Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1895-02-09
CHAPTER x

travellers were encamped by that reedy
point where they had left the big boats
which they had cut loose from the island.
From the earliest dawn Leonard had been
experimenting the transport across the
river of the hundreds of slaves whom they
had released. There they were put ashore
by the settlement men, provided with a
store of meal and left to shift for them
selves, it being found utterly impossible
to take them any farther.
There, they arc gone" said Otter as
tho last boatload set out under the charge
of Peter swell, let them go, the silly
sheep. So much the less trouble for us,
who, although we have a Shepherdess, can
scarcely lead so large q flock. Well, we
have pulled the missile yonder out of the
slave nest, and the Yellow Devil-ah, we
have talked with him and all his crew.
And now are we to go on to win the gold,
the real yellow devil, baas?'
81 suppose so, Otter" answered Leon
ard. "That is, If old Soa keeps her word
But it isn't gold, it is rubies. At any
rate, we must mako for the settlement be-
low Sena to take these men back and sec
if we can hear anything of Mavoom"
80" said Otter after pause. "Well,
the Shepherdess, as these settlement peo-
pie call her. will want to find her father
Say, baas, she is proud, is she nots She
looks over our heads and speaks little
Eyes, Otter, she is proud. -
And she is beautiful. No woman was
ever SO beautiful"
"Yes, Otter, she is beautiful. f"
and she is cold, baas. She does not
say thank you nicely for all that you
have DONE
Perhaps she thinks it the more, Otter
perhaps she thinks it the more. Still
she might say thank you to you, baas,
who are her-husband.
what do you mean by thats"
~ mean, baas, that you bought her
first, according to our custom, ana mar
ried her afterward, according to your
own, and if that does not make her your
wife nothing can"
"Stop that FOOLS talk, /" said Leonard
angrily, land never let me hear you speak
so again.
Juanna looked up and saw him stand
ing before her proud and handsome, an
air of command upon his thoughtful face,
deep chested, bearded, vigorous, n man
among men She saw tho admiration in
his eyes and blushed, knowing that, do
what she would to prevent it, it was re-
Elected from her own. Another moment,
and she was holding out her hand to him
and smiling pleasantly.
GOOD morning. she said. II hope
that you have slept we'll, and that you
have no bad news"
Il spent eight hours in state of alb
solute stupor," he answered, laughing,
and have no news at all to speak of cx
cept that have got rid of those slaves,
poor creatures. l fancy that our friends
the slave dealers yonder have had enough
of our company and arc scarcely likely to
follow us. -
Juanna turned shade paler and an
swered:
Il trust SO. At least l have had enough
of them BY the way, Mr.. Outram, Il
have to thank you for a great deal. Here
her eyes caught the CLEAN of the gold cir
clet on the third finger of her left hand
This ring belongs to you. ! will return
it at once.
Miss Rodd, said Leonard gravely, 1--WE
have passed through very strange adven-
ture together. VIII you not keep the ring
| in remembrance of its"
Her strong impulse was to refuse While
she wore this ring the thought of that hate
full scene and still more hateful mockery
of marriage would be always with her
And yet as the words of prompt refusal
were on her lips q feeling, an instinct al
most superstition, caused them to remain
unspoken "You are very kind" she said,
" but this Is your signet ring. Is not hat
what you call itr You cannot wish to
give it to chance acquaintance.
Yes, 1t is my signet ring. and If you
will look at the crest and motto you will
see that they are not inappropriate. And
do wish to give it even to chance ae-
quaintance,' If you will allow me no more
intimate term"
II have looked at them," she answered
as she examined the ring curiously. 1t
was of plain and somewhat massive gold
and deeply cut into the shield face bezel
was the Outram crest-a hand holding u
drawn sword-beneath which the motto
was engraved what is the last word of
the motto," she went on. at is SO rubbed
that / cannot read it-'For home hon
| or -
And heart said Leonard.
Juanna blushed, though why the word
| heart should make her blush she knew
not.
| well, / will wear the ring il you wish
1 it, Mr.. Outram, in memory OF our adven-
ture-that is, until you ask 1t back again.
she said confusedly; then added, with
| change of tone, there is one detail of that
adventure that | hope you will not allude
to more than you can avoid, for the recol
lection of 1t is most painful to me, proba
bly, more 30 than even to you. "
II suppose you mean the ceremony Of
marriage, Miss Rodds"
Il mean the wicked and abominable
farce In which we were made to play
part" she answered passionateiy. Most
Of the witnesses of that shameful scene
are dead and cannot speak of it, and il
you will keep your servant, the dwarf, ST.
lent will do the same by Francisco. Let
it be forgotten by both of us.
Certainly, Miss Rodd, y said Leonard
THAT is, If anything so strange can be for
gotten. And now will you come to break
fastsn
She bowed her head In assent and swept
past him, tho red lilies in her hand
Il wonder what hold she has got over
that priest, thought Leonard to himself,
that she talked of being able to keep him
silent. y