The Irish standard., 1907-10-19
"Donald, . Love You."

.&S
"Donald, I Love You."
ion" and he gently unclasped her
hands. holding her away from him
while he continued to gaze hungrily
into her troubled face.
Sometimes feel just like a COW. :
ard, Bob. It's the woman of it; yet
truly l wish to do whatever you be-
lieve to be best. But, Bob, need you !
SO much, and you will come back. !
won't you? l shall be 80 lonely here,
for-for you are truly all have in the
world"
With one quick, impulsive motion /,
he pressed her to him, passionately
kissing the tears from her lowered
lashes, unable longer to conceal the
tremor that shook his own voice.
Never, never doubt it, lassie. 1t will
not take me long, and II live come
straight back
He watched her slender, white ,,
robed figure as 1t passed slowly down
the deserted street. Once only she
paused and waved back to him and he
returned instant response. although
scarcely realizing the act.
Poor little lonely girl! Perhaps I
ought to have told her the whole in.
fernal story, but l simply haven't got
the nerve, the way it reads now. If
can only get 1t Strengthened out, it'll
be different"
Mechanically he thrust an unlfghted
cigar between his teeth and descend
ed the steps, to all outward appear
ance the same reckless, audacious
Hampton as Of old.
The military telegraph occupied one
half of the small tent next the Miners
Retreat, and the youthful operator in.
stantly recognized his debonair visi.
tor.
.. |"Well. Billy" was Hampton's friend
]y greeting, ARE they keeping you fair
ly busy with wars and rumors of
wars these days?"
"Nuthin' dom just now" was the
cheerful reply. Everything goin' ter
Cheyenne. The Injuns are gittin'
themselves bottled up in the Big Horn
country"
"Oh, that's It? Then maybe you
might manage to rush message
through for me to Fort A. Lincoln
without discommoding Uncle SAM"
and Hampton placed a coin upon the
rough table.
Sure; write 1t out"
Here it is; now get 1t off early, my
lad, and bring the answer to me over
at the hotel. Therell be another yell
low boy waiting when you come"
The reply arrived some two hours
later.
Fort A. Lincoln, June II. 1875.
Seventh gone west; probably. Yellow
stone. Brant with them. Murphy, gov.
eminent anr scout St Gh%eyenns waiting or
He crushed the paper in his hand.
Misunderstanding of the past, the
present, the future. He had borne
much in these last years, much mis-.
representation, much loneliness Of
soul. To run this Murphy to cover
remained his final hope for retrieving
those dead, dark years. Ay, and there
was Nadia! Her future, scarcely less
than his own, hung trembling in the
balance. The sudden flashing Of that
name into his brain was like an cleo
trio shock. He cursed his inactivity.
Great God! had he become a child
again, to tremble before imagined evil.
a mere hobgoblin of the mind? He
had already wasted time enough: now
he must. wiring from the lips Of that
misshapen savage the last vestige Of
his secret.
J He dressed for the road. for hard.
exacting service, buckling his loaded
cartridge belt outside his rough coat
and testing his revolvers with unusual
care He spoke few parting words
Of instruction to Mrs. Guffy and went
quietly out. Ten minutes later he was
in the saddle, galloping down the dusty
stage road toward Cheyenne.