The Red Cloud chief., 1900-01-05

You ara right forgot. You are
bound; but. so, too. am /. You hear. I
gave my word Of honor, and where
duty calls"
Duty? To whom Your first. most
s'cred duty Is to protect me. shall
stay. ! have not the heart to leave my
htther. You will go. when you see that
| cling to you in mortal anguish vii
liam, our love Is at stake!"
"hnd so is my honor, Florence,
Merciful heaven! Hear me! DO not
torture me longer by your e%ntreaties'
DO you not understand that | must go,
even though the whole happiness OF
my life depended on my remaining!"
She really did not understand. The
spoiled, idolized daughter of the rich
planter could not believe that anything
could be more valued than herself.
She had had before her eyes the dan
gerous example Of a passion which got
aside duty and honor to gain her hand.
Only an hour before she had heard the
confession from Edwards lips. From
William she always heard of honor and
duty; and the old suspicion that there
was u lack of love stirred In her heart.
And yet. her whole soul drew her to
the man who seemed so hard and un.
yielding-she would not lose him.
William" There was no reproach
in her voice now. The tones were
sweet and persuasive. william, do
not leave me: you do not know what
| must encounter during the next few
hours. My father will demand the full
nllment OF my promise. IL ! refuse, the
excitement will perhaps cause his
death. Then | shall be wholly in Ed
wards power, and you do not know
him as | do. He has a fiendish Will.
which can overcome all resistance.
| During his suit | have often felt like
the bird spellbound by the gaze OF the
serpent. 1t knows that IL Is going to
destruction. yet futters into its jaws.
Have you courage to leave me to this
power? fear it,"
With feminine instinct, she had
touched the right chord. Williams
| jealousy blazed up at the thought OF
the possibility suggested. He, too,
knew Edward, and was aware that Ed
ward would make every effort to wrest
from him the prize which he had just
regained. Florence was not created for
a heroine. To leave her now was in
deed to loose her. Torn from the shell
tering trunk, she would flutter help
lessly. like a vine in the storm, and
become a prey to the tempest.
Roland made no reply, but a ter
rible conflict was raging in his soul
Now, for the first time, he understood
the warning OF Colonel Burney. whC
had been unwilling to let him go into
temptation.
He had manfully resisted 1t, wher
Harrison assailed him; but it was yer!
different to stand face to face Will
Florence, listen to her %entreaties ant
see her tears. The young officer LOVED
her with all the passion of his four
and-twenty years, and his strength
threatened to forsakc him.
Florence saw the conflict in his face
and, %clinging to him like a timid dove
she pleaded more and more fervently
while the temptation stole nearer ant
nearer. After all, why was 1t neces
sary that he should return today
There was no battle in prospect; thu
soldier would not be missed from hi
post. What II he should stay merely
until the morrow? Much-nay. every
thing-would be decided by that time
Death was already knocking at thu
door, and, as soon as Mr.. Harrison
passed from earth, his daughter would
be free to follow her lover.
Until tomorrow!
A pretext was easily found. Spring
field was within the enemy's lines. The
way might be obstructed; return i'm
possible; any one of the hundred perils
which threatened the daring ridel
might intervene. 1t was but a wore
which stood between him and his hap
piness-true. his word of honor.
(To be ~continued.)