lucille he answered my sob with
his breath on my throat. Sweet
heart"
felt his lips as he kissed me on the
mouth. My hands found his shoulders
and | chung TO him and trembled. So,
for a time we chung fast together in
the darkness, not moving or speaking
just feeling the wild sweet thrill Of
mutual love steal through us.
Girl said the man who held me.
hnarsely, after moment. "Oh. girl
| want 10 see your face"
felt him move A tiny speck Of
light flared before me. A match In
IT'S Pickering light | gazed into the
eyes Of the man who loved me. and
he into mine. | forced myself TO
smile.
So we sat and looked upon one an.
other til the little light died and The
darkness came back.
my last match" said Danny. "But
Its light has served to show me the
most beautiful thing in the world the
face OF the woman love" He reached
out and gathered me to him. Again
we sat silent, while listened to the
beating OF Dannys heart, where he
held me against his breast was al.
most startled when he spoke.
MY Cod he cried in a voice gone
savage. There must be some way to
get out Of this hellsh place II can't
end like this, Lucille. 1t can't tell
you, To find you and lose you like
this"
He paused as abruptly as he had
spoken. ! could hear his breath com
Ing In painting respiration
! crept as closely to him as could
--as the chain would let me. Despite
everything else, was supremely hap.
py ut that moment. II was one Of thu
supreme moments OF my life. | forgot
the collar about my neck, the ache OF
my wrists, the peril of our position.
Danny loved me. Just for n mo.
ment that was enough All the love
hunger OF my sex seized me and swept
me up to a height OF sublime emotion.
Danny loved me, what more did de.
sire; what more could my heart de.
sire?
And it seemed that the thought
evoked recollection. Dual had said
to me when left him that il did as
promised the stars themselves would