Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-10-23
I CHAPTER XIX.
HOW ONE MAY MAKE FRIENDS

W
WITH THE ENEMY.
When I got back to Mrs. Hodges
/ found our room empty. 1t was then
near upon o'clock at night and what
might have taken Acton forth I did
not know. And 30 I sat me down to
wait his coming.
MY thoughts were none Of the bright
est, and our case was hourly becoming
more serious. And yet the thought of
that touch Of a small slipper was more
than enough to overbalance the danger
Of our situation and the chance of the
wreckng Of everything in the perhaps
foolish duel had brought on my own
shoulders.
So they had set marriage for her
her father, and. I'd be sworn, the old
aristocratic witch, too If truth were
known! The thought of 1t made me
get up and walk around the room.
Indeed. I had not known it till then,
till heard of this danger to her, but
Z was true! I could not live my life
without her. I could not see a future
without that face by me, belonging to
me, to protect and comfort and serve
as l would my own life-aye, far more!
Would she have told me of her trouble,
would she have trusted me with 1t and
asked my help, If she had not cared (?
Could she, tried to think, could she
ask q man to save her IL she did not
think of him more than of others?
1t could not be! In spite of the fact
that She belonged to the other side, in
spite of all the impossible difficulties,
she trusted me, believed In me. Could
she love me? Aye, was 1t not fair to
suppose SO? l got up again and shook
the chair as If 1t had been the hand
of friend. She could not! She could
not! God would not deceive a man
SO! And IL that were true, then let
come what would! 1 was young and
Strong and would win her myself. l
WOULD l would! A man cannot be
asked to write down the dark thoughts
that will crop up into his brain-I
could think of none but her! Let the
cause be what 1t would, she should be
mine though the soulless rocks and
bills of the land were ruled by king
or president! Could l not live in Joy
and happiness all the days of my life
even in the depths of hell If she were
by my side? And what could 1t be to
me whether the edicts come from this
side of the water or the other? Moth
Ing! Nothing! She was my love, and /
cared little of what might become of
ought else! What did care for
Arnold? He was q wretched traitor to
his country. Let him live or die. I
cared not whit! What was the fend
Hazeltine? Nothing to me. Let him
do his worst, live or die! I had not
known I'll had not guessed 1t in my
self till this night. 1 loved her! 1
loved her because she was beautiful
because Of her high and fearless look
that told of a fearless heart. She would
do what she would: let no man guess
otherwise. loved her because of her
own dear self as she sat in that little
gown with her arms and throat
shaming the wilderness of the cloth be-
meath the glasses. and with Gods good
help she should know it soon.9and
Acton came in and sat down and looked
at me.
How long have you been here,
triend?" asked he.
But moment"
Has aught happened? Any one
Gomez"
NO"
Then there will be one here soon.
They're hunting US Close" said he
:oolly.
II care not tinker's dam"
What ails thee, MANI" asked he.
leaning forward in his chair and look
ing at me closely.
Nothing"
Wen. let's to bed. There's much to
10 tomorrow. We must take the
boards from Arnold's fence by the
water tomorrow evening""
Il don't know that we cam"
lie turned quickly on me, looking at
ne with his great honest blue eyes.
and then, walking up to me, he put his
Two big hands on my shoulders, tower
a,g over me. and said again:
What ails thee, man?"
Nothing"
Merton" said hA n biz boytsh way.