Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-08-15

! hirr. or any 70 esracially, INT feel
sure that lie would siay an enemy as he
would Stay wild animal. Witnons Civ
ing him even the wild aniniai's chance
OF flight Fair fight is one thing AID
! assassination is another"
| He shall not know" was the steady
| answer; no one shall ever know
VIII show you my answer ~ hiHi IL YOU
/ wish
+ Al!yn's fair face flushed bright red 10
the roots o. his hair.
| REALLY. Miss English-Miss Lois
| Lois" he stammered. I'm not that
| kind OF fellow. you know. IL don't
| want to see your correspondence I'm
! responsible for the poor devils being
singed but | don't care to watcl the
/ iron which burns him. | have done
what | have done from sense OF duty
and from liking for you. The matter
is now wholly in your hands But I'm
willing To avow my share in it If it be-
comes necessary"
He had risen and his slender fieure
was erect Lois saw hat she had MADE
mistake. She was not sufficiently
| familiar with young men OF the Allyn
class to know how Intensely one OF
them would resent a suspicion of his
courage any intimation that he was
hiding behind a petticoat. Again she
faid her hand on his and spoke sooth
ingly
Don't be foolish, Mr. Allyn. I know
you. Today you have shown yourself to
me brave man. one of the bravest of
the brave. IL will kiss you, If you
like"
His boyish ringing laugh sounded
through the wide room.
Well he said, that's more than
any of the other fellows have had Of
fered them. I'm lucky after all. even
il my addresses were refused"
He passed his arm about her waist,
kissed her lightly on the cheek and
was gone. swinging his sobrero Lois
rubbed the spot with her handkerchief,
looked at il thoroughly as IL she ex-
pected some OF the lip-pressurs to
come Off. peeped into mirror, saw
that her brow and throat were scarlet,
smiled brightly and said in half
whisper: He is my brother, after all"
That afternoon as Russell Maude,
white with dust, swung himself from
the saddle in front of the bachelors
quarters, one of the maids gave him a
sealed note. He glanced at the super
scription. tossed the reins to a Mexi-
can hostler and walked into his room.
closing and locking the door after him.
Throwing himself into chair, he tore
open the envelope feverishly and read:
my Dear Maude: i have thought
the matter over in all its bearings and
this is the answer for which you have
asked: | canot be yclr wife. | value
the compliment you have paid me and
! know your sincerity, but do not love
you and | do not think that | could
learn to love you | do not think that
| shall ever marry, but If | do my
heart must go with my hand. Please
regard this as final. | wish you con-
tentment. if not happiness.
Sincerely, lois ENGLISH"
For long the ex-solder sat--sat I'M
til the swift dusk came through the
window. the letter cienched in his
| hand Then he rose, tore it to bits and
set his heel on the bits His face was
drawn and haggard, his sharp white
teeth had gnawed his underlip until
The blood spurted and there we're dried
! drops of it on his breast. Who shall
| say what wasted years. what excuses,
what crimes had passed in review be-
4 fore him? He staggered slightly as he
walked across the room and looked into
glass. An evil light burned in his
small dark eyes He uttered but one
word-a word with which he had been
familiar on African sands which had
chung to him. in which he believed ut
terly: "Kismet,"
That night at dinner he turned to the
company the same stern, impressive
face He was once more repressed,
self-centered, immovable He had
bowet gravely to Lois, conveying sub
tly BIS acceptance of her decision. but
thee night in the drawing room he said
10 her:
1T is an episode that is ended. Miss
English You need not fear pursuit
from me- but know that our fates are
! blended. We cannot separate them,
try as we may
(To be Continued)