Part 3 (1/2)

Again she was in his arms. Again his kisses fell hot and fast upon her glowing face. Nature was rus.h.i.+ng a strong flood tide. It was a moment that could have no repet.i.tion in their lives.

They stood thus, locked in each other's arms, borne along by a pa.s.sion that was beyond their control--lost to all the world, lost to all those things which should have mattered to them. It was the fervid outpouring of two natures which had nothing that was spiritual in them. They demanded the life of the senses, and so strong was the desire that they were lost to all else.

Then suddenly in the midst of their dream came the disturbing patter of small feet and the joyous, innocent laughter of infantile glee. Two tiny mud-stained figures rushed at the doorway and fell sprawling into the hut. They were on their feet again in a moment, laughing and crowing out their delight. Then, as the man and woman sprang apart, they stood round-eyed, wondering and gaping.

Jamie and Vada paused only till the grown-up eyes were turned in their direction, then their chorus broke out in one breath.

”We got fi' 'piders--”

”An' two bugs!”

The important information was fairly shrieked, to the accompaniment of dancing eyes and flushed cheeks.

Jessie gasped. But her emotion was not at the news so rudely broken.

It was the breaking of the spell which had held her. Just for one horrific moment she stood staring helplessly at the innocent picture of her four-year-old twins, beautiful in spite of their grimy exterior, beautiful as a Heaven-inspired picture to the mother.

The man smiled. Nor was it an unpleasant smile. Perhaps, somewhere in his savage composition, he had a grain of humor; perhaps it was only the foolish smile of a man whose wits are not equal to so incongruous a situation.

”They're most ev'ry color,” piped Vada, with added excitement.

”Uh!” grunted Jamie in agreement. ”An' the bugs has horns.”

But the man had recovered himself. The interruption had brought with it a realization of the time he had spent in the hut.

”You'd best go and find more,” he said. ”There's heaps outside.” Then he turned to Jessie. ”Come on. We must be going. Have you got the things you need ready?”

But the mother's eyes were on the small intruders. Something was gripping at her heart, and somehow it felt like four small and dirty hands.

”Wher' you goin'?” demanded Vada, her childish curiosity roused, and all her beautiful spiders forgotten for the moment.

Her question remained unanswered, leaving the room in ominous silence.

Then Jamie's treble blundered into its midst, dutifully echoing his sister's inquiry.

”'Es, wher' you doin'?”

The man's eyes were narrowly watching the woman's face. He noted the tremulous lips, the yearning light in her eyes. In a moment he was answering the children, lest their innocent words should upset his plans.

”Say, your momma's going for a horse-ride. She's just going right out, and I'm going to show her a dandy place where she can fetch you, so you can catch heaps an' heaps of bugs and spiders. She's just wanting you to stop right here and catch more bugs, till I come along and fetch you.”

”O--oh!” cried Vada, prolonging her exclamation gleefully. ”Say, can't us go now?”

”Me do too,” murmured her faithful shadow.

One quick glance at the mother's face and the man spoke again.

”Not now, kiddies. I'll come and fetch you. Run along.” Then he turned swiftly upon Jessie. ”Where's your bundle?” he asked in his usual masterful manner.