The Breckenridge news., 1904-03-23
out, followed by the manager.

I
mahogany, the gayety went out of her
face, and the young girl wearily
brushed the hair from her brow. AS If
unaware of the soldiers presence she
glanced absently at the table in its
wrecked glory and, throwing her lace
wrap over her arm, was moving to-
ward the door when he spoke.
"Miss Careww
She paused, standing with clasped
hands before him, while the scarf
slipped from her arm and fell at her
feet.
MAY l not also tell you how glad
am that you succeeded tonightT
81 dislike congratulations" she said
indifferently.
He looked at her quickly, but her
eyes expressed only apathy. In his a
sudden CLEAN of light appeared.
From me, you meant" The light be-
came brighter.
She did not answer. His self control
was fast ebbing.
"You underestimate your favors If
you fancy they are easily forgotten"
A crimson flush extended to her
brow the unconcern died out of her
eyes.
81 do not understand" she answered
slowly.
"When a woman says 4 do not un-
derstand she means 4 wish to for
GET"
Her wide open glance flashed omi-
nously to his. She clasped and un-
clasped her fingers.
Forget whatT she said coldly.
"Nameless nothings," he returned. "A
smile, a glance, nothing to you, per-
haps, but'-the set expression Of his
face giving way to abrupt passion
Everything to me. Perhaps l had not
meant to say this, but ii seems as
though the words must come out to-
night. 1t may be''-his voice vibrating
with strange earnestness-"for once l
want to be myself. For weeks we
have ebeen-fiends-and then suddenly
you begin TO treat mellow? AS though
l no longer existed. Why did you de-
ceive me, let me drift on? Because
was mute did you think l was blind?
Why did join the strollers? The land
baron accused me of following you
across the country. He was right. /
was following you. would not con
fess 1t to myself before. But confess
1t now 1t was a FOOLS paradise" he
ended bitterly.
She shrank back before his vehement
words; something within her appeared
violated. as though his plea had pene-
trated the sanctity Of her reserve.
Would 1t not be well to say nothing
about deception she replied, and her
dark eyes swept his face. Then, turn
ing from him abruptly, she stepped to
the window and, drawing aside the
lace curtains mechanically, looked out.
The city below was yet teeming with
life, lights cleaning everywhere and
shadowy figures passing. Suddenly out
of the darkness came a company OF SOL
diers who had just landed, marching
through the streets toward the camp
ing ground and singing as they went.
The chorus, like a nightly breath Of
patriotism, filed her heart to overflow
ing. 1t seemed as though she had heard
it for the first time; had never before
felt its potency. All the tragedy Of war
swept before her; all that inspiring.
strange affection for country, kith and
kin suddenly exalted her.
Above the tramping Of feet the melo-
dy rose and fell on the distant air, dy-
ing away as the figures vanished in the
gloom. With its love Of native land, Its
expression of the unity Of comradeship
and ties stronger than death, the song
appeared to challenge an answer, and
when the music ceased and only the
drum beats still seemed to make them
selves heard, she raised her head with
out moving from her position and look
ed at him to see II he understood. But.
though she glanced at him, she hardly
saw him. In her mind was another pic
ture-the betrayed garrison, the SOL
diers slain-and the horror Of 1t threw
such a film over her gaze that he be-
came as a figure in some distressing
dream.
An inkling of her meaning-the mute
questioning Of her eyes, the dread
evoked by that revolving vision of the
past-was reflected in his glance.
Deceived your he began, and his
voice to her sounded as from afar.
"How-what''-
"Must it be-could it be put into
wordsY
The deepest shadows dwelt in her
eyes, shadows he could not penetrate.
although he still doggedly, yet appre-
hensively, regarded her. Watching her,
his brow grew darker.
"Why noty' he continued stubbornly.
Why? The dimness that had OBJ
scured her vision lifted Now she saw
him very plainly indeed-tall and pow
erful. his face harsh, intense, as though
by the vigor of physical and mental
force he would override any charge or
imputation.
Why? She drew herself up as he
quickly searched her eyes, bright with
the passions that stirred her breast
"You told me part of your story that
day in the property wagon" she be-
gan. repugnance, scorn and anger all
mingling in her tones. "Why did you