The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1902-10-17
Bv H. S. CANFlELD


copyrighted. 1901, by I
CHAPTER XII.-(Continued
you love me?" he asked, sure OF 1T,
but anxious for the assurance.
Il love you"
You will wait for me and, forsak-
ing kindred, come with me to some
Tar country where shall build our
homa!"
will wait for you"
He raised her chin with his hand,
looked once more into her eyes, drank
deeply of their depths and dropped his
iips upon hers in clinging caress.
Now, Lois English since child had
not been kissed by man and the fire
OF It ran through her and made her
afraid and half ashamed, she could
not have told why. She was wildly
happy. yet she shrunk from him. Wes-
tom, a man of quick and fine feeling,
OWNED and released her. She sank
into q chair and covered her face with
her hands. Even her small ears show
ed pink. He stood beside her, his hand
resting lightly on the back Of the
chair, and waited for her to regain
control. There was nothing in his
bearing to indicate aught save re-
'apectful, almost reverential, tenderness.
The knowledge of her love was as yet
too new to him to make her any the
less sacred in his eyes. There was
still about her the halo Of semi-di-
vfnity with which he had invested her
I'm his lonely feverish hours. Finally
he said:
''The glory Of your love is so great,
Lois, that I can scarcely realize that
1t is mine. I feel unworthy; I know
that I am unworthy. l am so far be-
ceath you that the task of climbing
to your plane seems impossible.
shall be drawn upward by you, how
ever. I now have something to live
fora something more dear and pre-
"cious and Of higher value than ever
tell to man before. I know now, if I
did net know before, that was not
born to be a convict You and I, my
sweetheart, shall be all in all to each
other yet and my wife shall not be
afraid to look any woman in the face
She slipped her hand upon his,
placed her forehead on it and sat lis
'tening.
eve part tonight but only for brief
time, trust. Nothing can harm me,
for your affection will be a shield. 1
ceel that every atom of my strength
has returned. / feel that almost moth
ing is beyond me so that it be achiev-
ed for you. You will hear from me in
only little while-before I turn my
face to the interior of the Mexican
RepDctic. 1t will be, at the most but
4 few months ere 1 return for you. 1
shall find you here, true and hopeful
and patient 1 know
SYou will find me here, true and
hopeful, but not patient. How could
Z beg"
He stopped to brush his lips against
her hair and went on:
Il DO not know the thing for which
am best fitted, but any field of hui
man endeavor must prove fruitful if
the work be done for you. For such a
prize what man would not strive his
uttermost? Distance is but a trifle;
*ie is the lapse of time only that counts.
x do not know how shall reach you,
but will return and then we will not
NE parted any more. The hour grows
tate and I must tell you goodbye. Be-
fore you go give me some token, some
thing about you that has belonged to
you and it shall act as my messenger"
She rose quietly, looked at him and
slipped from finger little band of
old gold, set with small unpublished
oorneiian. The stone showed redly
and duly in the dim light.
cit was my Mothers" she said sim
ply, giving it 20 him. 81 have never
worn another ring"
He placed it in the interior of his
cartridge belt, carefully buckling it
down. Tossing the belt upon the
chair. it fell heavily, with faint
chink as Of metal. He looked at her
with a half smile:
Il shall not starve," he said. "There
is much gold in it. Your Englishmen
are honest and they are fair fighters
except one" It was his second refer
ence to Maude, but apparently the
thought passed from him instantly and
his white forehead was clear of frown
as he came to her and took her unre-
sistingly in his arms. He kissed her
gravely and tenderly, put her from
him. holding her at arms length and
gazing at her face as though he wish
ed to re-impress each lineament upon
his memory, dropped his hands by his
side and said: Goodnight"
Without word or backward glance
she turned and went from him, her
'hnad dropping, her hands crossed in
aront of her, her eyes heavy with I'M
shed tears.
The mans next actions were char
nctsF1stic. He bolted the door, re-
showed his coat and lifted various
'heavy articles Of furniture with his
'ss6t hand, putting much strain, upon
u He doubled his fist, drew It to Iii
ln11red shoulder and shot II four Of
I've thnest ~ raptd succss Non md yEith
~ 4E9kfS RI hfifrh III