The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-06-29

to a sturdy rock in rising waters, and
could not. She could only see the face
Of the man beside the door, the young
face that she had seen in so many
lights, drunken and wild and relent-
less. sober and contrite, washed with
regret.
What was happening to herr To her
life itself? To her destiny and her
hopes?
Tears came in her eyes, and she did
not hear what her chance partner was
saying. Fear was in her heart, and a
certain terrible fire that mounted and
grew. Time passed, and she was not
conscious of it.
Finally. late in the night, the fiddles
struck up the sweet old strains of
Home, Sweet Home" and the dance
was over. This was the last number.
A cowboy from the X Bar 2 with
whom she always liked to dance was
asking her for it. She had just held
out her hand when some one reached
forward from the side and took 1t.
Next moment she was gone out along
the floor in the dreamy rhythm Of the
sweet old tune, and this time she was
held so close that she could feel the
beating of his heart, laundering rev.
erberation like tides on the shore. Des-
perately she raised her eyes and
looked at him.
Tell me-" she whispered thickly,
"what are you? Who are your?
Nothing" he said bitterly, "to you.
Nothing-ever-and I'd give half my
life to kiss one curl on your head
with decent mans right"
The words came through his set
teeth, and even in the tensity Of the
moment she noticed that he did not
aur his words at the ends.
"Then be decent |" she cried pas
nately. "Be decentp
'"Too late I'm only looking in win
dows-from the outside-and I built
the wall between, myself"
Tell me your name," she said, tell
me-"
mo"
Eyes. Tell me now"
II can't. / haven't a name-any
more"
You have. Your own name. Not
what you-you go by-where-where
you answer roll call"
ANSWER roll call That's good. What
do you know about me? What have
you heard?"
Nothing. I'm guessing, fitting things
in Places" she said swiftly, "and
there's some one across the Border
who crucifes-"
FLUSH For Gods sake, don't speak
of that again, ever, anywhere! Where
did you hear of-such?"
"No matter. There is-and someway
you're connected! It cuts me like
knife-you've got to tell me. Who are
your"
eff l tell you my name. will you
keep it like you would your oath?"
Eyes. You know will"
"Of course / know. I'm Starr Stone
to my mother, who thinks I'm dead
and buried. In this-country-I go by
something different. Now are you sat-
isfied?"
"No I'VE got to know the rest.
will know it."
"Why? Heaven knows, you have
little to thank me for-little to think
of me for. I've blackened your first
memory of me beyond all hope"
"Why do you speak carelessly some
times and now correctly?"
"T've been two men. am two men,"
"What kind of men?"
"What does it matter? I'm dead
man-dead and damned and rotten !
Don't trouble your darling head about
me- I'm running true to form right
now in being here, in holding you in
my arms, In looking in your face. If
anyone this side the Border-anyone
who counted-knew me, I'd not have
done it. There's that much decency
left In me- But no one knows, and I'm
like dying man begging for water.
I come back to look at you again and
again. I'd crawl on my knees around
the world to change my - leopard
Spots" he finished bitterly, "to look
in your eyes with clear conscience"
Suddenly the fire and the fear and
the ecstasy which had warred in Son.
va all night seemed to rise above her
like a tide Of sorrow and disaster.
She felt as If she sank in swirllng
waters, drowned in tears.
Her throat closed with an aching
pain and one hard sob escaped her.
Instantly the man looked down,
holding her from him.
my Cdr he said, "what-what-
Why, my Cd"
Then he drew her to him close and
hard, and the trembling Of his arms in
tensifed. The face above her small
black head had gone haggard as an
old mans.
The last soft strains Of the tender
tune were dying.
The feet of the dancers slowed.
And suddenly from nowhere, out Of
the very night beyond the doors, it
seemed, hand fell on his shoulder, a
powerful grasp whirled him about,