The Lamar register., 1919-12-03

He Lay With His Face Half Buried
in the Covers Of the Cot.
buried In the covers of the cot. When
again he awoke, the sun had changed
its mind and come back; day was
streaming across the floor In single
band of light but he did not stir. on
his head he felt Andrea's hand. and
in his ears was the lingering caress
of her voice. Lots of good II did to
tell you to go away, White Man." she
was murmuring. You came back.
You brought me back. White Man,
love you a little"
"And / you." breathed Msungo. He
slipped to his knees. took both her
hands in his and looked into her eyes
as though he could never take his fill
of the sanity that had come back to
them.
Andrea Pellor" he went on. before
you have time TO think about 1t want
feel shame ngnin. ! want you to know
that no man. however mean or tar
nished by life. could do the Intimate
things that | have done for you and
will still have to do, without feeling
the pangs Of love that is rooted out
side the limits Of passion"
He dropped his eyes as though be-
fore confessional. Until | saw you
quite helpless. until l saw you pass to
the other side Of pain, didn't know
thnt I had "a heart. had a strange
conception Of love as thing that you
give generously to dogs, sparingly to
men and never to women except as a
last surrender to the unknown"
He paused: Andrea smiled family.
"And nowT' she prompted.
Now" he answered. "Now
know that man must travel far be
yond the limits of everyday emotions
to come up with love Itself. He may
find content and drowsy happiness in
some woman possessed of all the quail
ties that command affection, but love
itself dwells far beyond at the cross
roads of weakness and strength. And
so your helplessness. carried to that
last degree. has wound itself around
my heart with II grip that win never
loosen"
Poor White Man" =" said Andrea.
whether you want me-" he con-
tinued gravely, ''Or mock me, whether
you are true or untrue, pure or impure
all those things no longer matter.
for love is an integral possession. You
may leave me. put the width of the
world between us. and the breath OF
your body will still be the breath of
mine. the surge OF your blood will be
the surge of mine; your sins will be
my sins. because your helpless self,
stripped of all the clogs of flesh. has
of my heart
$50 you would give three pounds for
me-" murmured Andrea.
He let go her hands and rose quickly
to his feet. "You are stronger than
thought" he said. mo, I'll never give
cent for you. I'll wait till you're
well and then I'll take you in free
fight and In my own way"
But Andrea did not hear him; she
had sunk back lax into her pillows.
Two tears crept from under her closed
eyelids and down her hollow cheeks.
I'm so weak" she whispered. $50
weak l can't cry"
The white man cursed himself aloud.
No one knew better than he that ii
is not won when the tide Of battle
turns. and that he who sleeps on the
verge of victory awakes 10 defeat.
He settled down to the long vigilance
that was his price of peace. The day
and n night came and went before he
could draw the long. quiverlng breath
of relief that marked the passing Of
danger.
During the stage of convalescence he
raaa aud talked 10 her by the hour,