Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-11-07

NASP VA SSGSSa VIVA IhoI II Auu
brought for him to put next his LAGER
ated skin, and a grateful look he gave
her was her comfort and her hope, as
she left him to fight his own battle
with his shirt and set herself to pull
ing down the brushwood fence. A
breach was easily and not noisily
made, and both moon and stars were
still crisp in the sky when Ton pain
fully followed the girls lead and the
two plunged together into the open
bush.
"Djue east" repeated Peggy, stop
ping in the first thicket. "D'ye know
the Southern Cross now? I'm afther
misrememberin' it meself."
"Up yonder, Peggy. Those five"
AN as like a cross as a ham saw!
But as We know It We can steer due
east by It, an due east lies the say.
If you're wantin' wather on the way,
let the Southern Cross shine in your
face, an that'll bring We to the river.
i heard 'em say so as l waited table"
Il know, Peggy, / know. And when
get to the sea-if ever l do-well, at
least my bones can sleep in it, instead
of in this pestilent land.'
He stood eying her, eager to be
gone, and yet reluctant to show un-
grateful haste.
can why would they?' cried Peggy.
ITS nanny a convict has escaped OH
RATS before We, SO why wouldn't you?
Only fetch up wild the say an there's
hope"
"Then, Peggy, there's no time to
lose.' And his hand was out in an in
slant.
"Ah, then, Tom, an must l be LAWN
ye"
Her voice was altered. +
This is not the way to Castle Sulli-
van, Peggy. It's the very opposite d.
rection. And I've got you into trou-
ble enough, goodness knows"
Her lips parted as though more ar
guments were on her tongue. But it
was upon his white face the moon
was shining, and his eagelrless to 20
and go alone was now transparent.
"They have made you crule, Tom"
said Peggy, With a sudden sad dignity.
"Goodby. Go your ways. God bless
you"
"Cruel to you?" he said densely.
eyes, crule to me-to me that brought
We mate and dhrink, to me that d.
but what can l do?" he asked her
in the same dull tone. 81 am grateful
to you with all the heart they've left
me, but they tried their best to cut it
out, and l believe they have. Make
allowances for me, Peggy, and only
tell me what l can do"
"Take me wild We, Tom," she whis.
pered.
"To the sea?"
can further!'
"My dear, how can l? If they fol-
low me alone, 1 a fight them alone
until 1 drop and die. With you 7
couldn't"
can wouldn't we dhrop and die to-
gether?",
And now there were tears in her
voice that held his own tongue bound
and now a light in her eyes that shot
a ray through his brain at last. He
understood and waited for his heart
to bleed for her. When it would not, a
great groan came from his soul.
81 can't help it, Peggy" he mumbled
in his shame. Its as you say.
They've cut my heart out-cut it clean
out. they have-and a cruel brute is all
l a ever be now Forgive me, my
girl-and let me go. Never think twice
about me. I'm not worth it-a brute
like me! Peggy-Peggy'-
He had tried in his weakness to put
his arms about her upon an impulse of
pure sorrow and gratitude that flick
cred within him like the last ember in
a fire. And the convict girl had turned
so fiercely that her black hair swept
and stung his face as she broke away
from him once and for all. He saw
her bare feet flashing in the NOON
light; they fell too softly for his ears.
But he heard her sobbing as she ran.
and he pitied himself the more pas
sionately for the little be found it in
him to pity her.