The Holly chieftain., 1899-01-13
,'tcopynsht. ,ss4. BY Mary HaIlook Fsossi]
XUI.-CoNrINCED.

Now was the time to say good-by-
not the potential good-by she had bid
den him an hour ago. but the actual
death. Many were crossing the dark
waters to the city of refuge who would
never return. She bent over her sleeper,
and kissed him softly, but the sob that
forced her heart against his aroused
him. and he spoke to her suddenly in his
natural voice:
-"God bless mel" he murmured, while
she held her breath in horror OF his
coming to himself ut this fatal mo-
ment- 81 thought that you kissed mel
4 must be dreaming. Oh, let it be true!
Faith. dear, make it true before lose
you again."
1T is true" said the girl hoarsely,
''and nothing else is true-nothing I
will never doubt you; never did doubt
you. Now go to sleep! Good night,
dear; good nightl"
He held his breath and looked at her
keenly.
~Your lips are cold; your hands are
cold. Why are you saying good night?'
NThe boat is late" said Faith in hol-
low voice. "We cannot go till the boat
comes. You are sick: rest now-do rest;
this is your only chancei"
She put her hands upon him, with
soft, >shuddering touches, trying with
nil the strength of her love to master
her fear, that she might have power to
luil him into obliviousness of the awful
sounds Of the night. Under the trees it
was quite dusk; he could see nothing,
but she felt that he was listening.
what is that firing?"
"Only some men," gasped Faith.
But what are they shooting at?'
Shooting? Oh, at a mark"
''Oh, i say! in the dark" laughed
Darcie softly. He was drifting of
again. as his speech betrayed. "Are
they drunk? What are they shouting
about?"
~It's the other men who are shout
ing" Faith lied to him, feebly.
What other men? Is this stag pic
aic? O Lord! o Faith, dear!"
Faith hardly knew what he was say
ing. but she welcomed any wildness,
profanity-anything but his own low.
steady tones.
''Be quiet, Darcie. dearl" she whis-
pered.
"Darcie, dear!" he repeated, foolish
ly. God bless me, but this is nice
what sweet girl you arel Heavens!
what a bruteI was! Are you ever going
to be friends with me again?"
He nestled his sick head close to her
lap, contentedly. and gave himself up
to the exquisite sense of her cold, soft
touch moving over his hand in the dark.
Mother OF Grace, the pass is diff
cult" whispered the tortured girl. 1t
was the mother instinct, which can look
on death, that taught her calmness at
this moment, and gave her strength to
exert her love, elseone of natures mira
cles was wrought; for out Of the an
guish Of her deadly fear came supreme
rest to him she loved, and Darcie slept.
His hand slipped from hers, lower and
lower. and touched the sand: softly she
saved the contact from disturbing him
He sighed, and breathed more deeply;
he was gone. even beyond his conscious
ness Of her.
She moved tribe, cautiously; drew
away her dress, and noiselessly raised
herself upon her knees. All along the
shore she seemed to hear stealthy foot
steps and furtive, leafy rustlings, as Of
. hunter stalking big game. The rapid
firing hai ceased, but scattering shots
came infrequently. one at time, from
. distance. Step by step she moved
little way past the bushes and looked
out. Overhead the clouds were blown
in wild masses; the stars in the dark
blue lakes Of sky between winked peace
fully, while the torn and flying cloud
signals altered from moment to mo-
ment. So did the peace Of heaven abide
this senseless, passing hour, that proved
nothing, changed nothing, simply add
ed its score TO the wrong side. the side
OF human passion, which must miss the
mark thousand times before one true
aim shall raise the record a little higher
as the centuries pass. tu
Faith was quieted; she had reached
the limit of emotional fear. and now a
species of insensibility crept over her
the reaction after the shock. She
wondered why she could not feel as she
ought the peril of all those other men
who were strangers to her affection.
Where was Mike-always rash with him
self? Was he safe? And how was It
with the honest Cassons--the wife wait
ing with her little sleepy brood about
her. to learn perhaps that they were
fatherless?
She started back from her relaxed out
look and hid herself AZ man came run
ming, like one pursued, out from group
OF black birch trees that stood together
shivsring In an open windy space. He
ran uncertainty, this way and that, AZ
lf craxed with fear. His dog hearted
pnrsuer covered him with deliberate
ain. Il was pitiful to zee him waver
41Swpen he chances Of the river and
I n ~ broken plain below. He was ex-
~ vih runnlng; his cheat labored
4 m hard psinful gasps; his lees were
i y III uSder him. The next momsnt
/! = Sfusfz1od and fell The secah,'
Ennfer esn1 uf and turned htn over
y gGjsA ~ foot, keeping ths muxsls 81
u ~ yt&IS ~ 70 his chest. Hs sAid
I IN W 6Gte&, which Faith ala not
/ k1ot ~ ka6n nosef spoke. but thrsw
4 4 m ~ v fsisively on ths I'd.
m q u III clothes and took
4 MI ~ onsy Or small valu.
= "A N I'M