The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-02-07
The others we've far BEHIND

7 =
only realized shat she was in his arms
again, that he had kissed her, and be.
tween the kisses he poured out words
shat were even greater caresses.
The others were far behind. They
were alone upon the mountain side,
with the rocks behind and the great
sapphire sea OF the Caribbean before
Tgkasm He held her close to his breast,
and Hhey forgot every thing but love as
shg geRsy pricked along the road 1t
s vgasnear noon now, and, as the road
g,nlengsfarther debouched into an open
Stateau shaded By trees and watered
hparunning brook which puzzled down
! ae mountain side from some inaccessi-
asacloud swept height, 1t was q fitting
place TO make camp. where the whole.
;barsy; tired by long mornings tray
a, could repose themselves until the,
ib-eeze OF afternoon tempered the heat
.of the day. Here he dismounted. lift
ssa der from horse, and they stood to-
gether side by side.
Ynn lave saved me-" she whispered.
Yon have drawn me back from the
aeath that I sought. God has given NE
Is YOU. We shall never be parted"
"a am q false friend, an ungrateful
rgifN. "a forsworn man, perjured.
ncadIerrs he groaned, passing his hand
over his pale brow as al to brush away
aase idea consequent upon his words
sBuE thou hast my love-" she whis-
,red 4enderiy, swaying toward him
again
2Ss -.s5e es-yes. Would that it could crown
szonething else than my dishonor.
Say net SO"
"a had been faithful" he went on as
arssan justification. .had not seen thee
on the brink Of that cliff, and then
ahou vert in my arms-I was lost
And I was found ieaped toGdeath.
II shut my eyes as drove the horse
toward the cliff. and awakened to
17nd myself in your arms-in heaven!
Eet nothing take me hence
<aeIt cannot be- he said * must go
10 the Vicery when he returns from
the Orinoco war and tell him that l
eaxre betrayed him.
81 viii tell him." she answered. "or
VIII sthou tell kim what tell thee:'
she went on.
Surely"
ssvhen sag to him that I sought
<seaaa rathe- than be given to Don
Esaipesor to any one else. Tell him you
saved r,e on the very brink Of the cliff
.una ghat nerer soldier made better
al4as for field or flag than thou didst
make for thy honor and duty. but that
II broke thee down. had the power
and I used il. The story is as old as
Nden-the woman tempted
..I should have been stronger:
/ should not have weakened. But
shah light 40 more. 1t is all over"
@sAh. thea canst moi" she whispered
uesnng Closer to him. 1AnG tell my
ff 3n their anger he or De Tobar lay
hand rpen thee-it will not advantage
xaseir plans, for swear. if there be No
asznr way. 1 Will starve myself to
saeata to follow thee!'
cannot shelter myself behind a
woman"
.sThen will tell them both myself
she cried. "You shall know, they shall
Know, how Spanish woman can love- u
sand thou shalt know, too" answer.
@a Alyarade firmly, chat though
1sreak my heart I, an unknown, can
expatiate my guilt with all the pride
OF most ancient lineage and birtf
ASstest Of them all.
Il was brave speech. but he did not
release his hold upon Mercedes, are
Sn spite of his words whea. eoD1idel:'
xAat whatever he mig Say. aoTeVel
NE rnizht struggle, he vas hers 1T last
she smiled up at hiud again as kisse,