The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1894-06-21

But, Adrien, this is folly"
Every like" Latour answered, with
something of his old smile. Il always
did talk wisdom and act folly. But,
dear old boy, cannot do it. Better ell
ter some foreign service, where my sword
can buy me place"
"This is mawkish sentiment" Everett
replied seriously 1T is neither reason
able nor manly. Besides, remember your
words to me before you resigned-that
our old school did not educate Hessians!
Aha! you remember? Yet you will sell
your sword to some cause where your
heart is not, purely from bitterness and
pique"
"You wrong me, Dale" the other an.
swered gently. Il have no pique, and ]
know the true soldier accepts the turn
of battle. God knows there is no bitter
ness in my heart for those who fought
for what they believed the right! honor
them all-love as well as ever those ]
loved before"
"And can you imagine we respect you
less who took up arms believing you
were rightT'
II do not" Latour answered frankly.
you could not. Had l dreamed that
would have risked this dress, however
had yearned to take your hand before
| sailed? No, no! Politicians can break
up governments, Dale, but not friend
ships like ours"
"Then why leave your country"
Auo,,, +l,o C,oo1a t,,r,,aI his fapa
though he held firmly the hand in his.
81 have no country now," he answered
firmly. 1T is not your fault, but the
iron heel grinds upon us all. God alone
knows when it may be lifted-what may
be left when it shall be! All, Dale, you
remember the Germans poem, None
but the freeman hath fatherland!"
"You are the same old Adrien," Dale
answered regretfnlly; "gentle as a wo'
man in your loves, obstinate as a broncho
in going your own way; but what of
{ your life all these years.?
Then, under the oranges whose per-
fume struggled with the sweet olive for
! the mastery, each told his story; and as
they talked, needless of time, the moon
r rose, bright as daylight, and frolic
y songs of maskers were borne to them on
the soft night wind. At length, after a
: pause, Dale Everett laid his hand on his
a friends shoulder, his voice softening as
D he asked:
/ "And in all these years have you never
loved again"
Latour sprung to his feet, took rapit
turn under the trees, then turned ant
stopped in the deep shadow.
Loved AGAIN." he repeated scoffingly
.Why, man, a dozen times. l hav
sworn the lips that were nearest wer
the lips that were dearest! / have cas-
off the black eyes only to tire of tn
blue
stop! You are not speaking honest
w." Everett's voice was cold and sterr
81 still believe the brother of my boy
hood true man, and such do not forge
lightly"
, There was long pause. Thought
! the brain of each peopled the silent
! with memoried shapes too fast to adm
of words. Everett spoke first-hurrie'
. ly, as though the words cost him an
i fort and he would be rid of them:
Z "Adrien, Beverly Mason died fo'
"A years ago-a singular death, on the a
i niversary of his wedding day almost
the hour. He was found in his chair,
candle lighted on the desk by his 81
and charred paper on the salver by
Heart trouble, the doctors said" L
silence was unbroken and he went
slowly, Zone tiny scrap only of that |
en- per was unconsumed, and, Adren, I'll
scrap bore your name!"
ng The Creole still stood silent, but
at thin lips closed tighter under his M
ut tache, and the haggard look on his da
ed face sorted but i'll with the mounteba
garb. At last he spoke calmly, but w
me great effort:
nd "Dale, if you value our friendship n
err speak of this again. That woma
use name has been blotted from my br
et- since the night she sold herself 1t 81
i've never cross my lips again, so help
ow Godw
!" He raised his hand in the moonli
an as Everett turned away and cried:
ter Chow she sold herself you have ne
dreamedH'
'ale Then silence again fell between tn
Adrien's face was dark and set. q
tly' Dale Everetts emotions played and IL
cred like clouds across the moons, t
you pering, not hiding, the great hgh1
oth- pity that shone upon his friend as
ted, thought:
'nly "Dare | tell him-now?"
At length Latour turned and ask
ate, not in raillery, but in interest:
ana "And-you?"
wing ~ have and do" Dale answered. g
into do not start; am not married. But
woman is far more to me than
o III could ever be! | am true to hel
u, IN though the sacrament had made us
Her my highest happiness to make her
once once pride, the envy of all other women!'
lling "You" The Creole stared at
friend "You waste your life for a
~ man.
lei, mo, not waste it," Everett answ
'"eu gently. But do all this-for low,
ram, There was silence. Busy thoug
'eN Everetts brain was again shade
NJ the face he raised to the moonlight.
n, . tour kept his bent in the shadow of
~ orange tree.
ow!' l';,I,aa,e ..Tbara ia ono wav q
iiou,- Then he turned to Latour. "Wait
'en ,It said quickly. you shall see m.
~ cuse!"
ill., " Hastily drawing the domino owe
~ uniform the Federal general passed
'ii the street. And as he went on "a
~ ~ he repeated:
W. Gwen that may fail, but it is the