The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-11-14
PART III.
COPYRIGHT. 1894. Nv
BRET HATTIE.


ours be pcriled in this affair." no went
on. quietly, "and will accompany you
myself, in some disguise, beyond the
Zines, we will take the risks together
or the bullets of the scntries that may
save us both all further trouble. An
hour or two more will decide this. I'm
Ill that time your condition will excuse
you from any disturbance or intru-
sion here. The mulatto woman you
have sometimes personated may be
still in this house; will appoint her to
attend you. l 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!"
Hervoice had changed suddenly; twas
no longer bitter and stridulous, but low
and thrilling, as he had heard her call
10 him that night in the patio of Robes.
lie turned quickly. She was leaning
from her bed--her thin white hands
stretched appealingly toward him.
LET us 80 together, Clarence" she
said. eagerly. let us leave this hor-
riblc place-those vulgar, cruel people,
forever. Come with mel Come with
me to my people. 10 my own faith, TO
my own house, which shall be yours!
Come with me to defend il with your
good sword, Clarence, against those yilc
invaders with whom you have nothing
in common and who are the dirt under
your feet. Yes! Yes! know you! |
have done you wrong; have lied TO you
when l spoke against your skill and
power. You are a hero-n born leader
OF mcnl know i'll Have l not heard
il from the men who have fought
against you. and yet admired and I'M
derstood you, aye, better than your
own? Gallant men, Clarencel Soldiers
bred, who did not know what you were
20 me, nor how proud i was of you,
even while l hated you. Come with
me- Think what we would do together,
with one faith. one cause, one ambi-
toni Think, Clarence. there is no limit
you might not attainl We are no mig
CARDS OF our rewards and honors, we
have no hirelings' votes to truckle to;
we know our friendsl Even j, Clarence.
l." there was a 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. i'm the confidence OF the highest,
10 the highest. Don't turn from me.
am Offering you no bribe Clarence, only
your deserts. Come with me! Leave
those ours behind and live the hero that
you arc!"
lie turned his blazing eyes upon her.
IF you were n mani" he began, pas
Eionately, then stopped.
"No! | am n woman and must fight
in n woman's way" she interrupted,
bitterly. Il entreat, | implore, l
wheedle, hatter, fawn. liel creep
where you stand upright, and pass
through doors 20 which you would not
bow. You wear the blazon OF honor
on your shoulder. | hide mine IN a
slaves gown. And yet / have worked
and striven and suffered Listen, Clai
ence-" her voice again sank TO It's
appealing minor. II know what yo,'
men call 'honor'--which makes you
cling TO merely spoken word and an
empty oath. Well. let that pass! l am
weary; 1 have done my share Of this
work, you have done yours. Let ms
both fly; let us leave the fight 10 those
who shall come after us and let us go
together TO some distant land where
the sounds of these guns or the blood
of our brothers no longer cry out TO Us
for yengcnncel There are those living
there have met them, Clarence"
shc went on. hurricdly, who think II
wrong to lift up fratricidal hands in the
struggle. yet who cannot live under the
northern yoke. They are" her voice
hesitated, good men and womcn-they
are respected they arc"
"Recrcants and slaves, before whom
you. spy. as sou are. stand quccnl"
broke in Drant. pnssionatcly. lie
stopped ard turned back toward the
window. After pause he came bnck
again toward the bed. paused again. and
then saiI in lower voice; -Four years
ago. Alice. In the patio OF our house at
Robies. ! might have listened TO this
proposal. and. trcmblc 20 think.
might have accepted IL. loved YOU;
was as weak. as scllieh. as unreilccting.
my lifens purposeless. but foryou. as the
creatures you speak Of but give me
now az least the credit of devotion TO
my cause equal To your own. which l
have never dcnicd you For tho night