The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-10-23
CHAPTER III.

red light streaming full upon her.
CHAPTER III.
1t was midnight. There was no moon; but
the night was luminous with the starlight,and
The Lady Betty, crecping like q gliding
shadow from the shanty to the building where
Miriam slept, muttered an oath, which she
caoked Immediately, then glanced round with
a fierce, half-shamfaced expression, as if defy
ing any one who might have overheard the
suppression, TO prove that she was growing
more Yirtuous.
But even this faint light angered her, for
she did not want any one to see her Since
his ARRIVAL at the fort, MIR. Gresham had taken
his share in ali the duties OF their situation,
and at this moment he was sharing the watch
with some of the others. The Lady Betty
knew this, pushed cren the ont q 83f q
The buiIdingiknU3iag tiatthefe wal ciianee
Of meeting him. Miriam slept III an inner
room. and 10 this, W ith her swift, steady feet
The Lady Betty crept. The girl lay fas-
asleep in the starlight, shining through win
dow over her head The woman with her
eager, bloodshot eyes, stood gazing down upon
her, with a look in whieh fierce despair, jea
ousy, and rage struggled with gratitude and
ave. How peaceful and beautiful she lookesi
The angels that went in and cut OF thcd
golden gates must be like her. She sank dove
on her knees by the bedside with q sharp cry
Miriam sprang up, her heart beat till she was
nearly suffocated from the suddenness of the
awaking, her eyes full of anguiShed fear.
Were the indians here at last Then her
eyes fell ON the woman, and a different fear
seized her. From the eXaltation Of that ip
finite pity z reaction had set in. She was not
an angel-only woman Young, intolerant,
as all youth, strong in in its own purity, al
ways is. That afternoon she had been in
spired, raised to her highest leyel--perhaps
above it-for she still had much to learn by
endurance and suffering. Since that supreme
moment she had had time to think, and her
horror, her bitter scorn of the sin, had over
whelmed her pity for the sinner.
What do you want?' She asked, her voice
cold, unsteady with her fear and dislike.
Il reckon ez how jess KEN up to ask You
question" said The Lady Betty in hard voice,
but il was no longer bitter or reckless, though
She felt to the quick the change in the girl,
who sat UP with the starlight shining on her
white, proud face. ut maynt be ez what
you'd like to answer But / amt foolin'. The
red skins is sOrler too close for tibet. DO you
love Sorry Carew2"
Miriam stared at her speecless, a rush Of
scarlet blood staining her face, throat, and
even ears. Size was reyolted, shamed enraged,
half stunned with the shock of the question.
Every nerve in her quiyered with it. 1t was
as il a rude, brutal hand had Suddenly rent
aside the veil that sheltered the modcsty and
delicacy of her maiden heart.
Loyel What was it TO her still, but vague,
beautiful fancy. scarcely breathed yet TO her.
self. And now that this woman-this woman
should dare! The Lady Betty stumbled to
her feet. She took the girls silence Of into-
cradle humiliation for an answer in the affirm
alive. Such phase Of feeling torturing the
girl was incomprehensible to her-wasted and
degraded as all her own finest instincts OF wo-
manhood were. For one second o sence of her
own sacrifce-a bitter wild rebellion against
its need-a dreary consciousness OF her misera-
bic, empty life fell on her and 1t seemed inn
possible. In some vague way she felt, too, in
her soul, that this love of hers for Carew
bad been the one rcdeeming feature IN her
own lost womanhood II had been true. He
had soon tired Of her and she had accepted
her desertion with an outward philosophy
which had hidden the deepest wound her
heart had ever known. The one thing that
had kept up her courage to play her part was
q wild, desperate nope that he might one day
return to her. Now was she to kill even that
hope? And upon her, as upon Miriam that
afternoon, q great inspiration fell. She sud-
denly understood the girl She was great to
love and hate as well rs 10 pity Sine felt GER
tain that if she gave her one hint Of the pact
between herself and Carcw. the girl would
scorn him with the whole ioOce Of her untried
undisciplincd nature. A great and fearful
temptation conyulsed The Lady Betty with
such a storm OF despair agony. longing, that
she dug her nails into her palms not 70 cry out
the Word8. And then suddenly mon her poor
stOrn-racked soul there seemed to shine that
golden light Of the afternoon, and she remem-
bared how this girl had come 70 her IN il, and
touched her with her pure hands, and begged
her, The Lady Betty, 10 enter those golden
gates side by side, with her.
81 reckon ez now III try and get through
them golden gates, she said, in faint b.ylten
voice. with strange littio siuilo iiicAGHng
across her lips.
She was gone before tho girl could speak, or
had even understood.
Tho Lady Betty glidcd back TO her own quar-.
ters, whore sho hastily made a few prepare
tons. Fort James, which Shaw was supposed
10 have reached by this time was full seventy
miles away. She lad mado up her mind % DO
the messenger 70 him. She had assisted at
that conference tiio night before, and knew
how desperate matters were. bho knew, too,
every peril that would besot het. The coun.