The Monmouth inquirer., 1923-09-06


They sat shoulder deep in the braek
en-, needless OF the night dews "a ms,i
and a girl. she in his arms. He had
thrown away his cigar so that all his
attention might be upon her.
There was no doubt she was well
let us say magic, as her cheek against
his shoulder. she gazed up at him with
parted lips and shining eyes falf clos
ed. Once she asked shyly:
you ain't-you amt glad, are you
Mr.. Blane7"
His answer was chain of hot kiss
es which he pressed about her throat
And then he murmured foolish words
without meaning, as Is the wy of nee
when they are drunk Of the sce1t Of
woman's hair.
Suddenly there came a faint sound
from the direction of the farmhouse.
The girl began to struggle in his armf.
"Oh, you mustn't-stop!" she gasp
ed.
He would have helped her. but she
was already on her feet.
Back from the roadside through the
bracken to the barbed wire fence she
bounded and stood listening. her fin
gers on the topmost wiN
They'll be wondering where am"
she whispered as he Joined her. II
better be goin'."
mo. not. yet! Haven't you forgot
ten something's
His throat felt hot. and bis voice
sounded unusually hoarse to him.
"What?" she demanded quickly
"Why, I'VE got to leave day after
tomorrow"
1t was a potent argument.
When he reached out his arms she
let him have. his way. until again
through the night came sound. shFili
Ibis time. and unmistakable.
"Ger-tie-e-e! Oh, Ger-tie-e!"
Quick! Lemme go!" pleaded the
girl. pushing from him. why Mr.
Blame, 1 believe you're cold: you shis-
cred.r
The man protested, but the girl put
her hands to his shoulders ant turned
up the collar of his coat.
"Are you goin' out in the morAin'?"
she asked.
"Ive got to. 1 came after ducks. ycu
know. I've got to have few to take
home with me-"
"You take keer you don't ketch
more cold,' warned the girl. Now amt
you goin' to give me beost?"
Blame helped her over the fence.
Tomorrow night?" he painted, keep
ing hold of her.
She nodded.
SIS that all you can say?"
She hung her head and leaning clos'
to him murmured with evident reluc
lance the words his vanity wished to
hear.
AS the last tremulous syllable hung
en- her lips she broke from him an
ran across the field in the direction
of the barn.
Blame strobe back to the road. IRON
an inside pocket he drew handful OF
cigars.
Two Of them were crushed open
whereat he ehuckled grimly; but a
third was smokable.
With it in his teeth he walked up
the road little way, for he did not
want to return until Gertie had tecn
in some time.
Presently with a gesture OF irrita-
lion, he threw away the cigar The
smoke had increased the burnin~ in
his throat
.Tm fool" he exclaimed. "a dog
gored feel"
And h, was thinking now. not OF
the cigar, but of the girl. the scent of
whose hair had intoxicated him.
When he entered the house the
family were evidently in the kitchen.
Mrs. Schneider had left lamp for
him by the foot of the stairs, and he
..scended at once TO his room. Before
going to bed he wrote dutiful note
to his wife.
He addressed it simply to "Eloise
Blame" for he knew that when Gertie
came in the morning to make his bed
size would find the letter and carry
it 10 her brother, Oscar. to be mailed
in the village.
Gertie was an intelligent girl. She
VIZ uld likely have understood "Mrs.
Franklin Blame, while "Eloise Blame"
that might mean anything: sister,
aunt or even distant cousin.
He was glad he did not have to
write much for his head ached: tired
out, he guessed.
At 3 a. m. In prompt answer to
the rattle of his alarm clock, he
dressed and after filling hts whisky
flask from a tall bottle. took his gun
and left the house.
The night, it seemed to him. was
unusually cold. He must have been
cold ever since going to bed. for his
headache persisted and his feet were
like ice.
He stamped them on the spriney
earth as he made his way through tia
L~nl~ &ho 20 dnyur, N fh.a