Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-06-14
A SCAMP'S DEVOTION.

She was the fairest, sweetest, tenderest
flower that ever bloomed beneath the hot
sun of an Indian hill station. He was the
widest most daring and reckless man,
the hardest drinker the fierCest fighter
that even those times had seen. His name
had been linked with that of numberless
women. There were men who cursed the
magic of those handsome black eyes of his,
and would have brcathed moro freely for
the news that he had fallen in some mid
night fray.
Few knew his story. Some whispered
of disappointment, others of sheer deviltry
as the motive force. They knew only that
in the lust of battle his eye cleaned and
danced. and his sword arm swept out and
he live.
t.. stood together, the girl and the
man. in TO shadow of some palms into
which w. lad drawn her. The sound of
the dancing was behind them-the laugh
ter, the murmur Of voices. She was look
ing out into the starlit night; he was look
ing at her clear, white profile and talking
rapidly and nervOusly.
"God knows it is blasphemy, child, to
say this to you, but I could not rest until
had laid my broken brutalized life at
your feet that you might spurn it If you
would. No, no." he added, hurriedly
stretching out hand toward her, yet still
without touching her. Forgive that.
should not have said that. I scarcely
know what am saying. There is but one
thought in my mind-that I love you
and with that love is swallowed up and
crushed out all the vile and awful things
that have called life. I have no hope In
saying this-no thought that you can have
any feeling in your gentle heart for me-
save Of loathing. ask only that you Of
all women on earth will believe that 1 am
sincere, that 1 speak tho truth to you in
my misery. ask only that you may
learn to pity me. Let me, like drowning
wretch, clutch at that straw before sink
again for the last time"
He stood there with bowed head waiting
for her to speak She turned to him sud
denly, and stretched out her hands to him.
He caught them in his own and raised
them to his lips.
II do believe you," she said softly. "I
am only very sorry, Captain Carlyn, that
that this should be. A woman in her
heart of hearts can learn to distinguish
between the false and the true 1 know
despite all-all that they may say Of you
that this is true, and, despite all that I
am Embellishments 1 can have
won from you such feeling. The thought
of that can but serve to make my pity the
stronger. viii you believe that, and try to
forget it all?'
81 cannot forget it, little one. See, l
kiss your white hands again in token of my
worship. The memory ofyour words will
be with me until die
"There is something else" she said pres
I'll
you have not heard of it?"
Eyes " he replied quietly, II have heard
of it. 1t makes no difference. felt that
must tell you. You arc to marry Cliff
ford?'
eyes"
"And you love him?" he asked, wistful-
1y watching her.
every, very dearly, Captain Carlyn.
And-you-yOu will not harm him?"
He stood looking at her for some mo-
ments sadly and reproachfully. GLOW lit
tie you understand, " he said at last
"No,no, nor' she cried "Forgive that
forget that 1 said it."
at is forgotten, child Let me say this
that 1 carry you in my grateful heart for
all time; that l would do anything for
yotl-you have but to asll-anything to
make one moment brighter. Will you look
into my eyes and say, L trust you al
ways?"
She slipped her hands between his and
looked up at him with her eyes swimming
in tears, and whispered the words. Then
he turned away with bowed head and left
her and went out into the night.
The mutiny was raging all about them
-surging like some resistlcss wave that
might ovcrwhclm thcm-ncarcr and yet
nearer every day. Vague rumors had
reached them-rumors Of mad excuses, of
horrors that left them shuddering. They
could only wait and hope.
1t swept down upon them at last in the
night, silently and relcntlessly. Only the
firing, and the flendish yclls, and the sight
of hundreds Of dusky forms fitting about
the narrow streets of the little place, told
them what had happened. So completely
were they taken by surprise that half the
little force had been cut down, and tho
butchery was upon them almost before
they had had time to realize it. Carlyn, at
the head of his men, had fought like
crusader, with redoublcd fury in his
blows, for the thought of one fair faced
woman and of her possible fate.
Hot and wearicd and bleeding, he fought
his way at last, desperately, step by step,
to the place wherein he knew that ho
should find her if she were still alive,
crashed to the heavy door and barricaded
it, and stood there leaning against the
wall, sword in hand, breathing heavily.
A cut from curved sword had laid open
one side OF his head, so that the blood
trickled down upon his coat, but he heed
ed nothing of that He stood listening in
tently for moment and then called:
els any one here? Little one, are you
here?"
There was a momontary pause, and then
0voiCe replied-a voice that sent new Wig
or through his tired limbs.
81 am here. am coming to you, Cap
cain Carlyn. am here
He moved quickly toward the spot from
whence the voice proceeded, and in another
instant shew was clinging to him and weep
ing wildly.
"My father made inc hide, and they
NhiIdPnVN NYv fOS