The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1920-04-09
CHAPTER xJII.-Continued.

3D.
mo need to-" said Trevor briskly.
ATve got these three missionary chaps
here for witnesses to the fact that we
went up in perfectly good faith, that |
was forced to a bad landing and got
fearfully cut up and burned and that
was only just backing out of deaths
door when they turned up and found
you intact"
"Why, White Man!' exclaimed An
irea, "how could you get them to tell
that awful liey"
Easily" answered Trevor promptly.
They wouldn't know it was lie. You
see, these missionary chaps win still
believe native; they can't afford TO
roncede the immutable fact that a
black consistently makes only one
constant effort In his life--an effort to
give always the answer that he thinks
1t win please you most to hear. Why.
don't even have to fix it up with my
people. You'd believe the lie yourself
If you could understand half they will
say
Andrea's lips dropped and she shook
ner head. "No," she said slowly. mo,
| wouldn't" She was sitting with her
elbows on the table, her cheek against
the back of her clasped hands and her
eyes following the white mans nervous
movements with sort of wounded
wonder.
$50, you see, we can fix it, he con-
cuded. THESE clergymen are the
only people in this back country that l
could have trusted you with and who
will strike just the right family note
In your precious world-of-the- things
that-aren't-done-y have
worked my best for you. I've made
them come hundred miles through
country they have always thought i'm
passable~"
Andrea sat back and let her hands
fall to her lap; for moment she
bowed her head and looked down at
them, then she raised her gaze to his
face. Her own, while 1t had been half
hidden, had suddenly lost its look OF
exuberant youth. 1t was so pale that
her eyes seemed too large tor it, They
dimmed it's outlines.
"White Man." she said, "do vol
mean it7'
"Mean what?"
II have seen you kill beasts ant
men, said Andrea, "but even so,
couldn't have believed it of you" He
voice grew dnlled, like water running
over silken moss. II couldn't have be
lieved that you would hurt me so !
She cast her arms out across the tabl
and dropped her face upon them.
With a self-accusing cry, Trevo
sprang to her. picked her up and cal
ried her to the couch. She lay In hi
arms without resisting; her body ha
surrendered to laxity that let hin
pile furs under her head and arrang
her limbs as he would. She was list
less; too tired to fight; too broken t
weep. He knelt beside her and too
Doth her hands In his. "Now that yo
ire no longer an irresponsible child,
ne said, snow that your stripped self /
here to listen, will tell you how l Low
you. The child in you might forget
the woman never. l love you in bod
and in spirit. l love you so that / al
ready to stand up and deny freedom
love you enough to give you myself an
the world-my world of starlit night
and silent spaces that I've worshlpe
70 long alone. Yes, love you enoug
Tor that. and I have to, God help me
TOR you are In my heart and l ca
aever. never get you out"
Andrea looked as If blood were be
ing transfused into her veins with eacl
word. She felt her youth coming bacl
with the sure surge of an advancing
ide. Her eyes grew bright and the
frightened. white Man !" she gaspet
Take me quickly; feel myself grow
ing young again!"
He leaped to his feet, caught her III
In his arms and shook her; then h
surrendered Young or Old" be said
what difference does 1t make? l Low
your youth as l already love your OIL
age. Put your arms around my mech
iock int my eyes and tell me you lov
me. too"
Clinging to him, her head throw
back, her eyes In his, she said, II Low
gou."
Again. commanded Trevor.
Il love you"
"And now, my little sweetheart, N
own girl. Just once more"
ABR begged Andrea. don't max
ne say it again; let me kiss you"
Five minutes later Trevor reluctan
" opened the door on the crool an
r1ed. BISHOP
One of the three white men sprap
20 his feet. "God bless my SOUL"
exclaimed, where did you come from
When did you get here? My dea
chap, what's happened to your facet
\ Trevor, forgetful of his damaged az
tearance, put his hands to his liz
Qiltily, as though he feared that som
Ark had chung there to betray the
INIT occupation; then he remen
Y his singed and bandaged cond
SDh, that!" be said. "Nothin