The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-08-02
CHAPTER XIV.
. Prisoner of Love.

A Prisoner of Love.
Alice put on her warmest clothes and
followed Captain Farnsworth TO the
fort, realizing that no pleasant expert
ence awaited her. The wind and rain
still prevailed when they were ready
TO set forth and, although il was not
extremely cold, a searching chill went
with every throb that marked the
storms waves. No lights shone in
the village houses Overhead a gray
gloom covered stars and sky, making
the darkness in the watery streets
seem densely black. Farnsworth Of
fered Alice his arm, but she did not
accept 1t.
Il know the way better than You
do she said. Come on, and don't
be afraid that I am going to run 1
shall not play any tricks on you
VERY well, mademoiSelle, as you
like. I trust you
He followed her from the house. He
was so filed with the bitterness of what
he was doing that he carried her sword
in his hand all the way TO the fort,
quite unaware that its point often
touched her dress so that she plainly
felt il. Indeed, she thought he was
using that ruffianly and dangerous
means of keeping pace with her He
had sent the patrol on its rounds, TAX
delivering her 10 Hamilton. She al
most ran, urged by the strange excite
ment that burned in her heart. and
he followed somewhat awkwardly,
stumbling over the unfamiliar way in
the rain and darkness.
At every step he was wishing that
she would escape from him. Coarse as
his nature was and distorted by hard
ening experiences. it was rooted in
good English honestly and imbued
with a ehivalric spirit When, as
happened too often, he fell under the
influence of liquor, the bad in him
promptly came = ppermost; but at all
other times his better traits made him
a good fellow to meet, genial, polite.
generous. and inclined TO recognize the
finer sentiments Of manliness. To
march into his commanders presence
with Alice as his prisoner lacked ev-
erything of agreeing with his taste:
yet he had not been willing TO give
her over into the hands of the patrol.
II his regard for military obligat ton
had not been exceptionally strong.
even for an English soldier. he would
have given way 10 the temptation Of
! taking her TO some place of hiding and
safety, instead of brutally subjecting
! her to HamiltOn's harsh Judgment. He
anticipated a trying experience for her
! on account of this hew transgFession.
They FASTENED along until a lantern
in the fort shot hazy CLEAN upon
them
Farnsworth called 'I say. Miss Rous-
sillon. stop a moment. please
Alice halted and turned facing him
so short and so suddenly that the
rapier in his hand pricked through her
wraps and slightly scratched her arm.
What do you mean. sir?''' she de-
manded. thinking that he had thrust
purposely. do 1 deserve this bru-
| tality2
You mistake me. Miss RoussiliOn I
! cannot be brutal 10 you now. Do rot
| fear me; 1 only had a word TO say"
''Oh. you deem IL very polite and
| gentle to jab me with your sword. do
you? II 1 had one in my hand YOU
I would not dare try such thing, and
you know II very WELL
/ He was amazed. not knowing that
, the sword point had touched her. He
/ could not see her face. but there was
| a fash in her voice that startled him
| with its indignant contempt and re-
sentiment.
What are you saying. Miss Rous-
sillOn2 I don't understand you When
! did I ever-when did I jab you with
my sword2 I never thought of such
thing
This moment. sir. you did. and you
know you did My arm is blee ling
/ now"
/ She spoke rapidly in French but hs
| caught her meaning. and for the frs
| time became aware of the rapier in his
hand Even then its point was toward
| her and very near her breast He low
| cred it instantly while the truth rushed
| into his mind
Forgive me-. he murmured. his
words barely audible in the tunult 0,
the wind and rain. but charged win
| the intenSeSt feeling.