Bloomington High School - Gothic Yearbook (Bloomington, IN)

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T »l«« his broad shoulders and strange looking eyes; eyes which she seemed afraid to look Into. And when the Americano called her to sit beside him on the couch, she obeyed, knowing not why. But when he placed his arm about her. she moved away, unable to un- derstand. You are not afraid of mo. are you. Mela' he asked. She Mood still, without answering. She did not know what to answer. Come. Mela. I would not hurt you. he said, advancing toward her. The white man was near her when his nostrils caught the smell of tobncco smoke Turning, he saw Kapix in the door-way. smoking a cigarette. Ah. Kaplx. said the Americano, with a smile. Kapix did not answer. Next morning, before the whit.- man had risen. Kapix removed the cartridges from a pistol which hung upon the wall of the hut. Then he left for the forest Immediately afterward the Americano -prang from h;- couch and. through the open door. watched the mute taken by Kapix. Then he cursed the native under his breath The black devil. he muttered, could he have read my thoughts? He had slept not a wink the whole night, but had lain there upon his gras couch planning: planning against his black benefactor. Kapix. They were desperate plans, for a moment later he was holding Mela, the wife of Kapix. in his arms, pouring out wild words to her while she trembled in fright and surprise. Mela, do you hear me? he spoke rapidly and with flushing eves. Listen to me. I love you You are beauti- ful. and I love you. Kapix is In the forest, and I will follow him and then return alone, and you will be my ‘mnrida. V will live together hero, without Kapix; do you under- stand?—without Kapix' 1 will go into the forest with my IV. ■ • iO I. all knife, and will leave Kapix and m knife there, in the forent. and then return and you will be my marida Mela, do you understand?' She tore herwelf away The Americano ahoved a «tiletto into hu belt and atartrd out. At the door lie turned. “Remember. I will return alone, and you will be my Then he dmuihd the tiamboo ladder rapid!v and darted into the fnre»t. following the trail takm by KapU. Mela stood trembling where th white man had left her Then she ran to the door and aaw th. Americano aa he dis- appeared in the jungle She wai weak and ilaxed from the rfteets of the white man'» action . When .he Anally realized the Americano'» intention», •he thrva herself before a crucifix. which hung upon the wall Then she darted from the room, down the ladder, and into the forent. V. Kapix. deep in the forest, stopped to luten. The •••und came again. Hr gripped hi title and turned, expecting to see the r e of a panther gating at htm. What he ww wag the white man. the Americano, wtth a drawn knife in hi hand. “Ah. Scnor American». I did not know that you, too. were hunting in the forest. greeted Kapix. I wanted a cigarette, and tried to overtake you,” «aid the white man. humediy slipping the knife into hi» belt again Kapu said nothing, but handed him rice paper and to bacco. Roth stood in silence, the white man rolling hi cigarette. Then from within the forest came a cry: a cry often heard in the forest of Brazil; yet the white man atarted and dropped hi half-made cigarette. The cry came again.

