nduly on my account," she coolly counseled him. "I'll
strive ter mek shift somehow ter go on livin'."

The man had taken a chair near her and was bending forward, almost, but
not quite, touching her. Now he rose and his voice trembled.

"Fer God's sake, Alexander, don't belittle me ner mek light of me
ternight. I kain't endure hit. Heven't ye got no idee how master much
I loves ye? Don't ye see thet ther two of us war made fer each other?
I don't aim ter brag none--but ye knows I'm ther only man hyar-abouts
thet understands ye--thet holds ye in full-high appreciation!"

He paused and she inquired calmly, "Air ye?"

"Ye knows hit!" He was talking tumultuously with the onrush of that
dynamic spirit which drove him and gave him power. He stood there with
his coat open over his magnificent chest, and his eyes alight with the
forces that made him exceptional.

"Ye knows thet _you_ hain't no every-day woman nuther. Ye knows thet
ther like of yore beauty hain't been seed afore in these hills--not in
mortal feature ner in ther blossomin' woods ner in ther blue skies over
'em all!"

Again he paused, and even while he adhered to a crude vernacular, there
was, in the cadence of his voice, a forceful sort of eloquence. In the
latent intensity of his personality dwelt a sheer wizardry which few
women could have withstood.

"Hev ye ever seed a comet in ther heavens?" he abruptly demanded and
without waiting for a reply swept rapidly on. "Well ye're like ter a
comet, Alexander. Every star thet shines out thar ternight is hung
high up in heaven an' every one is bright. But when a comet goes
sweepin' acrost ther skies, with a furrow of light trailin' along
behind hit--we plum fergits them leetle stars--hit's like they'd all
been snuffed. Hit's ther same way with you, Alexander. Deep down in
yore heart thar's powerful fires a-burnin' thet no weak man kain't
satisfy. When I looks at ye I clean fergits every other star that ever
shone--because I've done seed _you_."

Once more Alexander began to feel that old uncertainty of reeling
senses. His intonations were caresses. His eyes were beacons, and she
took a tight hold on herself--for despite the hypnotic spell that he
was weaving about her, a voice within her cautioned, "Be steady!" That
indefinable ghost of suspicion stirred and troubled her.

"An' so sence I'm ther comet amongst them numerous small stars," she
observed with an even voice, though her pulse beat