The Lamar register., 1922-04-19


ugony scorching him fused all his emo.
tions and in flash he realized that
he loved her Just the same No matter
what sine had done, he loved her, and
no woman In the world could or would
take her place.
He whrled around and with one
sweep gathered her into his arms. Un.
mindful of the man on the bed, he
showered kisses upon her hair, her
eyes and lastly scared her lips by his
passionate caresses.
Trust met" she gasped. "Please
trust me-
A contemptuous laugh fell from him.
Trust your he grated. THAT !
will mott I'll never trust you again.
But you're mine just the same. Do
you hear? You belong to me. But
after this I'll watch every step you
take and-and-"
He almost crushed her into uncon-
sciousness. and she hung in his arms
fragile. beaten thing, too tired to cry
out, too weak to plead.
Then, all of sudden, Robert loos-
ened his hold upon her, strode to the
door and. without a backward glance,
opened 1t and was gone.
For long time after he had left the
hut. prone upon the rough shanty
boards. she strained her eyes at the
door. as If a ghost had just passed
through 1t.
Granny Hopes voice called her
name; and she came limping out Of
her room on her stick.
81 heard lot of folks talkin'. Pol
lyop." she said, "an' got awful pains
tonight. It's the storm. l guess"
Almost exhausted, Pollyop forced
herself to stand up.
you hadn't ought to be out Of bed,
Granny" she demonstrated. yep, ]
guess it's the rain what makes you
ache"
Then Mrs. Hope noticed Bennett.
His eyes gazed at her a moment and
then moved back to Polly.
The old woman hobbled to the cot,
and Polly came to her side silently.
Hes awful sick, l guess. amt he?"
observed Mrs. Hope, looking up into
the girls face.
"YepI" The Affirmative was but q
breath.
Coin to die. huhr' whispered the
other
A deep sob rose to the girls lips,
brought almost to utterance by her In
tense suffering.
"Mebbei" was all she could say.
Poor man." the woman muttered.
wrinkling up her face. "Dyin's awful
hard thing for some folks"
A startled expression. smoothing
away some of the hard lines. spread
over Oscars face. In the presence
of death, which every squatter held
in superstitlous ae. Polly dropped
down upon her knees beside the bed.
Her own hurt had been overcome by
the desire to help him IL she could.
And there, while the rain dashed Its
fury into the lake, and the wind shook
the shanty. the three kept quiet vigil.
Large drops appeared on Benefits
brow; and Granny Hope lifted one
withered hand and brushed them away.
Lowell carry you over weary places,
biS oh' "htfLfu- II . PoN-
erful, love is, sir"
Oscars staring eyes lost something
Of the abject fear they had shown.
us If he had heard and was comforted.
Then over his face swept that look
that comes but once to any man.
Jaw the Christll help you, too,
honey" Granny Hope went on again
smiling.
Polly. weeping silently. bent for
ward and gazed hard at the dying
farmer. Oscar wanted to stay little
longer. He was trying to speak; but
she knew he could not. To help him
through the valley Of shadows and up
ward into eternal light, she thrust her
head close to his.
Jesus is givin you rest, Oscar
man - she whispered.
Pollyop's sobbing voice penetrated
into the young mans darkening SEN
sibilities, and the ghost of a smile
crept to his lips. Then slowly his eyes
closed. The strained muscles relaxed
from about his mouth, leaving it more
boyish: and thus did the Storm coun-