People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1893-03-31


defantly.
Every well, Miss Bessie. You asked
me to speak did not volunteer my
reason"
sit was not reason-only absurdity!"
Her eyes did not drop; and the good old
blood of the Westchesters. whose men
had ever replied to calumny by blow,
glowed upon either cheek. 81 am ig-
norant of all cause for your allusion;
but it is untrue and absurd"
SIS it untrue if repeat that saw
him, busy as you were, whisper over
your shoulder? Is it absurd that you
paused to whisper back and smile at
Peyton Fitzhugh?"
The girls lips quivered, but no longer
with anger; the flush on her face took
softerglow, and the light of battle in her
eyes quickly changed to merriment, as
a little laugh gurgled softly cut.
"Willie McKee," she said, with mont
tory voice, but advancing softly to him,
81 would not have believed any other
living man had he told me that you
were-a gOosei No, sir! You shall not
stop me until you hear. See, Willie,
how much further trust you than you
trust mel The man who has so cause
lessly excited your" she paused an in
stant-'your anger gave me a coat for
a naked prisoner-Caro's brave boy
cousin! More; he risked his life, per-
haps, to whisper to me that it had a
reasonable paper sewed in its lining"
The young mans eyes fell, and flush
of shame swept his face. Next instant
he raised both bravely, looking into
hers as he whispered:
bessie, my darling! Can you forgive
me?"
Il have nothing to forgive" she an
swered, frankly holding out her little
hand. "You were right to speak out,
Willie, if-if you suspected me. But,
dear, Peyton Fitzhugh may not be a SOL
der, but he is gentleman and "a
man."
81 was almost as unjust to him as |
was toyou," the youth said, gently, as
he took the little hand in his "And,
Bess, dear, Willie Mckee may not be a
gentleman and a man, but he certainly
is grand donkeyr
Hush, sir No one shall speak SO
about anyone I-hks"
They were very close to the parlor
door and to each other. He bent over
her bright face, its eyes glowing softly
through suspicious moisture, and
Well, it was perhaps fortunate that
Miss Bessie had been correct in her.
statement: THE coast is clear"
Carolyn Clay was pacing her self-im-
posed prison very restleSsly when the
pair entered.
81 thought you would never come"
she cried, impatiently, to the man.
"Well, are we ready at last? Can l go
tonight"
eyes" he replied, promptly; "to-
night" .
Then you have heard from-him?"
She dropped her eyes and her color
heightened at the question, but she
eagerly grasped the paper he held out
for answer.
Swiftly her eye ran over it once and
again. Then she seized the large
shovel, thrusting it between the CRATE
bars far into the glowing Goals. And
once more she fell to studying the let
ter, her companions looking on in some
wonderment.
You understand" she asked Mckee,
abruptly. You see what he means?"
Vaguely, only. Carroll and are
both at sea for the full meaning-for
the reason of writing to him."
For answer Miss Clay drew the shovel
from the Goals, striking the dust from
itandfoldinga newspapers smoothly over
it. Then she pressed the letter firmly
down upon the hot surface.
"Come, she said, briefly. Read be-
tween the lines"
And all three watched eagerly as the
wide blank spaces began to fill with
faint red characters, rapidly changing
to dark brown as they read:
1.-THE river is patrolled, but both
banks are clear. Lose no time. A freeze
might delay you for days. Pete will re-
cross Friday night. Your escort is
watched-half suspected Too many
passes asked. Get another driver-one
less familiar. Godspeed and guard your
There was dead silence as Miss Clay
slowly removed the paper, the mystic
characters gradually fading out as it
cooled. Then she said, calmly;
IF you are suspected, the risk is too
great Who else, that you trust, knows
the road?"
u must drive you, Miss Clay" the
youth answered, with chivalric modesty
contrasting strangely with his boyish
pettishness shown below. ''It is my
right and plighted privilege. Old Pete
will do more for me than for any man;
and fear no risk"
ut is a double risk" she replied, de-
cisively-"equally for me as for your
self. Some other must go. Can you
| trust no one?"
! Carroll Meredith, perhaps. No, he
is well known; those suspecting me
would shadow him also," he began,
thoughtfully. He pondered moment
deeply, smile, strange at such mo-
ment, passing once or twice across his
lips before he asked, suddenly:
You will go, unquestioning, with
anyone send, no matter how singular
my choice?"
1 NIV;fl