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Isbel took her literally She had convinced him And the instant held blank horror for Ellen

"By God--then I'll have somethin'--of you anyway!" e in his powerful neck She saw his dark, hard face, strange now, fearful to behold, coaze She felt the swell and ripple and stretch--then the bind of his e rude force his mouth closed on hers All Ellen's senses reeled, as if she were swooning She was suffocating The spas spurt of blood revived her to acute and terrible consciousness For the endless period of one moment he held her so that her breast seemed crushed His kisses burned and braised her lips And then, shifting violently to her neck, they pressed so hard that she choked under thee bat had fastened upon her throat

Suddenly the ree kisses--fell away froo She saw hier back a little, all the while with his piercing gaze on her His face had been dark purple: nohite

"No--Ellen Jorth," he panted, "I don't--want any of you--that way" And suddenly he sank on the log and covered his face with his hands "What I loved in you--hat I thought--you were"

Like a wildcat Ellen sprang upon hi his face, in a blind fury Isbel made no move to stop her, and her violence spent itself with her strength She swayed back fro so that she could scarcely stand

"Y'u--daasped, with hoarse passion "Y'u insulted hed Isbel, in bitter scorn "It couldn't be done"

"Oh!I'll KILL y'u!" she hissed

Isbel stood up and wiped the red scratches on his face "Go ahead There's ot to begin this Jorth-Isbel feud It'll be a dirty business I'm sick of it already Kill riulf Ellen's very soul cooled and receded, leaving her without its false strength She began to sag She stared at Isbel's gun "Kill hi voices of her hate But she was as powerless as if she were still held in Jean Isbel's giant embrace