Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1905-05-22
CHAPTER xvtii.

lOI d luOuiCALs
ct was nothing" said May, with a
long breath. GO on, sgd! oh, l
know hat is coming"
FLUSH don't tremble So It's all
best now!"
Go on-go en-
'Well, she read it, and bursting
into tears. held it out-with her face
hidden in her apron-to me.
81 read it. 1t was letter. just
the sort of letter a nobleman's edu-
Gated son would be able to Write-ask-
ing her to meet him that night, and go
to London with him. Of course he
promised to marry her!"
"And-and your
81? Well, used strong language,
May and | did foolish thing. l ought
to have taken the letter to the colonel.
but | wanted to have my revenge on
the cowardly wretch. | went back
and told him. as if in answer to his
note, that the girl would meet him"
'Oh, Syd!"
eyes; and he was SO pleased that he
threw me half a sovereign"
Mays hands frightened on his
breast.
Cali right, wait minute. The time
appointed was nine o'clock, the place
barn just outside the barracks.
watched my friend start, and then
crept out of the barracks, got around
by another way, AMI met him.
"Ah."
MAY, you should have seen him
start when he met me instead OF the
poor child! But he kept his coun-
tenance-these men can do it!
didn't give him time to back out of it,
but | just took the letter out Of my
pocket, wrapped the sovereign In it,
and flung it o nthe ground at his feet.
He was on me like tiger, but was
prepared for that and stepping back,
! caught him a cut across the face
with my cane He's got the mark
now. | fancy. Hush-hush!' for Mays
arms are aroun1 his neck, and her
lips pressed adoringly on his pale
face.
"That brought him to book, and
gave him the advantage. He stopped
short and stood in front Of the door.
Out of bounds drunk, striking an Of
Gcer! Good' says. he, and he shouts
for the guard. I knew ned got the
best of it. He'd got the letter-my
word would go for nothing against
him, and if it had, I'd struck an Of
ficer. You can do almost anything
but that--that is the one unpardon-
able offense l coul1 hear the
guards bugle-see the lights in the
barracks! I made a spring for it,
knocked him down-worse and worse,
you see-and bolted.'
ooh, my darling-my darling! My
poor, brave, cool Syd!"
81 had just eleven ce-half-penny
in my pockets, and 1 should have
starved if it hadn't been for a good
woman who gave me a loaf and
piece of cheese-tut-tu Don't make
SO much Of it, dear!"
God bless her, Syd God bless
her!"
"And l made my way toward Lon
don. Yesterday by luck-I get some
luck sometimes, after ALL went into
the alehouse in the next village to
this, and there heard my own name,
and found that you lived here. l
came on the next day, and-you know
all now. There, it's long story"
May cries-and wisely he lets her
cry-in silence for a minute or two;
then she looks up.
"Syd, if you knew how grieved-
how grieved I feel. sgd, have de-
serted you"
Mono
Eyes, l have-I have. / have al
most forgotten you iK this new love Of
mike; and you so worthy of all my
thoughts! Oh, Sgd, forgive me! And
what shall I do? OH" and she
shudders, chose dreadful men we saw
this morning."
"By George!" he says, with smile,
sit was narrow squeak! If it hadn't
been for you they would have had me.
Confound them-but there, they were
only doing their duty
"And you are in danger still. Oh,
sgd, what shall we do?" and she looks
around, shudde:ing.
"Hush!" he says, coolly-indeed, he
is by far the cooler of the two. This
is my plan. 1 mean to get to the
sea-coast as soon as possible, Of
course. Once there, l can get on
board a merchantman-the don't ask
awkward questions-anG work my pas
sage out somewhere. Where doesn't
inter. But-but 1 must have some
money, May" and his voice falters.
Money" she says, eagerly, ''of
course. Oh, sgd, how glad am.
How much-two hundred pounds?"
and she dives into her pocket.
He laughs.
1.-TWO hundred pounds! Bless the
child! No! A few pounds, just to
help me on the road. You see they
think have not got silver, and by
George. they're right! and they'll keep