The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1903-05-29

and the ban6 sergeant down on him
all the time. and he knows more
what newsT' asked Mrs. Malone
impatiently, and Holmes stood wait
ing.
"Why, the order was read out az re-
treat-dishonorabl discharge, forfeit
ing all pay and allowance and so on.
and three years i'm Leavenworth."
"rhree years I'm Leavenworth," cried
Mrs. Malone-''three years. Well, well!
Did We hear that. Sergeant Holmes?
There's many thing will be forgotten
in three years, Holmes"
But Holmes was already striding
away through the gathering dusk.
Holmes turned his back on the post
and strobe out across the bluffs toward
the river. For long, long time now he
had been used TO taking these solitary
evening walks, rain or shine, to tire
out the passion I'm his breast. Scared,
alone in the world since he remembered
anything. he had never loved a living
thing until now, and, having loved with
all the might of rushing, long sup
pressed flood, he found he had dashed
himself against a rock. He had tonight
but one clear thought In his throbbing
head. Noel Faval was out of the way
out of the way-out of the way! The
words sang in his ears. 1t gave him a
chance. For the slim lad Faval he had
nothing but contemptuous pity. He
was out Of the way. His bewitching
music. his big brown eyes, his slender,
graceful form. would be heard and seen
no more. That fancy would be forgot
ten, and he (Holmes) would have an
other chance. SO unused the sergeant,
and the devil of bitterness gradually
gave place to the angel of hope, and at
last by the bank of the river he came
upon the girl. She was lying in the
grass her face buried in her arms, her
black hair loose and her whole form
shaken with great sobs Holmes drop
ped on one knee beside her and dared,
in his agitation, to lay his hand on her
head.
Katy" he said. Katy, DEAR
She sprang up. Her great black eyes
cleaned angrily on him. She clnched
her hands.
What do you want hereT she sob
bed. Cant you leave me aloneI | hate
you! 1t is you who did this"
He hung his head passively and quiv-
cred.
What have | done to make you hate
me, Katy" he slowly whispered. You
didn't use to before-Faval came"
and you arrested him.!
"Why did not the fool go away at
once? What could | do? | was de-
tailed. 1t was my duty"
"And now they have sentenced him
to three years-him. He will die in the
prison with those wretches; he will have
no music, nothing. 1t is horrible! You
have killed him. killed that boyw
do you love him SO muchT'
The girl flushed in the starlight
"What is that to you? | pity him."
A fash of renewed hope sprang from
his heart to his eyes. Pity need not be
love. For a moment his sight grew
dim. and the next he was at her feet,
clutching her dress.
katy" he cried, lit is done! 1t was
his own fault. Forget him. He can
not have learned to love you as | have
loved you for years. Listen, listen!
Don't go away
The girl was in vain struggling to re-
lease her dress, frightened now.
Il ANAL the men say | am, per-
haps," he cried, "surly and all that,
but-listen-you are the cause. For
love Of you and thinking of you keep
alone From the horror of losing you
l am sometimes half mad. Listen to
me now and tell me: Will ever any
man love you as | love? Will any one
do for you what | would do"
Leave me, leave me!' she cried, but
he chung to her.
II cannot charm you and bewitch
you with a pretty face and music, like
Faval," he went on, unheeding her.
But | am Il man and true man. l
claim that. Try me. Tell me what
to do to prove how much | love you.
Whatever it is | shall do il"
The girls thoughts all the evening
had dwelt on one thing alone-her be-
wildered, anxious, wild thoughts. They
were yet in her mind, and now they
formed themselves, as at word of
command. into resolve. She whis-
pered TO the man at her feet:
"DO you love me SO much"
81 cannot tell how much
"And you would do all you say for
me, for love of meT'
"Anythingr' he cried, rising in pas
sion of hope and Selling her hands.
"Save him." she cried.
TO BE CONCLUDED NEXT WEEK.