The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-12-13

than believed that every man who did
not was "A coward. But / have come 10
look at things differently. Where's the
use trying To steer against the current
when 1t is so much easier To drift with
it!
Il have stood under pretty hot fire
tonight. Mamie. Your guns were hoivi-
ly shottcd. and before you came had
been trying to convince my brother that
this was no concern of ours.
II have been trying to convince my
self that j was not needed on either
side, such a miserable failure. al
ready forgotten by the world. / could
not fight for slavery. did not want to
fight against the men who owned slaves
But you have said things tonight that
have made me long to court ii bullet
hole or Saber thrust as "A pleasant relief
FL may not be worthy to stand side
by side with the professor, my dear.
but at least ] shall no longer skullx in
the chimney corner. My duty in this
matter has not been quite clear, my
path not we'll defined You will have
the credit of having armed two combat
ants--your father and your lover =
All the scorn was gone out of her
face, leaving il white and sad She lift
ed startled eyes to him, where he stood
close to her chair. Stern resolution was
written III every line of his worn face
Il don't think i quite understand
You, Strong
MOI"
do You mean to say that you are 60
ing to do something that your conscience
does not approve OF simply because you
think | want you to do it?''
Evidently she did not understand
him. He would not enlighten her. Poor
little one, he would not by one feathers
weight add to her sorrows or her anx-
ieties. He smiled wistfully down into
her upturned face and answered evasive-
ly:
Conscience generally does get worst
ed in hand to hand combat with love,
don't you think? / simply mean that
am going to do battle for my principles
am going out to take my chances of
being shot at along with countless bet
ter men, perhaps few worse ones. "
She leaned back YEARLY in her big
chair and closed her eyes Tears were
crowding hot and fast under their lids
Il don't know what to say or what
to unsay. 1t seems SO wicked for you to
keep all your strength and health and
vigorous young manhood shut away
from the world in this way-but, Strong,
Strong
She stood up swiftly and stretched
both hands toward him with the look
of terrified child in her eye.
mamie! My dear! What is it?''
If anything should happen to you?'
lyon will respect me-dear.
IF anything should happen to you
/ would be your murderer. And the
world-oh, Strong, the world would be
SO horribly empty"
He held her in his arms a moment,
just long enough to press his lips rever-
emily upon her shining hair That was
all. Then he stood back, holding her |
small trembling hands in tight clasp |
Il had not meant to say anything to |
you until l could look you and the pro- |
fessor squarely in the face. Everything in |
the future is yelled by black cloud of |
uncertainty. We will bide our time, my |
sweet, and I will grow strong, knowing |
that you believe in me"
She swayed, closed her eyes, chung to
him for brief second of childlike |
abandonment, and then asserted her GUS
tomary self possession with pathetic
little smile.
Il have grown SO absurdly weak all
Of sudden. IL must be because am
so tired. We won't talk any more to-
night. Good night, Strong" Then, as
II in concession to the pleading i'm his
syes-"dear Strong" she whispered it
into his love lit eyes and fiuttercd
away from him as softly as a swallow
IN the wing.
As the bedroom door closed behind