Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-07-02

then-then / will never SEQ you
again"
He tried TO reason with her, but
she pushed him fiercelv away.
GO" she cried passionatoly. do
you hear me? Go away, 20 now, at
oncer'
Sorely puzzled. &c CNo,,l and, as
the door closed EohInd nm, she fell
! 10 bitter woCpin". -..t5 she buried
the first pure love she lad ever
known, and on its grave prepared to
sacrifice that which was doarer to her
lawless nature than life itself-her
liberty. An hour later Brady came
up tho street, and the Girl went out
to meet him. He tried TO pass, but
she laid her hand upon his arm.
Come in" she said; II want a
word with you.
The big man shook from head TO
foot; he could not meet her steady
gaze, but he let her lead him into
! the house. They were alone there :;
she had taken caro- of that. She
stood up facing him, and her eyes
never left his for moment.
"Oh, You fool, " she said, you
fool! What good could come of it?
If | loved the man, should | DO so
ready to tako you when your hands
Wee wet with his blood? And l do
not love him. There has been no
word of lovo between us, no word
of aught but honest friendship, such
as those hogs YOU have como from
know nothing of. | would have told
you that long since, if you had dared
to ask me. tell you now, of my
own free will, and when havo l ever
lied?"
She threw back her head with n
superb gesture of defiance.
But tell you this, too-my life
answers for his. Touch ono hair of
his head ard l pay the forfeit with
my own hand. l swear it, before
God, and you know that l shall keep
my word.
He strodo step nearer, and
caught her by the wrist.
You love him ~ he said hoarsolv.
You must, or you wouldn't caro-. I"
She looked him straight in the
eyes and lied unflinChingly, as is
the way of n woman who habitual-
~ truthful, is driven to falsehood
for the comprising of great and I'M
selfish ends.
II do not love him, but 1 love
you, and / will not have you q CON-
mon murderer. A murderer you
would be, Jim Brady, for what
wrong has the man ever done your
1t is in your hands. Save him and I
am yours, body and soul, to 90
where you go, follow you, live for
you, die for you, if need be"
She crept closer and held him, her
face level with his, for she was tall
and built on lines a goddess had not
disdained
"All that" she whispered, for
us both, or, for me, your gift. You
taught me how to use it. You
know if your pupil did credit to her
master. 1t will be easier than a card
at 25 PAGES, just to rost tho muzzle
hero"
She raised her finger significantly
to her temple. He broke away with
groan and fell into chair beside
tho table, hiding his face on his
folded arms. She waited a moment
and then knelt down, twining her
arms about him, letting her head
rest against his shoulder.
My life" she murmured, your
love, our happiness. Surely it is
worth the price of Innocent blood
He took her roughly by the shoul-
ders.
There has been nothing between
you-you swear it?"
Nothing but honest friendship
I swear it, so help me Godr'
There was silence, for he knew
she was speaking the truth and the
knowledge had come too late. AS
the grip on her shoulders looSencd
she leaned forward closer.
You will save him-and me?"
Il cant. have sworn to do it. If
l backed out now, they-T'-
He wiped the sweat off his fore.
head with the back of his hand. His
eyes wcro glazed with passion and
wide with u great fear. She drew
his face down TO hers and kissed
him on the mouth.
Tell me-" she gently whispered,
"whcn?"
Tho man was mad, and she knew
1t rs she knew her own power over
him. He had taken the oath of SO.
Crccy, but he told her everything.
Tho managers wife stood in the
doorway of the little house among
tho pine trees. Her eyes were turn.
ed away from tho track up toward
the hills, but her thoughts were far
away in the English home she had
left to face an unknown world be-
You'd the seas. She had cheerfully
turned her hack on the old luxuri-
Gus life, because then she did not
know the meaning of the phrase
'roughing it." and to her it had
seemed that any life must be beau
tiful if shared with the man she
loved. Sometimes she wondered
whether, after all. she had not made
great mistake.
She wondered now for her heart
was heavy with doubts. She could
not forget the incident of the letter,
and each time she thought of it her
anger .a"cd up afresh, for jealousy
is n master passion, and she be-