The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1896-12-18
PART II.
CHAPTER VI.-CoNTINUED.

n
myself. in some disguise, beyond the
lines. we will take the risks together-
or the bullets of the sentrles that may
save us both all further trouble. An
hour or two more will decide this. n
til that time your condition will excuse
YOU from any disturbance or lntru-
sion here. The mulatto woman you
have sometimes personated NAY DE
still in this house; will appoint her to
attend you. 1 suppose you can trust
her, for YOU must personate her again,
and escape in her clothes, while she
takes your place in this room as my
prisoner"
"Clarence!"
Heryoice had changed suddenly; it was
no longer bitter and striduious, but low
and thrilling, as he had heard her call
to him that night in the patio of Robles-
He turned quickly. She was leaning
from her bed-her thin white hands
stretched appealingly toward him.
Let us go together, Clarence" she
said, eagerly. Let us leave this hor-
rible place-those vulgar, cruel people,
forever. Come with mel Come with
me to my people, to my own faith, to
my own house, which shall be yours!
Come with me to defend it with your
good sword, Clarence, against those vile
invaders with whom you have nothing
in common and who are the dirt under
YOUR feet. Yes, Yes! i know you! L
have done You wrong; have lied to you
when 1 spoke against your skill and
power. You are 4 hero-7a born leader
of men! l know it! Have | not heard
it from the men who have fought
against you, and yet admired and UNI
derstood you, aye, better than your
own? Gallant men, Clarence! Soldiers
bred, who did not know what you were
to me, nor how proud / was of you,
even while l hated you. Come with
me! Think what eMould do together,
with one faith, one cause, one ambi-
ton! Think, Clarence, there is no limit
you might not attain! We are no mig
CARDS of our rewards and honors, we
have no hirelings' votes to trucl>le to;
we know our friends! Even |, Clarence,
L" there was n strange pathos in the
sudden humility that seemed to over
come her--'I have had my reward and
know my power. / have been sent
abroad, in the confidence of the highest,
to the highest. Don't turn from me. l
am offering you Mcbride, Clarence, only
p your deserts. Come with me! Leave
those ours behind and live the hero that
you are!"
He turned his blazing eyes upon her.
IF you We're a man." he began, pas
siona tely, then stopped.
NO! 1 am Il woman and must fight
in a woman's way" she interrupted,
e bitterly. Il entreat, l implore, 1
wheedle, flatter, fawn, lie! l creep
where you stand upright, and pass
through doors to which you would not
bow. You wear the blazon of honor
on your shoulder. l hide mine IN a
slaves gown. And yet l have worked
and striven and suffered! Listen, Clar-
ence-" her voice again sank to its
appealing minor. 81 know what you
men call 'honor'-which makes you
cling to a merely spoken word and an
empty oath. Well, let that pass! | am
weary; l have done my STARE of this
work, you have done yours. Let us
both fly; let us Leave the fight to those
who shall come after us and let us go
together to some distant land wheI C
the sounds of these guns or the blood
of our brothers no longer cry out to US
for vengeance! There are those living
there have met them. Clarence
she went on, hurredly. who think it
wrong to lift up fratricidal hands in he
struggle, yet who cannot live under the
northern yoke. They are" her voice
hesitated, good men and women-they
are respected-they arc"
. you, spy, as you are, stand queen"
broke in Brant, passionatcly. He
B. stopped and turned back toward the
window. After Il pause he came back
again toward the bed. paused again. and
then said in n lower voice: -Four years
ago, Alice, in the patio of our house at
Robles. l might have listened to this
proposal, and. 1 tremble to think,
might have accepted it. loved you;
was as weak, as selfish. as unretlecting
my life as purposeless, but for you, as the
creatures you speak of. But give me
now at least the credit of a devotion to
my cause equal 10 your own, which 1
have never denied you. FoI the night
that you left me awolle to a sense of
my own worthlessness and degradation
SNS1 ~ ou III
this awakening-and L realize the bit
ter truth. But that night 1 found my
true vocation, my purpose. my man
hood"
A bitter laugh came from the pillow
on which she had languidiy thrown her
self. Il believe l left you with Mrs.
Hooker-spaIe me the details"
The blood rushed to Brant's face, and
then receded as suddenly.
- You left me with Capt. Pinkney, who
had tempted you. and whom killed."
he said, furiously.
They were both staring at each other.
Suddenly he said: Hush" and sprang
towards the door, as the sound of hur-
ried footsteps echoed along the pas
sage. But he was too late; it was
thrown open to the officer of the guard
who appeared standing on the thresh-
hold.
1.-Two confederate officers arrested
towering around our pickets. They de-
naand to see YOU"
Before Brant could interpose two
men,. in riding cloalSs of confederate
gray, stepped into the room with a
jaunty and self-confdent air.
"'Not demand, general" said the fore
, most, tall, NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. man,
lifting his hand with graceful depre-