Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-06-11

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 YOU ARE HAPPY WITH ME. WHY?"
 SHE ASKED.
 so in ceaseless, amorous jargon. Truth could not but prevail in her heart as we'll as Nature's-now. And she was tired in mind and body-her whole moral strength weakened by the stress of flight and danger
 So she only turned, half resting upon an arm, and looking into his face over her shoulder.
 In the dim light she could see him indistinctly.
 You are happy with me, why?" she asked.
 There was a pause, then Winslow said, with apparent irrelevance: Lis ten to the river! It is laughing at you"
 Laughing at mel"
 "Yes," and her lover enid the dark. ness that hid the curve of the pouting lips. ''Yes, laughing at you for ask ing such a question. Merely the wom- ans old. old way of evading the old, old story"
 She made no reply, and he heard her sigh gently.
 But you are right" he said; "si- lence is best, beloved. We need no words; there is none to hear except the stars, and could tell nothing that they, as we'll as you, do not know" and he just touched with the tips of his fingers the round elbow which showed through rent in her sleeve.
 Boone sat some paces away in shadow; Owatoga had gone down the river to reconnoiter; it almost seemed, as he had said. there was none beside these two in the whole wide world.
 Winslow felt hot tear on his hand which yet lay, unrebuked, on her arm. You are crying? I am too bold; my tale of love must wait still longer forgive me-" and he sat upright, away from her.
 "No," she said, "if there Is anything to forgive, it is who must ask it, and yet-yet I am puzzled, distracted" and her head moved to and fro as though she would shake her brain clear of the maze into which her heart was leading it.
 Then you have doubted me. Lave.. der?"
 Yes"
 But you do not doubt now? You will never doubt me again?"
 Slowly she rose to her knees. facing him, with only the worn old tree be- tween. 'I do not now" she said. and her eyes, black in this light, met his with absolute trust: "I do not now; I never will doubt you again"
 Kneeling so on the bare earth, hands clasped on the ruined tree. she seemed a Druid priestess at some sacred rite.
 He dared not touch her as she sat there. though a wave of love and long. ing filled his soul.
 At last. with the wind swaying the trees. the water kissing the pebbles as to her words, she spoke: To-day, tonight, the doubt is gone; I trust you utterly. But-and give you fair warning-I may change again"
 She nodded her head merrily, her mood was. on a sudden. strangely light almost hysterical. Then. more se- "I don't trust my moods late ly. they vary so. I may have been right then-or I may be right now. but I want to be honest to-night-hon- est with my heart-and you. And to. night. for the present. all's well"
 And. sweet one. for so much. You know the wisest man has said: There is a time to love and q time to hate Let us be happy now In the time to trust. the time to love-
 Owatoga returned. and at his sug- gestion Boone rose. You are right, we must press on." he said. and tha Indian advanced to Lavender. "ovs- tOga will carry the white maid over the water: the ford Is deep"
 Lifting her as though she were 10 greater burden than the quiver that swung over one shoulder. he raised her to the other and plunged into the river.
 The others followed. but. the oppo- site side regained. the old pioneer stag gered and fell. half fainting. ;n Wins lows arms
 You are i'll. sir Quick. ovatoga, The brandy And they worked hard 10 revive the old man who lay in a stupor on the sand
 Fl have felt only toIerable well Tor a feu days. and-and the walk he walk hzs-has tired me. The ua ter was cold-cold.- And be shiv- sred
 So all night they canpei there. Ora osa guarding against surprise while and Lavender. too auxious 'Or sleep. watched the pioneer. vho lay 1eipless with fsfizus and sudden cold With early dawn he rallied . bit and hey pushed o7 until, at noon. thsy ,a1sei ia s bezgtifuI. sheltered grove
 Boone smiled ike . pleased tired .hiId T skzu ret here bs said T