Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1893-02-09

For a time Laura saw III MAIN > law
only reflection of her own happiness.
He was feasting his eyes upon her, pass
ing his fingers through her dark hair or
smoothing it back with his hand, while
he covered her face with kisses.
Suddenly thought seemed to come
between her and him.
..What is it darling?' she asked an1-
iously.
Il was thinking said Mark. "But
no: will not think of that
Tell me"
II was neutrality-suspicious., did you
love him?"
Laura cast down her eyes.
Love? Was it lover She asked the
question Of herself. "It was a summer
breeze. while this
"ThisT'
lis a tempest"
Drawing her to him, before imprinting
kiss Mark added to her simile:
"A wild west wind
.You are thinking of your Shelley"
she said. II shall love him too, now,
since it was he who betrayed you to
me.
..And / shall love him the more be-
cause he betrayed me-and made me-
He did not finish. He was thinking
of the morning in the garnet when in
her imperious way she had claimed that
saving his life had made her its owner
She remembered it, too, and smiling fin
ished for him;
And made you my slave. But who
made me your Tyre even as the forest
is 10 the west windF
Her caresses# prevented a reply for
time. When there was pause Mark
exclaimed wonderingly:
ooh. woman, why must you so often
deny TO the worthy that which You may
give in such abundance to one whose
only recommendation is an ability TO
catch your fancy|
Again there came into his face the ex-
preston of thought which seemed for
the moment to carry him away from
her.
"What is it nowg' she queried anx-
iously.
Mark smiled. You win laugh at me
when l tell You
"Then you must be laughed at"
II was wondering if, when ! get back
to headquarters, the general will want
me to go right away ON another mis-
Sion"
Her arms were about him. She drew
a little away and fixed her black eyes
upon him. They shone like those Of
some savage but beautiful animal about
TO be bereft of her young.
"If you go again" she said tiercely,
Unto the presence of such death | win
go with you"
Mark made no reply, except to throw
his arms about her neck and draw her
to him again. Her ferceness was with
him her chief charm. Then he made an
effort to rise.
''Stay where You are" she said in the
same imperious tone in which she had
given the order once before when he
threatened toleave the garnet; you shall
lie there till you promise that you will
be a spy no more"
Let me up" cried Mark, smiling at
her earnestness.
Lie still!'
"Come, sweetheart" he said plead
ingly, "let me get up, and I'll say with
Hotspur to his Kate, when I'm on
horseback I'll swear | love thee intin-
itely'"
Mark was on his back, his arms PIN
toned. He was powerless. He was sur
prised at Laura's strength.
Promise"
"Neverr
Promise"
"why so? know shall be dying to
go again in a week
Then You shall lie there till the war
is over"
"But thought you told me once that
if you were a man you would be all
have been
$50 would. And you, being man,
might continue to be so We're you the
husband of any other woman; but mine,
neverr
Mark looked into her eyes and knew
that his career in the secret service had
ended. The savage opposition he saw
there to his ever again risking such a
death as he had but few days before
barely escaped was too strong for him.
Where was his adroitness. his ingenu-
ity, his readiness in peculiar situations2
Vanished under the gaze Of his Young
wife. At last he was subdued by a
girl.
The arrival Of Laura the night before
at the farmhouse where her mother had
stopped. and awaited her coming anx-
iously, their resumption Of their jour
ney the next day, during which Lanra
confessed all to her mother, their safe
arrival within the Union lines. the find
ing Mark at headquarters. may be- passed
over in a few short phrases.
Marks meeting with his moiher-in-
law was, to say the least. embarrassing.
Mrs. Fain received him with the same
dignity that had characterize ser
throughout, but without her former cor
diality. As yet she knew nothing about