Omaha daily bee., 1883-06-06
ALMOST A CRIME.

and Major Philip Mason, q young and
lately married officer, was second III
command. Col. Morrison's daughter
Clara and Major Mason's wife Helen
were the only ladies at the fort.
They ware naturally much together,
and quite as naturally the husband
and Clara spent q great deal Of time
In each others society.
One evening, as Clara sat alone In
the open air, Philip Mason Joined
her. He had been absent on q
soou,iog excursion, and his unexpect.
ed appearance surprised her. He
seated himself very near her, looking
down at her face.
"Clara, do you know what has
happened to me since I have been
away from this placer
She looked up at him with an
alarmed expression, his tone WOE SO
serious.
"You cannot guess, I suppose" he
went on Il have made a discovery
"a most perplexing discovery"
"What ia IT.
II have found out that I love you"
"He took her hand and held 1t as
he went on: "Yet, Clara, I had my
doubts before Il went away, but /
thought I was master of myself In this,
as l have been in other things, and
fancied myself strong enough to stran.
gle the serpent. But II would not be
straugled, Clara. 1t has wound Itself
about my heart, and here I sit by your
side, dishonored In my W sight,
come what may-bound to one woman
and loving another with all my soul
yes. with all my soul. What Am l to
dS2"
"Your duty" Clara answered In q
low, steady voice.
Her heart was beating violently.
She knew now that she loved Philip
Mason. And her own duty-whst
was that! sUpon that question she had
not Q moments doubt. Her duty was
to resign him without a murmur. Even
after this there would be the knowl-
edge that he loved her.
my duty! VIA; 10 ,hst7" he asked.
ITO carry out NY vows to Helen,
whatsoeves misery 1t may bring both
Of us2 l AN not one OF those saints
who think of everybody's happiness
before their own, Glare. l am very
human, with all %humanity's selfish.
ness. I want to be happy. I want o
wife for whom / can feel something
moro shan q cold liking. I did not
think 1t was In me to feel more than
that. I thought I had outlived my
capacity for loving, wasted the strength
Of my hearts youth on worthless fan.
cies; spent all my patrimony of affec.
tlon; but the light shines on me again,
and l thank God that 1t Is So"
~ must not hear you talk in this
Wild way, Major Masop," she said, L
feel as If l had been guilty of a sin
sgaint Helen In having listened GO
long. But I cannot for a moment
think you are In earnest"
"Do not play the dissembler,
Clare. You know that I am In earn.
est"
"Then your scouting trip must have
turned your brain, and l can only hope
that to morrow morning will restore
your reasop."
swell, l am mad, II you like-mad-
ly In lovawlth you. What am l to
do! If l can recover my liberty-if
l can get myself free from this mar
rtage, will you promise to be my wife,
Olsra2"
"No; q thousand times no."
"You do not care for me, then. The
madness Is all on my side"
"Indeed I do, Philip; but I must
do my duty to Helen, whom I love
like a sister,"
Miss Morrison drew her hard away,
and hastily retired.
Three days after, q picnic party,
comprising Philip Mason and bis wife,
Clara Morrison, and several officers,
won't two or three miles into the
mountains and prepared for q day of
enjoyment. Philip and Clara CHANGED
to be left alone together, and his
tongue wss Immediately the trans
gte,sor.
"Clara," he said, earnestly, why
should we both condemn ourselves to
lifelong missry7" There are two Us
Helen Is but one. Why should two
lives be sacrificed to make one happy 2
l have fixed everything for rs to leave
Fort Libby together-thls very day
from this spot! We can mount two of
these horses, and, before any suspi.
cions are aroused, We shall be miles
away"
A blush of nhsme and insulted
pride overspread Clsra's face for q
moment; but she wavered, and love
proved stronger than self-respeot.
Philip hurried her toward the already
saddled horses. Before they had
mounted, however, the black clouds
that ptecede q Rocky mountain thun.
der storm dsrkened the scense.
The thunder and lightning of a
populoua city are very different from
what are heard and seen in mountain
ranges and great wastes Ct forests.
Like savage Titsns, the sound swept
down upon them. Everything sought
shelter from the storm, of which
sound was but the herald. Presently
came the swift rush of waters, like a
second deluge, filling the creeks and
rivers and flooding the land. Great
torrents rushed down the mountain
side, sweeping all before them.
The picnic party ran for shelter to
an old, deserted trapper's shsnty, and
Philip and Clara Joined them. For
hours they waited, until night closed
In around them. Then tho men,
knowing that they were liable to an
attack by the Indians, began to grow
nervous.
They knew that tho ssvsgss must
be aware of their movements, and they
nnu nuI.Ll- ,.ala