Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1922-12-28

y was time enough. Stepho would nc
e go away till Thursday. All. he wouI
go away no more. for now on Tuesda
he must settle with the spirit OF Alfre
Drace.
Mists lowered about, but the ISLAM
! was In a blaze OF light. Silently hi
canoe slit the satin water. STlentl,
he landed. Determined vengeance ma,
pick Its way as softly as eager love
and In the cane, sharper OF whisper
now that the weather was cool, hs
made not a sound. Out into the oper
he peered. No one within sight. On
the bark Of the live oak were the dead
flowers Of yesterday. There IN the
shade was the box that had served as
table, once so prettily strewn with
violets.
In spite OF his vow OF vengeance and
his hatred of Stepho, these things
caught at Braces heart, shook his
fixed purpose OF action. For many
minutes he wnited-no sign or Stepho.
Of anyone. And then his blood leaped :
for soft hands suddenly blinded him
from behind. soft laughter dubbed
over MT his as%tonishment. And dark
thoughts and dark purposes fled on
the wind as he caught Nadine and
Rugged her close.
Now for your punishment 7" And
he kissed her.
"Oh, you must not again
Virgil, cannot like. you when you are
rude. You must notrn
Il don't want you just 10 like me-"
@1aaa
Come ana SIT down. Virgil.
You worked so hard for your kisses
You must be tired. How dld
you guessf''
Guess whatf" he asked as she led
him to the sofa and he sat gazing en-
tranced as she captured and impris-
oned her guerrilla bands Of hair.
That Father and Tony had zone
hunting todny, But they may he back
Mt any time, Virgil. You must not
stay"
But must stay you hold me pris-
oner. must stay untll you love me
as madly rs do you"
As madly ms you do me? That
might not be so much mad. Virgil.
But why should Elove=yonf,i
Because you are to be my wife. We
are engaged"
Are we? did not know that.
Why you not tell nie sooner?"
Il did, and now you must know IT,"
But did not. Then | must be
yes?"
The whole universe Is stupid II It
denies II. The angels are stupid IL
they fail to see IT,"
oh, you must not talk like that. II
Is worse than swearing the big oath.
And | nm 10 he your wife. Mrs.
Nirgll?e Then what do we do? Go
about and sing with the hddle?g
no. we 20 to the beautiful places
IN earth and look upon them-togeth-
.r. We"
mo. no. you must not think like
hat. You take my father by the wrist
md he hate you. And | do so
wrong to see Won. | I'm the sinner. hut
believe that the Blessed One, she
lsk for my forgiveness. No,
'irgll. we can only play together md
hen II Will live In the mind,
'ur childhood here. My fu-
her is not well all the time now. and ,
must be good 10 him. Only f,
must see you, sometimes. That Is
he only wrong | do ffm. f,
"For IL love you. / did not &,
10 tell YOU, but | cannot keep II !
II the time down In my heart.
dream of you all OF the night. and !
neel down and pray that you always /
we me. There. | have told r
on so much. And | kiss you. too.
Now-you muy stay for n little I
me. and then you must go"
BOY and girl they played, not from n
re book but from loves e~ver-varylng n
'xt. In his canoe they padded afnr o
r where the lily-pads paved the sur- S
ice of the pond. They landed on a 81
noll where was spread over persim- /
on sapllngs an arbor OF m%uscadlne: n
IRE an adventurous cathird had her d.
ast OF young. She cried and fut. d
red about In great alarm, but when Il
saw that they were not her en- a
MES, that they caught grasshoppers d
feed her brood. she sat high among q
e vines, calling her mate, the must. d.
nm, and here he came, scared nj first. I'll
It when she had explained 10 him he m
ng his medley, ending with the cat W
II whence cone his unpoetfc name.
The sun bad been speeding. and went NJ
hind a cloud. Fear seized Nadine,
d taking virgil's hand. she urged ~
toward the boat d
MY dear one, we must go now. The !"
n was Jealous that we so happy and ~
II go into the dark &c pout. ~
viii show you the near way for you !"
come again, the way I came when ~
ere was the fire. You can leave ~
; canoe In the rushes and you viii =
ed II only to cross over to the cane. a.
I we must hurry now" ~
In the rushes opposite the island he
! his canoe. and her she conducted
-,I~-w a.A ~Ar<uz