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get me. never get me. He feebly put his hand to his lips and Mela understood. She arose from beside the couch and brought half a cocoanut shell tilled with cool water. She raised the man's head and touched the water to his lips. His eye-lids began to move and he drank. The Americano lay staring at Mela, his eyes wide open. Then he spoke, half dazedly. “Where am I?” For an an- swer Mela gazed at him blankly. The man smiled. Ah. pardonimo, Senorita. he spoke in good Spanish. “Will you do me the favor of telling me where I am? “You were brought here yesterday by him,” she an- swered, pointing to Kapiz upon the couch nearby. He remembered it all now. The escape from the boat in the night and the terrible swim ashore. His eyes roamed to the woman beside him Her skin was dark, like that of most of the native women he hud seen liack at Santiago, but she was strangely beautiful. Differ- ent from others he had seen, her eyes were a peculiar gray Her mouth was well-shaped and her lips were very red. Strangely pretty, he thought, for a native. He spoke to her. “Tell me. wife of Kapiz. where is this place? As he spoke, the brown eye-lids covered her gray eye» and she lowered her head under his gaze. But she finally answered. “A hundred miles from the equator, many miles from the sea. “And the nearest town? Macapa. she answered, without lifting her head. Rising to a sitting position upon the couch, the Ameri- cano said, in a rather low tone. Tell me. wife of Kapiz. whnt is your Christian name?” Ah. Senor, spoke Kapiz from his couch, 1 am glad to know you are feeling better.” Owl hir KI.«o III. Kapiz rolled a cigarette os he stood looking at the Amer- icano. who «till slept. The tropical sun wu up. and Kapiz prepared to start for the forest. Mela brushed a straw mat. The Americano still sleeps.” he said to his wife. It is well: I will return from the forest. Mela, when the sun is high. He stopped at the door and again looked at the sleeping white man. then he descended the bamboo bidder, rifle in hnnd. A serpent glided into the long grass as he moved to- wards the forest. Quite awhile nfterward the white man stirred, then opened his eyes and sat up. Mela did not know that he had awakened, and he sat watching her as she moved about her work. He noticed how gently she handled everything and how gracefully she moved about He gazed at her for some time, then she turned instinctively and started in surprise. The rnan smiled. What is the matter. Mela?” he said, calling her by her Christian name, which he now knew. “I did not know that you wore awake. Senor. she an- swered. When Mela told the white man that Kapiz had gone to the forest, his eyes sparkled and many thoughts came to him. He thought of his comrades back at Santiago and wondered what they might think of sue ha pretty Senorita. He had known and associated with many of the native wo- men of Cuba, but he had seen none as Mrnngel.v pretty as Mela; and he wondered at her living in such Isolation. Mela stood watching him as he now arose and came to- ward her. She noticed the white mans great -trength and admired it: admired it because she had seen nothing but nn-n like her husband. Kapiz. whose slim, wirey bodies seemed small in comparison with the great white man with

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Stir oiutlitf The white man, gazing wildly at Kapiz. said. “What was that? Kapiz «lid not answer. l ut only stood leaning n his gun, a far-away look in his eye. Heaven help us. cried the Americano, why don’t you answer? Don't you know that was the cry of some wo- man’ Kapiz still remained unmoved. Are you a coward? the white man ask««l. I will see what it means. Anil he started oil-. As he went, the long lingers of Kapiz. slipped the knife from the white man’s bolt. The brushes crashed In-hind and Kapiz. turne«| quickly. Mela come running up and fell at his feet. The Americano.” sin- whispered, excitedly, where : he? He will kill you.” Come. said Kapiz. And they walked in the direction taken by the white man. .S sm. through the brushes ahead, they saw the Ameri- cano. His throat was torn, and he lay dead upon the ground. As they came up, there was a flash of yellow as a panther darted into the thicket. Kapiz glanced at the dead man. and said: The Amer- icano has answered the cry of the wilderness. Come. .Mela, the yellow boasts are hungry. n ILLINGWORTH WINS SOU PART SHORT STORY CONTEST (Our Suntan uul By Ninetta Illingworth PART Walter of Lisle, returning from the Holy Wars, rode I alone in advance of the scattered remnants of those who had so courageously set out for the rosuce of the Holy City. He rode his stood well, and yet in his carriage there was something that betokened a man not quite satisfied with his accomplishments of the past, nor with that which lay I before him in the future. As he looked back over the brave I hut fruitless warfare of the past months, he thanked God I that he had upheld the honor of his ancient un l knightly I family by taking no life except in fair battle, and by turn- ing aside from plunder and vandalism as a thing unworthy. As he looked forward, he thought he saw In-fore him a long life, full of happiness; a mai«l waited his coming, and his I worldly possessions were very great. But yet. he hesitated. We wondered why he should I o ONE. hesitate. Could he not render the Lord that which was «lue him. and yet keep his great riches and his low with a fair lady? Hail not his mother govemei! his household, to- gether with her husband, in the f«-ar of God, and had they not reared seven children to the glory of God? Well, had they! Wax the vain glory of a nobles' life all that the !. ird asked of him. and w«-r«- his brothers and sis- ters devoted with singleness of purpose to the religious life? And the lady whom he loved and was waiting his return, —her father was the temporal lord for whom h«- fought— was very fair, and he longed for her. Was she a reason for his turning away? Occupied with these and similar thoughts. Walter of Lisle pursued his way into his own country—France. There was a growing familiarity in the scenes upon which his eyes | S.fc. t 19lT| I rirkivmttm iir«i kal • ■!(. 4i». Mfcrlker kr mfprrrlmlrm II □