The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1920-04-23


it struggling with the apparently i'm
possible; it was as though she, In he
little studio, had been suddenly called
upon to paint all the portraits In thu
world. . In some degree she I'm
derstood the difficulties; In equal de
gree she sympathized with those who
we're striving to overcome them, ant
she hung on from day to day In hel
search with a logged determination
which set It's teeth against admitting
that the search was hopeless.
AT last one great fear had settled
on her heart. Suppose Dave should
not enlist under his right name? In
such a case her chance of finding hin
was the mere freak Of accidental meet
ing; a chance not to be banked upon
in a country already swarming with
its citizen soldiery. . And YET
there was nothing to do but keep on.
She had sought a park bench where
groups OF soldiers were continually
moving by. The lights shone on their
faces, and her own tired eyes followed
them necessarily. Always her cal
was alert for a voice that should sci
her heart a-pounding, and more thar
once she had thought she heard that
voice; more than a score Of times she
had thought she had seen that figure
with It's stride Of self-reilance, with
strength bulging IL every muscle. And
always 1t had been to learn that she
had been mistaken; always it had been
to feel the heart sink just a little
lower than before. And still she kept
on. There was nothing to do but keep
on.
Often she wondered how he would
receive her. That cold look which
had frozen his features when she
seized the revolver in his hand, would
1t still sit there, too distant and de-
tached to be ever scornful? Would
she have it to break down? She could
not know; she could only hope and
pray and go IN.
AS she turned her eyes to follow q
group Of men in uniform she became
aware Of a soldier sitting alone in the
shadow a short distance away. Some
quality about him caught her atten-
ton his face was not diScernible, and
his figure was too much in the shadow
to more than suggest it's outline, blu.
she found herself regarding him with
an intentness that set her pulses rae
ing. Should she dare risk 1t again7
And yet there was something. . . .
She had q sudden plan. She would
make no inquiry, no apology; She
wonld walk near by and cali him ny
name. If that name meant nething TO
him he would not even notice her pres.
ence, but If 1t should be-
Dave" she said.
He turned quickly in his eeat; the
light fell on her face and he saw her;
he was on his feet and had taken a
step toward her. Then he stopped, and
she saw his features harden, as they
had on that dreadful occasion which
now seemed so long ago.
"Well?" he said. His voice was me-
cEanical, but in it was something
which quickened her hope; something
which suggested that he was making it
mechanical because he dared not let
it express the human emotion which
was struggling for utterance.
LET me talk to you. Dave" she
pleaded. II have followed you around
the world for this. Let me talk. I
can explain everything"
He stood still so long that she won
dered If he never would speak. She
dared not reach her hands to him;
she could only stand and wait.
~"Irene," he said, why did you fol-
low me here?"
"There is only one Snsw er, Dave.
Because I love you and would follow
you anywhere. No one car stop me
doing that no one, Dave-e1cept you"
And again he stood, and she knew
that he was turning over in his mind
things weightier than life and death,
and that when he spoke again his
course would be set. Then, in the
partial shadow. she saw his arms
slowly extend; they rose, wide and
strong, and extended toward her.
There was a quick step, and they met
about her, and the world swoOned and
went by.
II can explain everything" she said.
when she could talk
"You need explain nothing" he re-
turned. II have lived the torments Of
the damned. Edith Duncan was right;
she said If 1t were real love 1t would
never give up. 'Endureth AL things
she said. All things she said. . t. /.
There is no limit"
"But / must tell you, dear" she said.
$50 that you may understand" And
then she patched together the story,
| from what she knew and from what
Edith Duncan had told her, and Dave
| filed in what neither had known, In
| GLIDING the incident earlier on that
fateful evening. She could see his
jaws harden as they pieced the plot
together and she knew what he wai
thinking.
CTo BE CoNTINUED.)