The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-07-29


He stopped still, again facing her
MAZDA ellis? Do you mean old Gillis'
girl? Is 1t possible you are the same
we rescued on the prairie two years
ago."
She bowed her head. Yes; do you
understand now why 1 trust this Bob
Hampton"
81 perhaps might comprehend why
you should feel grateful to him, but
not why you should thus consent to
meet with him clandestinely.
He could not see the deep flush upon
her cheeks, but he was not deaf to the
pitiful falter in her voice.
Because he has been good and true
to me-" she explained, frankly, bet
ter than anybody else in all the world.
/ don't care what you say. you and
those others who do not know him,
but | believe in him. / think he is
man. They won't let me see him, the
Herndons, nor permit him to come to
the house. He has not been in Glen
caid for two years, until yesterday.
The Indian rising has driven all the
miners out from the Black Range, and
he came down here for no other pur
nose than to get a glimpse of me. ard
learn how was getting on IL saw
him over at the hotel just for mo-
ment-Mrs. Guffy handed me note
and II had only just left him when l
encountered you at the door. l wanted
TO see him again, to talk with him
longer, but l couldn't manage to get
away from you, and l didn't know
what to do. There, I've told it all; do
you really think l ana so very bad, be
cause-because like Bob Hampton %
he stood a moment completely non.
plussed, yet compelled to answer.
L certainly have no right to queS
ton your motives" he said, at last
land l believe your purposes to be
above reproach. l wish l might give
the same credit to this man Hampton
| But, Miss Nadia, the world does not
often consent to judge us by our own
estimation of right and wrong; it pre-
| fers to place its own Interpretation on
| acts, and thus often condemns the in
nocent. Others might not see this as
/ do, nor have such unquestioning faith
in you"
81 know" she admitted, stubbornly
but wanted to see him; / have been
so lonely for him. and this was the
only possible way"
| Brant felt a wave of uncomfortable
sympathy sweep across him, ever
! while he was beginning to hate this
man, who, he felt, had stolen a pas
sage into the innocent heart Of cir
not half his age, one knowing little O.
the ways of the world.
May l walk beside you until yol
meet him." he asked.
You will not quarrel?"
mo; at least not through any faul
OF mine"
A few steps in the moonlight ant
she again took his arm, although the.
scarcely spoke. At the bridge sh
withdrew her hand and uttered pecu
liar call, and Hampton stepped fort
from the concealing bushes, his heat
bare, his hat in his hand.
4 scarcely thought it could be you,
he said, seemingly not altogether sal
isfed, "as you were accompanied b
another"
The younger man took single ste
forward, his uniform showing in tn
moonlight. Miss ellis will inforr
you later why l am here" he sai(
striving to speak civilly. You and
however, have met before-I am Lieu
Brant, of the Seventh cavalry"
Hampton bowed, his manner some
what stiff and formal, his face impeI
, etrable.
; It should have left Miss Gillis Pre-
vious to her meeting with YOU" Bran
continued, but l desired to reques
the privilege of calling upon you Il
morrow for a brief interview"
with pleasure"
Shall it be at ten?'
I THE hour is perfectly satisfactor,
You will fad me at the hotel"
You place me under obligations
said Brant, and turned toward th
wondering girl. 81 will now say goo
) night, Miss ellis. and I promise to r
member only the pleasant events
, this evening"
: Their hands met for an instant
warm pressure, and then the two lie
? behind stood motionless and watcht
5 him striding along the moonHt road.
5 CHAPTER XVII.
9 The Verge of Quarrel