The Western news., 1903-10-14
long enuff. Joseph Armacost,~ 81,

Il guess the plays over" he OBJ
served, wearily.
she made no reply. After awhile
he looked up again and said softly;
'..Mirey, before they-before l go
will you forgive me?"
She turned away her head to hide
the tears OF wounded pride that
would not be repressed.
1T was mean, cruel, despicable, 4"
ne continued, but we have to do
such things sometimes-thev're a
part OF our orders. l wish you could
understand and forgive me. Mrey."
"Fergive ye!" she burst out. "Fer-
give ye! You lied to me. made love
to me, learned me to love-yes, to
| love-sich snake az you. You'd
have sent poor old pap to prison, an
made me an outcast-a convict. dar-
ter. Fergive ye? Never-you hound"
"Mirey, it wasn't all ie / did
admire you'll do yet. And in
tended to arrange that your father
might escape if"
! Then ye wouldn't have done yer
duty. You'd have played traitor to
both sides. Don't talk to me. 1 don't
never want to hear yer voice" i.
There was Il long silence-then the
man remarked:
u suppose Jake has gone after the
gang"
Don't mention Jake's name. You
amt fit to. He's man."
Look here, Mirey. Do you realize
what you are doing? You are help
ing murder me, as surely as though
you had shot me through the head
with that revolver. Do you under
! stand what that means-to take hui
man life-in cold blood? Bad as l
am ! never did what you are doing
now You are helping murder me,
Mirey."
The girl shuddered again, then
steeled herself.
How do | know what they'll do
with ye? That's their bizness-not
mine. You an them fer that"
"Mirey, you know as well as that
III never see another sunrise if you
keep me here 80 minutes longer. You
loved me once, Mirey. An hour ago
you would have gone with me to the
ends of the earth. Do you hate me
SO now that you will stain your soul
with my blood?"
She gave a great sob.
what kin | do? / dasen't let We
go. Let me alone. Fer Gods sake
don't tempt me-"
He strained his strong wrists the
handkerchief fell over the supple
plant hands, and he sprang to his
feet, defying the deadly weapon
upraised in the shaking hands.
Stop. III have to shoot! | prom
ised Jake-ye're a spy"
shoot. then. Mirey. I'd better die
that way than by torture. Shoot
right here-between the eyes-be
sure
The dark eyes looked into his, filed
with tears, and the grim muzzle
dropped.
80, Rob-I kain't-I'm a coward"
He sprang forward, seized the
weapon, and fired every chamber in
the air.
Now, you've done your duty" he
exclaimed. breathlessly. you've fired
every bullet at me and only wounded
ME as | ran. I've a boat concealed at
the river. Goodby, Mirey."
She grasped his arm and clung to
him desperately.
mot till | know ye won't inform
on pap and-Jake. / must know
that. er I'll hold We till they come
an they've heered tn shots
Gould | betray you-after you've
saved me? Mirey girl--look in my
eyes-they shall never know"
She looked, knew, and released
him. He stopped to kiss her. but she
thrust him back fercely. He seized
the brown right hand, pressed it to
his lips, and bounded away. The girl
fell on her knees.
20, Lord, fergive me fer what I've
done. Fergive me fer the lie I'm
about to tell An, Q, God, help me
to fergit him.
Then she pressed her burning lips
to the brown right hand rubbed the
spot madly with the crushed letter,
and with little moan, cast the pa
per away, as she cast him from her
heart, and rose to face the hurrying
men.
Late that night when Jake re-
turned, weary and desperate, from
the fruitless search, Mirey, from the
old mans side, stepped forward in
the moonlight to meet him.
"Jake," she said, softly, don't
worry. He'll never tell. I know"
Jake looked down, sternly, into the
dark eyes.
"Mirey-you let him 60"
She laid both brown hands on his
arm and looked up, pleadingly, into
the grave rugged face.
"Yes-it was better. I've been a
fool, Jake. But it's all past now. An
-Jake-ye needn't wait till fall-ef
ye'll have me yit."
Jake stopped, kissed the quivering
lips, put his strong arm about her,
and led her to the smiling old man.