The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1903-07-23

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Madame, this is very mercifui. I
know not how to thank you"
She motioned 10 him to take q seat
near to her, while the Levantine, who
knew nothing Of the English tongue.
retired to the farther end Of the tent.
Fl only kept my word" she answer
ed, "for we leave the camp tomorrow;
Africa next week"
$50 soonY'
She saw the blood forsakc the bronz-
ed fairness Of his face and leave .
dusky palIor there. 1t wounded her as
II she suffered herself. For the first
time she believed what the little one
had said-that this man loved her.
II sent for you," she continued hur-
riedly. There are many things I de
sire to say to you. l must entreat You
to allow me to tell Philip what I know.
You cannot conceive how intensely OPP
pressive 1t becomes to me to nave any
secret from him. I never concealed so
much as a thought from my brother in
all my life, and to evade even a mute
question from his brave, frank eyes
makes me feel a traitress to him."
Anything else," he muttered. ASK
me anything else. For Gods sake,,do
not let him dream that I liver
But why? You still speak to me In
eniSmas. Tomorrow, moreover. before
we leave, he intends to seek you out
as what he thinks you-a soldier of
France. he Is interested by all he
hears of your career. He was first in-
terested by what l told him of you
when be saw the ivory carvings at my
villa. I asked the little vivandiere to
tell you this. but. on second thoughts,
1t seemed best to see you myself once
more. as ! had promised. That French
child forced her entrance here In a
strange fashion. She wished to see
me. l suppose. and to try my courage
too. She is a little brigand. but has a
true and generous nature, and she
loves you very loyalty"
"Cigarette?" he asked YEARLY. "Oh.
no! l trust not! l have done nothing
to win her love. and she is a fierce lit
tie creature who disdains all such
weakness. She forced her way In
here? That was objectionable, but
she seems to bear a singular dislike to
you"
singular, indeed! I never saw her
until today"
He answered nothing. The convic-
ton stole on him that Cigarette hated
hpr becauSa ha loved ber
"And yet she brought you my mes.
sage" pursued his companion. THAT
seems her nature-yiolent passions, yet
thorough loyalty. But time is pre-
cious. I must urge on you what !
bade you come to hear. 1t Is to i'm
plore you to put your trust. your con-
idence. In Philip. Let him learn that
you live; let him decide whether or not
this sacrifice of yourself be needed.
His honor Is as punctilious as that of
any man On earth. His friendship
you can never doubt. Why conceal
anything from him?"
His eyes turned on her with that
dumb agony which once before had
chilled her to the soul.
do you think, IL l could speak In
honor. l should not tell you allY"
A flush passed over her face. the first
that the gaze Of any man had ever
brought there. She understood him.
But" she said gently and hurried
~. may it not be that you overrate the
obligations Of honor? l know that
many q noble hearted man has mex
orably condemned himself to a severi-
ty of rule that a dispassionate Judge
of his life might deem very exaggernt-
ed, very unnecessary"
Her voice failed slightly over the
last words. She could not think with
calmness of the destiny that he ae-
cepted. Involuntarily son prescience
of pain that would forever pursue her
own life unless his were rescued lent
an intense earnestness, almost en-
treaty, to her argument.
He started from her side as he heard
and paced to and fro the narrow limits
of the tent like q Gagged animal. For
the first time 1t grew a belief to him
In his thoughts that were he free, were
he owner Of his heritage. he could
rouse her heart from its long repose
and make her love him.
Hear me-" she seid softly. Il Go
not bid you decide. l only bid you con
fide In Philip. You are guiltless OF this
charge under which you left England.
You endure it rather than do what You
deem dishonorable to clear yourself.
That is noble: that is great. But it il
possible. as l say. that you may exags
gerate the a%bnegation required of you.
Whoever was the criminal should suf-
fer. Yours is magnificent m~agnanimi.
ty, but 1t may surely be also false
Justice alike to yourself and the
world"
He turned on her almost fercely In
the suffering she dealt him.
"It is! 1t was a madness, a quixot-
ism. the wild. uneonsidered act of q
fool! What you Will But it Is done.
1t was done forever-so long ago
when your young eyes looked on me in
the pity Of your innocent childhood.
cannot redeem its folly now by adding
to its baseness; I cannot change the
choice of n mailman by repentins of Il
with q towards caprice. All. God.