Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-10-08
MS. Meaa.,l went through n,

Ms. MenAaIl went through the
grove and looked down the Atliside te
the oar tire. while Nendan went down
the stream ia the rASine. He crossed
1t. and climbed the slope for a short
distance, until he came to the edge al
the meadow.
A eoon - he reached the oren he
saw the hudeled heap OF red ne
Eue&4ea at once then how ii was -
walked lightly until he ttocd over her
She lay in the cup made BY two es
OF a gigantic cottonwood, easss
to its trunk, curled NJ like a ta~nS
kitten asleep in the sun, Hes hss
wss lcosened, and wax spread -
her, the sur maksue . golden neesA q
it, a network OF sold threads eNer sns
crude red Of her dress. It's ~asaesS
had long since dried her Ashes, ard
was pAintins her lirs red. ever SET
ting 4 neck of color ia her checks
Fillowed on her arm. he. face looked
ful3er. younger. limiting % faSersAnee
She had the promise, cersainS> al
tropical beauty: the sold ia he Nan
was like the yellow streak IN 4 saeers
coat.
Menaan stood tor some cme lnns-
ing down on her. II was paais &s
was wrapped in the sleep a eSssas'
saon that had cone after leae eess>
ms; the stain OF tears was stu! eI
her cheeks, She had probably saaH
awake the night through, nsrAaps ~
many nights. the same wstessI: W.
tresi an animal shows when y h:Ss
loses the sight and smell az It's acsa>'
toned surroundings,
Mendal bent Close 20 her, Es'
! sleep was Amos as erss:sseS Is q
faint He knelt beside hsr hen ard
for some time longer studied her, M
texture Of her skin. the slim hand with
its alnond-shaped nails, tie sharp US'
thrust Of her thin shoulder. Ihe hes-
low between the lift OF ribs . As-
! well-defned hip. and the long clean
line of leg which from the knee down
was exncsed-exeer. for she sAess
iridescence Of silk stockAs. Either
the breeze or ON movement \ sleep
had caught ASIDE the high. 6sn,ooc.
Her foot had shed lis slipper. and
Mendall locked q; it: X was So per
fectly arehed, 20 beautiful in line ana
in the formation OF the toes, Their
nails showed glossy through the thin
covering Of silk. No wonder such s
foot disdAined . slipper. 1t WAS 4
thing that should SO uncovered,
a shiver passed over him; what an
; anatomy to paint
MendAll'e common . OF which
he did possess a nodicCra, had at once
suggested that ven the dry bit Of
ia fever convalescent. but, as always,
the artist in him had demanded It's
satisfaction first. And now. after he
had sazsd his fill, he vas seized by
one of the freakish impulses to which
he was subject: could be carry her
without waking her 1t was worth
trying. shs vas skin and bone, so
! she would be no great burden. And
if she walked, u would simply mean
an explanatory; that would be enter
tanning.
, He hsn. ard cautiously slipped his
hands under her, turning her against
his breast. lifting her gradually. and
then. with infinite care. raising him
on his shoulder. When he began to
walk, her head slipped and rested
against his chin. Looking down he
saw her face foreshortered, the line
OF brows. the lashes on her cheeks,
and her slightly parted lips. He
looked at her frequently: 1t any mo.
ment her iashes might lift. It was a
bit like playing a game, his skill
matched against chance.
Then. as he went on. he began tc
feel an added enjoyment in what b.
was doing she was not so light as h
had thought. but his strength rose &c
the demand with Z curiously pleasur.
able effort. Her body was warn.
against him. and an increasing weight
and YET her thinness gave her an od6
unsubstantiality. as if she might es.
cape from his hold. He did not hav,
the feeling OF possession. The inme.
diately emotional in him was reused
He began to have the familiar feeling
Of walking on air. and that the thici
pounding OF his heart had no connec
ton with the steepness Of the climb
He carne straight on up the terrace
.ingling to his fnger-tips- quite uncon
cerned that his wife had rounded tn
house and was staring at him.
She hurried up, choked with frtgh.
He looked at her through a mist o
yellow hair. Only asleep" he wills