The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1897-06-10
tW HEKRH

49, DANh was 5Dta san
and it seemed as though he had OWNED
her thought, in part at least.
That old promise" he said, "ha
bound me twice already. found II
hard, but I obeyed. This third time /
could not do so. but hat the promise
Is enforced by a yet stronger law. IT
is a bitter. cruel necessity, but l must
fight against you and your cause. 1 can
but warn you that / shall do my best"
Her heart beat fast. "And II" she
said. family.
II know" he answered, as II to spare
her the words. II know you al not
sacrifice your loyalty to the Emperor.
even for me-"
In utter simplicity he had misunder-
stood her: her weakness was doubly re-
buked. and she felt him tower above
her higher thar ever
1T is a strange game" he said, more
lightly. 'in which you and 1 are found
on opposite sides; but since we're in it.
let no one say we didn't play it out"
But either a you lose!' she cried.
with despair in her voice and eyes.
Not So" he answered. tenderly. Il
have won already, and received my
prize beforehand"
He drew her to him as he spoke, n
again for a space the chains Of their
iron destiny fell away from them, and
they fled together across shoreless seas
under an infinite radiance of sunlight.
She tore herself away at last, but only
at his urgent entreaty that she would
rest. She promised with a sad smile,
knowing sleep to be impossible.
Outside stood tombstone. AS he was
about to lock the door again the colonel
came up and stopped him.
Wait a moment" he said. Il want
to speak to Captain Estcourt.'
He turned to Camilla, and added, be-
fore he vent in, Il am sorry to trouble
him again. but / must make it plain to
hi that his fate Is lone the less newt
able for any help you may have prom
1sed him. / arm you, you are power
less in my hands: If you wish to save
him 1T must be by bringing him owe to
our side, and not by deserving to his"
You may spare him your hateful
presence, then" retorted Camilla, for
/ have made no promises"
The colonel looked in~credulous.
OH she cried, how should you un-
derstand? / would have given up all,
and gladly. too; but he compels me to
do my duty in spite of myself"
The colonel looked a little uncom-
Portable, but his face cleared. Then 1
may u on you to nelp me?" he
asked.
She turned upon him, her eyes blaz-
ing with u~nspeakable hatred and con-
tempt.
Yes" she cried, ''you may count on
mo 80 lAI- - z A..
curse you in success ana to triumph in
your DOWNFALL
The colonel turned away. He felt that
he was not appearing at his best be-
fore Johnstone; and it was against his
principles to let himself be seen at a
disadvantage by a subordinate.
Camilla went to her own cabin and
threw herself into her berth. She was
worn out, but far too overstrung to
sleep. The wind was rising outside;
the ship moved violently, with sounds
Of straining timbers and of heavy
masses thrown from side to sire.
Hour after hour passed in this tur-
moil, which seemed to match the help
less tossing of her thoughts. Sometimes
the shouting of rough voices came to
her; sometimes the shrieking Of the
wind was like the despairing cry of hui
man agony. Her nerves quivered, rest
less terror overpowered her reason, and
the most horrible fantasies possessed
her. At last h could bear 1t no longer.
Hardly knowing what she did, she rose
and went TO the saloon.
tombstone, wearied out by a long
watch on deck, was sleeping on the floor
beside the DOR
She o the key from his pocket,
turned IL in the lock, and passed softly
in. He woke as she stepped over him,
but seeing who it was sat still and eyed
her watchfully.
She %steadied herself in the doorway
and looked down the room. A hammock
had been slung across it near the mid
die; there lay Dick, sleeping quietly as
a child; a single lamp was hanging
near. and the unsteady light threw
strange distorted shadows across his
face without troubling his rest.
She stood gazing for some minutes; a
deep sense Of peace came over her; she
sighed n turned away, soothed and
strengthened.
tombstone, without rising. held out
his hand for the key. As she went back
to her cabin. he muttered behind her:
"Ay. ay! my beauty; he'll be sleeping
sounder yet tomorrow night"
Happily she did not hear him, but
went to her berth comforted and slept
for some hours in spite or the noise of
the hurricane, which ragged with in
creasing violence.
During the night the brig, after vain
ly attempting to anchor, la been driv-
en- past the island to the south, and
when Camilla came on deck in the
morning she thought at first that an
u~nhoped-for deliverance had thus been
brought about, for st. Helena was far
away on the horizon and the wind