The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1903-05-29
\ n ~ ~ y n y n Il Is y II n n

Her black eyes glowed with passion
and purpose. There seemed little In
them to respond 10 the dreaminess of
the lads. Yet now she threw her arm
round his neck and patted his cheek
affectionately, protectingly.
81 believe you love your violin more
than you do me-" she whispered. What
an idea, Noel, it was for you to enlist
l always hated a deserter, but with
you-it is different"
81 am free" he cried in exultation.
Not quite yet" she said, petting his
cheek as If he were a child, and then
opened her basket.
Eat now" she said, land l will tell
you all l have heard. l don't think
they would even bother to send out
after you If ii were not for Lieutenant
Wynn, the adjutant. 1t is not as if you
were a trooper in the ranks. You play
the fiddle very beautifully and the cor
net in the band fairly WELL but, you
know, an ablebodied private is worth
five of you"
KATY
mot to me, dear" she whispered;
"no. They would let you go, bat you
insulted the adjutant''-
"No."
"Well. you told him the nasty truth,
which is the same thing, and you know
what he is. l am afraid when he finds
you missing at tattoo he will send out
a detail. That is why l said you must
be off at once. l have mapped out your
road. You have plenty of money, but
you ought to leave the violin behind"
81 couldn't" said he quietly.
Every WELL" she said. 'but look"
From the bottom Of the basket she
took out some citizens clothes.
"Of course you won't keep to the
trails" she said, but even on the plain
until you reach the railroad you must
not wear the uniform"
you are my angel" he said. Il new
er thought of it. l just wished to
go away, to be alone with the violin,
far from those-those FELLOWSHIP be
free"
II know, dear" she said sympathet-
ically-'I know. The army is no place
for you. Now you must be Off"
katy" he said couldn't you come,
too-nOw, mean|
She shook her head and laughed.
"When you are settled down, wher-
ever it is, write, and | will come. l
promise Noel"
my dearest, it won't be long"
Before the last note of taps had died
sadly away in the hills there was ST.
lent hustle at the stables. Sleepy and
growing men were throwing the sad
dies on the horses and leading them
out until half troop was formed. AS
they came Corporal Healy turned to
the sergeant in charge.
An what the divil's eatin' the adju-
tant now, sergeant" he asked, with
yawn.
"Deserter," said the sergeant briefly
-"Faval Of the band"
Healy swore gently.
"A bandsman, the wee man that
plays the fiddle! Is it him we're max
in all this fuss about? Begab an be-
gob there's been ten good men taken a
walk in the year, an we let 'em 20, an
now were after a half built man, a
fiddler, whin the blankets is hungry
fur us. Let him 60"
$50 say t. said the sergeant sullen-
ly. Prepare to mount! Mount! Right
by twos, march. No talking"
They left the post and silently trot-
ted down the road to the creek. There
they advanced by files and crossed TO
the island. One by one they dsap-
peared in the shadows Of the scrub
oaks.
Katy. Katy" said the deserter, 81
am free, yet not free Until you come
to me my heart must still be in the post
with you"
He had eaten, had been in the thicket
and changed his clothes had received
his last instructions from the girl on the
road he should go. and now they were
standing again in the moonlight, and
his arms were round her.
They stayed n little while yet, and
from across the creek came the hoarse
voices of the sentries ON post, Half
past 10, and alrs we'll"
Nov, Noel, now. You must have a
good start. They won't go after you
until morning. and by that time you
should have bought horse and be well
on the way to the railroad. Goodby,
dear; goodby! What? Listen! What
was that
They separated suddenly and stood,
lips apart listening. Down the island
were a crushing of leaves and crash
ing of branches and the snort of a
horse The deserter's face blanched,
and he threw his arms up despairingly.
Already be cried. "They have sus-
pected ii alreadyw
The girls face. too, was white, but
she did not despair.
Quick she whispered. "Make for
the canyon-the mountain! Quick. They
will only search the island Quick!
Quick! Fly! Oh. Noel flyr'
He hesitated; he was bewildered.
'But where" he cried-"where is my
violin?"
She took IL from the rock and gave IL
him impatiently.
ely" she said. ooh. quick. quick,
quckp