Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-06-15


fallen, and now ne was as bad as she. Death
would have justified all this; she would never
have done it had she thought she was going
to live; but now death had cheated her. as he
has way OF doing with people to whom his
presence is more or less desirable, and left her
to cops with the spirit she had invoked when
his sword was quivering over her
What would be the end of it, surprising
they escaped. What could be the end ex-
cept misery, 1t should go no further, far as
it had gone, that she swore; no, not If 1t
broke her heart and his, too. The conditions
We're altered again. and the memory of those
dreadful and wonderful hours when they two
swung upon the raging river and exchanged
their undying troth, with the grave for their
altar, must be a memory and nothing more.
She rose and walked back to the spot where
she had left John an hour before. He was
employed when she reached him in saddling
up the second of the two grays with the sad
dies and brides that lie had removed from
the carcasses of the horses which the light
ming had destroyed
"Hullo. Jes-- YOU look quite smart. Have
you dried your cI6;hes!- lie said. Il have
after a fashion"
"Ies," she answered.
He looked at her why, dearest, you
have been crying Come, things are black
enough, but j; IS no US csN:ng. AZ any rate,
we have got or with cu- Ives 50 far"
John" SAID jess. sharply. there must be
no more of that. Things have changed. We
were dead last night; row we have come to
life again. Besides" Sic added. with = gliost
of a laugh. "i,ariap- yau VII Bessie to-
morrow. s.!uuti tHia; We ought To Eave
got 10 tho end al ,,li. ms. Of-ttIuesr
Johns face f;.l, as the recollection of the
impossible and or.cst tragic position in which
they were placed, physically and morally,
swept into his mind
MY dearest jess" lie said, what is to be
doaas"
She stamped her foot, in the bitter anguish
of her heart. Il told you" she said, that
there must be no more of that. What are
You thinking about! From to-day we are
dead to each other. have done with you
and you with NE. 1t is your own fault; you
should have Isl me die. Oh, John, John,
she walled out, "wiy did you not let me die.
Why did we not both dies We should have
been happy now. or-asleep. We must part.
John, we must part; and what shall l do
without youl what shall l oo.'
Her distress was very poignant, and it
affected him so much for a moment he could
not trust himself to answer her
"Would it not be best to make clean breast
of it to Bessiel" he said at last. II should feel
blackguard for the rest of my life, but upon
my word have a mind to do it."
mo, mo-" she cried passionately, II will not
have you do it! You shall swear to me that
you will never breathe word to Bessie.
will not have her happiness destroyed. We
have sinned, we must suffer; not Bessie, who
is innocent and only takes her right prom
ised my dear mother to look after Bessie and
protect her, and will not be the one to betray
her-neverl never! You must marry her and
must go away. There is no other way out
Of it."
John looked at her, not knowing what to
say or do. A sharp pang of despair went
through him as he watched the passionate,
pale face and the great eyes dim with tears.
How was he to part from herr He put out
his arms to take her in them, but she pushed
him away almost fiercely.
"Have you no honor" she cried as it not
all hard enough to bear without your tempt
ing met tell you it is all done with Finish
saddling that horse and let us start. The
sooner we get Off the sooner it will be over,
unless the Beers catch US again and shoot us,
which for my own part Hlevoutly hope they
may. You must make up your mind to re-
member that am nothing but your sister in
law. II you will not remember 1t, then
shall ride away and leave you to 60 your
way and will 20 mine"
John said no more. Her determination
was Is crushing as the cruel necessity that
dictated il. What was more, his own reason
and sense Of honor approved Of it, whatever
his passion might prompt to the contrary
As he turned YEARLY to finish saddling the
horse he almost regretted with Jess that they
had not both been drowned and got it over
OF course the only saddles that they had
were those belonging to the dead Beers
which was very awkward for lady. Luck
lily for herself, however, Jess could, from
constant practice, ride almost as well as
though she had been trained to the ring, and
was even capable Of balancing herself with
out . pommel on . mans saddle, having
often and often ridden round the farm in
that way. So soon g the horses were ready
she astonished John by clambering into the
saddle Of the older and steadier animal, plac-
ing her foot in the stirrup strap aud announc-
ing that she was ready to start
SYou had better ride some other way"
said John. ut isn't usual, know, but you
will.tumble or"
SYou shall Sec" she said, with little
laugh, putting the horse into canter as she
spoke. John followed her on the other horse,
and noted with amazement that she sat ms
straight and steady on her slippery seat as
though she were on o hunting saddle, keeping
herself from falling by an instructive balanc-
ing Of the body which was very curious to
notice. When they got well on to the plain
they halted to consider their route, and as
they did SO Jess pointed to the long line of
vultures descending to feast on their would
he nyrlere's. II they went down tho river
it wouM'lead them to Ste uderton, and Shere
they would be safe il they could get into the
town, which was gal1fsoned by English. But
then, as thcy gathered from tho conversation
Of their escort, Standerton was closely ill.,
vested by the Beers, and to try and pas
through their lines was more than they dared
to do. It was truc that they still had the
pass signed by the Boer general. but after
what had occurred they were not unnaturally
somewhat skeptical about the value Of passes,
and certainly unwilling to put their efficacy
to the proof. So, after due consideration,
they determined to avoid Standerton and
ride in the opposite direction till they found
. practicable ford Of the VaaL Fortunately,
! hey both Of them had very fair idea OF the
possessed q small compass fastened to his
watch chain, which would enable him to steer
. pretty correct course across the veldt-a
fact that would render them independent of
the roads On the roads they would run q
momentary risk, II not q certainty Of detec-
ton. But on the wide veldt the chances were
that they would meet no living creature ex.
cept the wild game Should they come ncroe
houses they would be able to avoid them, an,
their male inhabitants would probably be ia
away from home on business connected witt
the war.
Accordingly they rode ten miles or NOR
along the bank without seeing q soul, whel
they reached q space Of bubbling, SHALLOW
water that looked forbade. Indeed, an in
vestigntion OF the banks revealed the fac
that loaded wagon had passed the river a
NO distant date, perhaps . week before.
THAT h good enough" said John; I'VE vii
try IT." And without further ado the,
plunged In.
In the center Of the stream the water wa
strong and deep, and for . few yards tool
the horses OF their legs, but they struck on
boldly till they got their footing again; an.
after that there was no moro trouble. d
the farther aide Of the river John took coun
al with his compass and steered a cours
straight for Mooifontein. At midday they
o6hddled the horses for an hour BY SOM
water, and ate . small portion Of their re
manning food Then they upsaddled ant
went on across the lonely, desolate veldt. N,
human being did they see all that long day
The wide country was only tenanted by grea
herds Of laundering game that came rushing
past like squadrons Of cavalry, or here ant
| there bY cOteriez of vrlf1,rpS Kissing nnf