Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1895-05-31
A SCAMP'S DEVOTION

even yet her children keep alive the mem-
Ory of it.
She was the fairest. sweetest, tenderest
flower that ever loumcd beneath the hot
sun Of an Indian lii, station He was the
widest most darling and reckless man,
the hardest drinkcr the fercest fighter
Jhat even thorc times had seen. His name
had been lnScd with that of numberless
women. Thorc were men who cursed the
magic of those handsome black eyes of his,
and would have brcWhcd moro freely for
the news that he had fallen in some mid
might fray.
Few knew his story. Some whispered
of disappointment, others Of sheer dcviltry
as the motive force, They knew only that
in the lust Of battle lis eve cleaned and
danced, and his sword arm swept out and
he lived.
They stood together, the girl and the
man, in the shadow Of some palms into
which he had drawn her. The sound of
Che dancing was behind them-thc 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 ncrVously.
God knows it Is II blasphcmy, child, to
say this to you, but could not rest until
I had laid my broken. brutalized life at
y
would. No, no. he added, hu1icdly
stretching out a hand toward her yet still
without touching her. Forgive that. 1
should not have said that I scarcely
know what ann saving. There is but one
thought in my mnd-that l love YOU
and with that love is swallowed UP and
crushed out all the vile ana awful things
chat | have called life. Lave no hope in
saving this-uot boa lit that Won can have
any folding in your gentle heart for me.
save Of loathiug. I ask only that you of
all women ON earth Will believe that l am
sincere that l speak the truth to you in
my misery l ask only that you may
learn TO pity me Let me, like a drowning
wretch clutch at that straw before l 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 ont her hands to him.
He caught them in his own and raised
them to his lips.
Il do believe YOU" she said softly. 81
am only very sorry, Captain Carlyn, that
that this should be. 4 woman in her
hcart of hearts can lo4rn to distinguish
between the false and the true. l know
despite ala. that they NAV say Of You,
that this is truc and, Gc-l ilo all th"t.
am graf ,ful-honorc3-tiut I can have
w, frn,, ,-o,, .,,,.I,, f.,li,,, fVho.tbouob,
of ,rat can Inf ,.,,,e , make INV ,itv IN,
STRONGER wiz WON believe that. and try tC
forort if all.
~ car,.o. fn,.nct if lit,le ono See
kiss voIir white Lands aoain intol,en Of m,
worship. The memory Of your words vii
be with nae until l die"
"Ihcrc is something else - she said pres
emily. Il i am to be married soon. You
YOU haNe not heard oil 1t:
Yes, nc replied quietly i have hearC
of it, 1t makes no difference. iclt tina
must tel jou. You are to marry CHI
9ordg
Yes
And yoA love him:' he asked, wlSttul
1y watching Ler
VERY, very dearly Captain Carlyn
And-you-y0u viii not harm him:'
Ae stood looiing at her Tor some mo
mcnts sadly and reproa..lu.ly How lit
tie You understand he sad at last.
mol no, no. she cried. Forgive tina
forget that l said it,
cit is forgotten child Let me say this
that carry you in my grateful heart 10
all time; that would do anything 70
You-you have but to ask-anything I
make one moment brighter. VIII you 100
nnto my eyes ana say, l trust You "a
Nyavs:'
she slipped hor hands between his an
looked up at him with her eyes ~Wimmin
in tears, and whispered the words. The
he turned away with bowed head and lei
her and went out into the night.
Mo ,,,,,.i,,,. ,,.o.. ,,.,i,,,, al about tb,,
-, III, e.,,,,,. ,.a.i',i'.. NV, th'
.,,sht ,,1.r,,,lol,, tl,o,,, noa,.,,. and -,
,.,,,n ,.,.,,.,, d.,,. Won, r,,,,,lr, l..
reacbod thon-rumors of mad excesses. ,
p,orrors tI,st loft tbnn, ebuddpring Tho
could only wait and hone
II s,yerf down unon Them at last in II
,,ioht silnntIv and rclontlnsslv Only II
riring and The fiendisb wells. and the sirI
eff hundreds Of duskv forms nitting abol
rbe narrow streets of the little Mace to-
them what had happened. 80 complete
were thew taken by surprise that half ii