The Glenwood post., 1924-01-03

on the bottom, and Horace was tall.
In fine, while she was still submerged,
her foot was roughly seized; coming
up, spluttering. she found herself ef-
fectually prisoned.
Thus the man, like Neptune with a
mermaid, had his way. The stars
looked down upon the odd conjugal
caress. Upon the woman's lips, gasp
ing and watery, the lips of Horace, just
as gasping, came waterily down.
Though her heart hammered with a
wild excitement, there was now no
strength in her. After an instant, her
feeble struggles ceased; another in
slant and, marvelously, resistance
seemed no longer of any Importance.
Under this masterful embrace the
wife's will, her whole being, indeed,
seemed all at once, mysteriously, to
dissolve within her.
you witch! I will adore you for
ever" painted Horace wetly.
And then her bare dripping arms
lifting. went round his neck.
Under the impulse of his great love,
became for the welded pair like n
new and richer honeymoon. Her
elusiveness faded; her reticence and
reserves, all the provocative with
drawals learned after how much
tribulation, came to seem not only
superfluous, but altogether unworthy.
Since Horace gave so lavishly, how
inconceivably mean-spirited to dole
back to him with n thrifty and calcu-
lating handl
Willingly, young Laurel let her
self go.
The new banns brought their unex-
perienced blessing. Now God was
ready, in the old phrase, to smile upon
this union. There came another June
and then another, and Laurel's first
child was six months old.
Otherwise perhaps it would hardly
have been bearable.
She sat in her room near the
screened open window, nursing her
boy, whom she had no thought of
weaving as yet. The sultry afternoon
was quiet. From the piazza below
hoated up the voice of her husband
idly exchanging domestic news with
his adoring mother, arrived the day
before for her yearly visit; but she
did not need that sound to make her
remember his nearness. On the stand
beside her lay a note from Howard
Witheredge, who had lately "come
into her life" again; she had just been
thinking that nothing could be more
symbolical than that.
Her name came vaguely waiting up
to her.
"Laurers stoutened," said her moth
er-in-law, rocking comfortably, though
with touch of asthma. ITS not un-
becoming to her. I think she has
settled-somehow, Horace? She has
gained in poiseY
Eyes, she's matured very much since
the baby came" said Horace, and
yawned little.
"She is charming still. And more
exemplary and devoted wife I never
saw. That pleases me so much. Do
you know, my son." continued Mrs.
Seymour, suddenly, "two years ago
when I were here-that spring. was
rather afraid she was drifting away
from you-just littleT'
REALLY! What an IDEAL No,
remember that summer on the lake
particularly" said Horace thought
fully. 1--WE had wonderful time"
"Oh, it's evident enough that I was
mistaken" said his mother archly
"She absolutely worships you, that's
as clear as MONDAY"
"Oh, yes" said Horace.
There was little silence. Down in
the pasture-lot, behind the barn, the
buxom new dairy maid was climbing
over the stile. The lass had a trim
leg. Having adjusted his glasses a
little, Horace satisfied himself on that
point.
"In fact, if the dear creature has
fault at ALL" he finished indolently,
"Td say that she loves me little too