Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-07-20

want to return, ana tnaC Woulu pe
cruel to you. Don't you see?
"Then you should co." he answered
quickly. II want to make you happy.
If | cannot, then it is better for one TO
suffer than two. Return to New YORK,
and from that vantage ground look
back on this new life. If do not tnen
seem fitted to make you happy VIII
not complain"
They were interrupted again, TINS
time by Nora, who came IN pale anu
troubled. "Rob, where is Matt! sure
he has not shown his face since sup
per-"
"He's In command Of the guard to
night He's not far away. Don't wor
~ about him."
cam, dear, wish you'd come home
I need you. Rob will sit with the SICK
one, won't you, Rob?"
To this suggestion Raymond gave as
sent. and in the end Ann went away,
her demonstration unfnished-the ques'
ton of her future still unanswered.
Nora was fairly broken. Dear God!
How long are we to be kept on the
edge of destruction like this? Sure,
nv patience is worn out"
Ann comforted her as best she could,
and at 1 o'clock, all being quiet out
side they went to bed.
ann was awakened from an uneasy
sleep by Morals cry to Matt: "For love
of heaven, where have you beenl
What is that noise?"
MATHS voice, rumbling in reply, bare
ly reached her ears, for deep, tram
pling. continuous tumult grew eacn
moment louder and at last was dis
tinguishable as the sound OF horses
hoofs. Springing from her bed, she
drew aside the curtain and peered out.
In the clear, yellow light Of the frosty
dawn a regiment of mounted men was
streaming up the road between the
cabins. Dressing hurriedly, she went
out into the sitting room just as Ray
mond came in, his face excited ana
eXultant.
"Our reign of terror is over. Inc
desperadoes are scattering like quall.
The governor in spirit Of reprisal has
invoked federal aid, and Colonel WOOD
of the Fortieth United States cavalry
is about to take command OF the
camp"
ooh. I am so glad! Now there will
be no more fighting, and you can re-
store your MILL
''You are right. Mobs do not fight
the United States army" he answered,
with the pride Of potential soldier.
They faced each other, even at this
moment, with knowledge that the
most important matter of all remained
unsettled between them, and all day
and the next, while the forces Of dis
order dissolved and the camp readjust-
ed itself to military rule, Ann nursed
her sick and brooded over her prob
lem.
The second day passed slOwly-even
though she slept at times-and no fur
Their word Of intimate meaning passed
between them. Raymond came in from
time to time with news Of the changes
in progress, but did not tell her that the
state was full of praise of the part he
had played in bringing peace to the
camp. He shrank from doing this, for
/ the reason that, as usual, the press
was extreme, loading him with compli-
ments for his firm stand, for his inf1u-
ence over Munro and for his powerful
protest to the governor, whereas, to his
mind, Matthew Kelly was the leader OF
the free miners. ~ was only the Sec
retary-the clerk" he explained.
Dolan. however, brought to Ann a
knowledge of the great light which had
been turned suddenly on her lovers
abashed figure, and the glow of pride
which came to her brought a keen
realization of how closely his success
was interviewer with her good wishes.
Hounded and brought to bay by his
admirers, Raymond made a speech
bluntly protesting that he was not en-
titled to any credit in the matter. Il
tried hard to keep out of it," he de-
clared. "I'm not seeking honor OF that
kind" But his argument was in vain.
! His denials were called the excess OF
modesty, and at meeting Of the yari-
GUS factions looking to an adjustment
he was amazed to find himself put for
ward as chief arbitrator Of the conten-
ton, mainly by Barnett and the mayor
of Valley Springs.
Just at sunset, as Ann, lingering at
Louis side, was about to cross to the
Kelly cabin, Munro, wild, white and
GREATNESS, burst into the room.
"Where's my gun" he demanded.
"Where's Rob?" He was hunted
man in every look, in every gesture.
"NIy gunw he demanded sharply and
ran into the inner room. When he re-
appeared his face was set in grim
smile, for in his hand dangled a shin
ing weapon. His panic was at an end.
Whose faced him now must give ac-
count Of himself.
"Goodby, girlw he called, and his
voice was wildly tender. Don't for
get me! With a bound he reached
Barnett's horse and rose to the saddle
just as q stern voice called "Halt!'
and a blade of fire reached out Of the
dusk and pierced his side.
Squirting his horse in swift, rear
ing circle he flung from his right hand
an answering puff of smoke, and tall
man with a rife in his hands dropped
at the corner of the cabin, but from his
knees again took aim, and the beauti-
full horse went down, dinging his des-
perate rider over his head.
Mortified, frozen into immobility,
Ann stood in the doorway, while Mum
a IL Ia