The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1903-08-06

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to leave you here without heed as to
your fate. Believe In your ~innocencel
You know that I do as firmly as though
you sbbstantiated 1t with q thousand
proofs. Reverence your devotion tc
your honor! You are certain that
must or all better things were dead In
me. You reject my friendship. You
term 1t cruel, but at least 1t will be
faithful to you-too faithful for me to
pass out of Africa and never give you
one thought again. / believe In You.
Do you not know that that Is the high
est trust, to my thinking. that one hu-
man life can show In a~nother's? You
decide that 1t Is your. duty not to free
yourself from this bondage, not to ex.
pose the actual criminal, not to take up
your rights of birth. l dare moi seek to
alter that decision, but l cannot leave
you to such a future without infinite
pain, and there m~ust-there shall be-
mean through which you will let me
hear of you, through which, at least. l
a know that you are living"
She stretched her hands toward him
with that same gesture with which
she had first declared her faith In his
guiltlessness. The tears trembled II
her voice and swan In her eyes. He
seized her hands in his and held them
close against his breast n instant,
against the loud. hard painting Of his
aching heart.
God reward you! God keep you'll
II l stay. 1 shall tell you all. Let me
60 and forget that we wei met! I
am dead. Let me be dead to you!"
With another instant he bad left the
tent and passed out into the red glow
Of the torchlit evening. And venetia
Corona dropped her proud head down
upon the silken cushions where his
own had rested and wept as women
weep over their dead, In such a pas
sion as had never come to her In all
the course of her radiant, victorious
and imperious life.
1t seemed to her as II she had seen
him slain in cold blood and had never
lifted her hand OF her voice against
his murder.
Outside her tent the challenge rang
on the air:
"Who goes there?"
Cecil never heard It. Even the old,
long accustomed habits of q soldiers
obedience were killed in him.
"Who goes there?" the challenge
rang again.
Still he never heard. but went on
bilndly. From where the tents stood
there was a stronger breadth of light.
through which he had passed and was
passing still-a light strong enough for
It to be seen whence he came. but not
strong enough TO show his features.
Halt, or | fire." The sentinel
brought the weapon to his shoulder
and took a calm. close. sure aim. He
did not speak. The password he had
forgotten as though he had never heard
or never given 1t.
Another figure than that of the SOL
der on guard came out of the shadow
and stood between him and the senti-
mel. Ii was that of %Chateauroy. He
was mounted on his gray horse and
wrapped in his military cloak. about to
go the round OF the cavalry camp.
at Is one of my men," said the chief
carelessly to the sentinel. Leave me
To deal with him"
The guard saluted and resumed his
beat.
"Why did you refuse the word. slrY"
81 did not hear"
"Vhy are you absent from your
squadron"
There was no reply.
"Heve you no tongue. sir? Why are
you here?"
There was again no answer.
~Chateauroy's teeth ground out e fu-
fious oath. Yet a flash Of brutal de-
light glittered in his eyes. At last he
had bounded down this man. SO long
Out of his reach. into disobedience and
contumacy.
"Why are you here. and where have
you been" be demanded once more.
II will not say"
The dark and evil ~countenance above
him grew llyid with fury.
II can have you thrashed like a dog
for that answer. and | will. But first
listen! ! know as well as though you
had confessed to me. Your silence
canrot shelter your great mistress
sham. All. ha. Ia Faus,iue. go ma
dame your princess is so cold to her
equals only TO choose her lovers out of
my blackguards and take her midnight
intrigues like a camp courtesan!."
Cecil's face changed terribly as the
vile words were spoken. With the
light and rapid spring of a leopard he
reached the side of his commander.
one hand on the horses name. the 9th
er on the wrist of his chief. that 1t
Rrlpped like an iron wise.
you lie. and you know that you lie.
Breathe her name ono more. and. by
heav as we are both living men. |
will have your life for your outrage!"
And as he spoke with his left hand
he smote the lips that bad b~lasphemed
against her.
Chateauroy wrenched his wrist out
Of the hold that crushed II and drew
his pistol. Cecil knew that the laws OF
active service would hold him but just
~ dealt with II the shot laid him dead
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