The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1903-06-11

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test your country; but. my faith. |
must confess she breeds uncommonly
handsome men,"
She was a dilettante in handsome
men. She nodded her head now to
where. some yards of, at another of
the campires stood. with some officers
of the regiment. n of the tourlsts-a
very tall. very fair a with q gal
liant bearing and a tawny beard that
glittered to gold in the light of the
flames.
Cecirs glance followed Cigarettes.
With a cry be sprang to his feet and
stood entranced. gazing at the stran.
ger. She saw the startled amaze. the
longing love. the agony of recognition.
In his eyes. She saw the impulse in
him to spring forward and the shud-
dering effort with which the impulse
was controlled. He turned TO her al
most flercely.
He must not see mel Keep him
away-away. for Gods sake"
He could not leave his men. He was
fettered there where his squadron was
camped. He went as far as be could
from the flamelight into the shadow
end thrust himself among the tetbered
horses. Cigarette asked nothing; CON-
pretended at a glance. with all the tact
of her nation. and sauntered forward
to meet the officers of the regiment as
they came up TO the picket fire with
the yellow haired English stranger.
The eyes of the stranger lighted on her.
and his voice laughed in mellow music
to his companions.
Your attendance is perfect: your
ambulance is perfect: your camp cook
cry is perfect. messieurs. and here you
have even perfect beauty too. Truly
campaigning must be pleasant work in
Algeria"
Then he turned to her with compli-
ments frank and gay and full OF a
debonair grace that made her doubt be
could be of Albion.
Retort was always ready TO her. and
she kept the circle of officers In full
laughter round the yedefte FIRE with
a shower of repartee that would have
made her fortune on the stage of the
Chatelet or Folies Marigny. And ev-
cry now and then her glance wandered
to the shadow where the horses were
tethered.
Bal, Why was she always doing
him service? When they we're quite
gone. she came softly 10 him. She
could not see hin well in the gloom.
but she touched his hand.
"Dleu. How cold you are! Ee is
gone"
He could not answer her TO thank
her. but he crushed in his the little
warm. brown palm. She felt a culver
shake his limbs.
as he your enemy?" she asked.
"No."
what them"
"The man | love best on EARTH
"Ahr She had felt a surprise sic
had not spoken that he should fee tlas
from any foe. "He thinks yea dead,
them
Ties"
"And must always th;rk sos"
"Yes." lie held her hand stlil. and
his own wrung 1t hard. the grasp of
conrade to comrade. not OF mar to
Child, You are beld. geaer-
Gus. pitiful: for Gods sake. get me
sent ont Of this camp tonight. | am
powerless."
There was that In the accent which
struck his listener to the heart. He
was poweriess, fettered hand and foot
as though he were a prisoner: n nights
absence. and he would be shot as a
dese-ter. II win try" said Cigarette
simply, without anything Of her au-
dacity or of her vanity In the answer.
go you to the fret You are cold"
you have ingenuity, compassion,
tact: you have power here. too. In your
way: for the love of heaven. get me
sent out on some duty before dawni
There Is Biribi's murder to be
avenged-would they give the errand
to me?'
She thought n moment.
1--WE viii see." she said CURLY. Il
think | can do it. But go back. or you
will be missed. l will come to you
soon"
She left him then, drawing her hand
quickly out of the clasp of his.
Cecil mechanically returned to the
fire at which the men of his company
We're cooking their welcome supper
and sat down near them. rejecting with
n gesture the most savory portion
which with their customary love and
care for him they were careful to Sc
lect and bring TO him. He sat like a
man In a dream. while the lonsened
tongues of the men ran noisily on a
hundred themes as they chaffed each
other.
"ue said once that he would take my
hand before all the world always. come
what would" he thought. would be
take 1t now. | wonder? Yes: he never
believed against me-"
And as be thought the same anguish
of desire that had before smitten him
to stand once more guiltless In the
presence OF men and once more bear
untarnished the name of his race and
the honor Of his fathers shook him
now as strong winds shake a tree that
yet Is fast rooted at its base. though II
sway awhile beneath the storm.
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