Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-09-01
Continuation Of Chapter XIV.

My love, / must know my enemy 70
meet him and f6ce the issues he raises
cannot be strangled in the dark like
this"
You will find It out soon enough, I
cannot tell you" she repeated. Il only
ask you to trust me, I'm this the darkest
hour that has ever come to my life. You
win trust me. will you not, dear?' she
pleaded.
II have trusted you with my Immortal
soul. You know this"
Eyes, yes, dear, ] do. Then yoC can love
and trust me without a letter or word
between us until Mama is better and l can
get her consent to write to you? Oh,
never knew how tenderly and desperately
1 love you until this shadow came over
our lives. No power shall ever separate
us when the final test comes, onless you
shall grow weary"
do not say that" he interrupted. II
love you with a love that has brought me
out OF the shadows and shown me the
face Of God. Death shall not bring weart-
ness. But / dread with a sickening fear
the efforts they will make to plunge you
into the whirl of frivolous society. shall
be a lonely beggar a thousand miles away
with not one friendly face near you to
plead my cause"
"Hushr she broke in upon him. ''You
are for me the one living presence. You
are always near-oh so near, closer than
breathingw
The roar of the train became sonorous
with the vibrations OF great bridge. He
started and looked at his watch.
1--WE are more than half way to the stop
where I must leave you and return.
How long have you been heTeT"
/ "Over a half hour. It does not seem two
minutes. Only a few minutes more face to
face, and all life crowding for utterancei
How can choose what to say, when my
nv11x n /
Bend near and whisper to me again your
love VOW" he cried IT. trembling accents.
Close to his ear she placed her lips, hold
ing fast mis- hand whispering again and
again, my own dear love-unto he ut
termost! In life, in death, forever!'
He bent again and Pressed his lips on
her hand ana size felt the hot tears.
"And now, love, comes the hardest thing
of all" she sobbed, 81 must return to you
my ring"
For Gods sake keep IT." he pleaded.
mo, / promised Mama for peace sake
I would return it. She is very weak.
could not dare to hurt her now with a
broken promise. She may not live long. 1
could never forgive myself. Keep 1t for
me, dear, until can wear it,"
She placed ii in mis- hand and It burnt
like red hot coal He placed IT In an in
side pocket next to his heart. 1t felt like
a huge milestone crushing him. A lump
gasped for breath.
She looked at him pathetically and saw
his anguish.
Come, my love-" she pleaded reproach-
fully, you are stronger than l am. Love
is more my whole life than il can be yours.
For this cruel thing have said and done,
you may press on my lips another kiss. II
am disobe1ient to my mothers wishes
God will forgive ne"
The train blew the long deep call for
its hundred mile stop and they both rose.
He took her hands in his.
You have promised not to write to me.
dear, but have made no promise. will
write to you as often as I can send you
a cheerful message" he said.
at is so sweet Of your
''You have the little love-token still?"
he asked.
Eyes, in my bosom. feel it warm and
throbbing with your love, and II shall not
be taken from me in the gravel!
THAT thought will cheer the darkest
hours that can come and now. till we meeS
again. we must say goodbye" he said
hUskily.
She could make no response. He placed
his arms around her, pressed her close
to his heart for a monochrome long visit
full kiss, and he was gone.
He rode slowly back TO Hambright. The
eastern horizon was fringed with the light
OF QaWn WilCn he TtdNhCu. TIE AOWAA. AuC
more he had thought of mis- position and
the way the general had treated him in at
tempting to settle his fate by fiat Of
his own will without hearing, the more
il reused his wrath. and nerved him for
the struggle. They were to measure WILL
in a contest that on his part had life for
it's stake
''I'll give the old warrior the fight Of his
career!'' he muttered as he snapped his
square jaw together with the grip of a
wise. MY brains. and every power with
which nature has endowed me against his
will and his money. And for the bastard
who has slanoered me there will be reck-
oning."
He was fighting in the dark but deep
down in MIN he had soldiers love for a
fight. His soul rose to meet the challenge
of this hidden foe armed in the steel of
a proud heritage Of courage. He went to
bed and slept soundly for six hours.