The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1905-11-16
an set fair between us. But you need

an set fair between US. But you need
not fight me for 1t. The love is yours
not mine" e.,
Don't say that Jack; I'm selfish
enough to wish IL were true; as IL Is
not. | know whereof | speak
'.No,' i denied, struggling to my IeeI'
at has been yours from the ilrst' Dlch'
| am but a sorry interloper.
For a moment he was all sohclluue ~
know il my head would let me STAND; puC
when / showed him was no more thah
clums.ly dizzy from the effects OF tHe
6loH. he went on.
Il say l know. and l do, Jack. She has
refused me again
l groaned in spirit. l knew IT must nave
come TO that. Yet l would ask when ana
where.
Twas on our last days riding" he
went on; after we had had your note
saving you would undertake a mission
for Colonel Davie,"
took two steps and CROPPED for the
horses bride rein.
Did she tell YOU why she must refuse
YOU"
He help me find the rein for my hand
and the stirrup for my foot.
There was no WHY but the one-she
does not love me"
But I say she does, Dick; and I. too,
know whereof / speak,
Ho flung me into the saddle as a strong
man might toss a boy, and l understood
how that saying of mine had gone into his
blood.
Then there must be some barrier that
I know not of" he said. Whereupon he
put rand 10 head as one who tries to re-
member stay; did you not say there
was a barrier, Jack?-when We were
wrestling with death in the Indian fires?
Or did dream it?"
You did not dream it. But you were
telling me what she said"
"Oh yes; twas little enough. She cut
me off at the first word as if my speaking
were a mortal SIN. And when l would
have tried again, she gay me a look to
make me vince and broke out crying as
If her heart would burst"
I steadled myself as I could by the sad
die horn and waited till he was up and we
were moving on. Then I would say:
Truly, there is a barrier, Richard; if L
promise you that am going to Charlotte
to remove it once for all, will you trust
me and go about Your affair with General
I Gates?"
Trust you, Jack? Who am 1 that I
should do 'aught else? When I am cool
and sane, I'm none SO cursed selfish; I
could even give her over to you with a
free hand, could I but hear her say she
4 loves you as I would nave her love me-.
But when I am mad. All, God only
knows the black blood there is in the
heart at such times"
We rode on together in silence after
that, and were come to the bank Of the
river before we spoke again. But here
Dick went back TO my warning, aging
whilst We let the horses drink; "'Tis pa
trolled on the other bank, you say2"
1T was when 1 passed 1t a few days
agone."
Then 1 will turn back and cross at
Beattie's. Twill make you a risk you
need not take-to have me with you"
But l thought now that the upper ford
might be guarded as well; and If there
must be a cutting of a road through the
enemy's outpost line for Dick, two could
do 1t better and one. So I said:
No; We are here now, and if need be
can lend you the weight of a second
blade to see you safe through"
And YOU with you head humming like
a basket of bees, as I make no doubt II
will?"
I laughed. 81 should be but a sorry
soldier and a sorrier friend if I should lei
a love-tap with the fiat Of a blade make
me fail you at the pinch"
He reached across the little gap thai
pared US and grasped my hand.
by God he swore. most feelingly
you are as true as the steel you carry
Jack Ireton."
Nay" said I, in honest shame; 81 Dc
confess l was thinking less of my frient
than of the Importance of the errand hi
rides on"
'Bu if there should be a fight, you will
spoil our chance Of coming peaceably t
Charlotte and my lords headquarters"
If | am recos ~nized-yes. But the nigh
is dark, and . brush with the outpos
need not betray me-"
A. This he consented prudoino1y and WI
pushed on to the crossing. Now since thi!
fording place Of Master M~acgowan's ha;
marched into our history, you will lik'
u know what the historians do not tel
you: namely. how it was but a make
shift wadins place, armpit deep over
muddy bottom from the western bank t.
the bar above an island "A mid stream
and detecting thence through rock,
shadows to Il point on the eastern banl
some distance below the island. 'Twa
!, here that Lord CORVALLIS got ~entangle,
some months later-but l must not an
t:ciplte.
We made the crossing Of the main cur
rent in safety and We're a-splash in tn
rocky shadows beyond the island whe
we sighteld the ann fires of the outpost
). To ride straight upon the patrol was t
invite disaster, and though Jennifer wa
for a charging dash. a hurly-burly wit
the steel, and SO on to freedom beyond
/, he listened when ! pointed out that GU
beasts were too nearly outworn to charg,
and that the noise we must make woul
: rouse the camp and draw the fire Of ever
piece in it long before We could reach tn
!. bank and come to blade work.
: What for it, them" he asked, imps
tiently. My courage is freezing Will.
we wait"
There is nothing for it but to no.
: straight OH across ] said.
y Continued Next Week.l