Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-07-22
~ hEK1r AEMB0LZ

YAEM1Y NEWsME
expression as he could manage to put
on.
Camilla was in state Of feverish agi-
tation. She attacked him at once.
"Well." she cried. 'and what does this
mean, slr?"
The colonel hung his head.
did not tell you." she continued.
that II Captain Estcourt went with
you should stay behind?'
Il fought perhaps you might think
better Of it."
do generally threaten what do
not mean to carry out?" she retorted.
To this he made no answer, and his
silence suggested. as It was intended
to do. that 1t was now rather late In
the day for the fulhllment Of this par
ticular threat.
do you not see." she went on. ''into
what a position your foolish obstinacy
has entrapped me?"
II am very sorry" murmured the
colonel
1T is infamous Of you.'' she cried.
Here we are, with our enterprise al
ready launched: for me to turn back
now would be to forfeit my share IN
the glory Of success: to send him away
would be to ruin it ALL
I'm afraid 1t would" said the colonel,
IN tone Of encouragement; and he
looked about him frowning, as II per-
Camilla's Indignation was by this
time beginning to exhaust itself. To
hammer so abject an opponent was
merely beating the air, and Of that the
strongest fighter soon wearies.
What am to dog" she cried in de-
spair.
Couldn't you go on as you are do
ing?" he suggested.
What! live for a fortnight cooped
up here with a man whom I've insulted
to his face?"
Its not your fault" he replied: che
brought 1t on himself"
mo. no! he did mott" she answered.
holly. ''It was your doing from the
beginning"
Il asked him to come. admit" said
the colonel: ''but he shouldn't have ac-
copied"
How can you," she exclaimed, chow
dare you, compare his share in 1t with
your own? You were the tempter. you
were the suggester Of evil. His con-
duct in yielding may seem strange to
us. but we can not tell what good rea-
sons he may have had for taking less
severe view Of his duty in this instance.
He belongs to a party which has long
favored the Emperor's release: he was
no longer actually employed In the Eng
lish government, which has treated him
with ingrat!tude; he was chivalrously
devoted to us. his friends. and there
may have been other reasons. could
wish that he had acted differently, but
will not hear you blame him."
The colonel Rugged himself In secret.
It was an exquisite pleasure to hear his
own sophistries arrayed against him
and to see them working out his own
purpose after all. Some CLEAN Of salts
faction must have twinkled from q
crevice in his assumed stolidity. for
| Camilla stopped. as If partly conscious
| OF something inconsistent in her argu-
ment.
| Don't misunderstood me-" she cried;
II do not take back anything Of what
said" Fl" interrupted her.
"Of course not" he said; II was
waiting to remind you that as we are
to touch at Ascension. you have still
free choice; we could easily land you
there for fortnight, and take you OF
again on our return from st. Helena.
You would lose none Of the credit Of the
undertaking. and you would share the
Emperor's triumphal return to Europe"
Il will consider that" she replied,
before we reach Ascension; but 1t was
not what was thinking of. What I
! meant to tell you was that in any case
refuse to have Captain Estcourt
| forced upon me as a colleague. de-
cline to recognize him in that position,
and you may tell him that II he and
are to meet. 1t must be on other
ground. and expressly on condition
that the object Of this voyage is never
mentioned"
The colonel sighed: not. as she sup
posed. with resignation. but with relief
and perfect satisfaction.
II will go to him at once" he said.
and left the cabin, still detected and
submissive in appearance.
AS he climbed the companion-ladder.
however, his demeanor underwent a
complete change. and 1t was with q
beaming face that he emerged up the
deck, where Estcourt was anxiously
awaiting his return.
1T is all right he said. cordially:
II knew 1t would be. She has quite
| got the better OF ueT DISAPPOINTMENT.
and IL sorry for having hurt your feel
ings just now. Her indignation. 1t APP
pears, was not directed at you but me.
whom she blames severely for having
been the original cause for all this trout
BILE. confess it. but assure you !
was far from intending to estrange you
from u.s." !,
Don't say another word" cried Dick.
selling his hand and shaking 1t in a
fervor of gratitude. I'm your debtor
for the rest Of my life. But now let me
| go to her at once"
"stay a moment" said the colonel.
holding him by the sleeve: "let me give
you one last hint before you go. No
/ wise man expects an apology from a
woman under any circumstances"
Apology" Dick broke in impatiently.
"Of course notw
Every well. then.' continued his COM
panion. "that being so, it will prevent
| any possible awkwardness II you ignore
the late regrettable incident altogether.