Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-09-20
*NORTHERN LIGHTS
FROM The ROMANTIC AMERICAN DRAMA.
THE NOVELIZATION BY A. D. HALL.

in which she promised not to betra!
him, begged him to retrieve himsel
If possible, but peremptorily forbade
him ever to come into her presence.
This prohibition Ralph Jordan, Of
rather Wallace Gray, had obeyed, ant
now the next that the woman, who
in spite of all, still loved him, heard
was that he had again fled like a cow
ard under the first fire of the enemy.
Little wonder was 1t then that she
felt as II the touch Of an icy hand hao
turned her to stone when she saw hin
suddenly appear before her in her own
house.
"Wallace!"
Her lips formed the word, but only
an inarticulate murmur issued from
them.
The young man advanced step oil
two toward her, but paused as she
shrank away from him and caught al
the post of the banisters as for sup
port.
There was a wild, hunted look in his
eyes, a look as II he were fighting
against odds he knew himself power
less to overcome For an instant there
flashed into Florence's mind the recol-
lection of a picture she had seen
somewhere representing Orestes pur-
sued by the Furies. There was the
same look of hopeless agony upon the
face Of the man she had once loved
God help her, loved still.
Where Is Colonel Gray?" he asked
in a hoarse voice, his bloodshot eyes
roaming here and there, everywhere
except upon her face.
The question alarmed Florence. and
forced all thought Of self away from
her. What did the wretched young
man mean by asking for his father?
He Is not here" she replied, watch
ing him narrowly, and then stepping
forward and confronting him, she
asked excitedly: What are you going
to do?"
GIVE myself up" was the dogged
response.
You will be court rt-martialed-
shot!" she exclaimed, with a low cry
o; horror.
That's why I am here"
He stood perfectly motionless before
her. His hands hung rigidly at his
side, so tightly clasped that the nails
entered the flesh: and his eyes were
now fixed upon the floor, as If he did
not dare to look at her. O..
you wish to die?" she demanded
shivering little.
THE sooner the better"
Then for a moment there was ST.
lence. Suddenly Florence remembered
all that he had done, and the pity she
had felt for him began to die away.
And yet you deserted your COM
rades under fire." she said, with a
touch Of scorn.
The young mans head sank lower
upon his breast.
Il did"
1.-The same as you deserted me two
years ago" in a voice still more harsh
and accusing.
Go on, reproach me-" he replied In
a mechanical, listless sort of way, as
though there was nothing now that
could make any great difference to
him. Il deserve it all. But until
heard those shots and heard your
agonizing cries for help, l never knew
that God had made me without that
one attribute that women love best In
men-courage.'
Florence's heart smote her. What
ever his shortcomings might be he was
certainly suffering too keenly for her
to add anything further to his burden
II was wrong to recall the past
she said. speaking far more gently
TRY and forget It,"
"Ah!" he cried, bitterly, his compo-
sure suddenly giving way, "can l ever
forget the two miserable years I spent
In the mines, where the chance crack
of a revolver made me cover like a
whipped dog? They soon found me
out and their jeers went through me
like hot irons"
Then, knowing this, what madness
made you enlist?"
At this, with an effort, he raised his
eyes and looked at her. They were
eyes burning with the fever OF an
guish and despair.
THE hope that I might outlive 1t,
he groaned Three week ago l joined
Crooks division. 1t was the old sto-
ry. At the first fire l dashed beyond
the lines and escaped"
And then you dared to come here
and disgrace your father?"
II came here to say to him: Father
| am your son, and l am a coward;
but when l looked into his brave and
honest eyes, shame silenced me. Oh
Florence, you can never understand
what II Is to be the wretch l am and
live. Condemn me for a coward II
you will. but, for Gods sake, pity me
pity mel"
Overcome by his emotion and ply
steal weakness he staggered back q
step or two. and sinking down in
chair beside the table in the centre OF
the room he covered his face with his
hands.
Scarcely less moved than himself
Florence gazed at his bowed head ir
silence. Then 1t came over her all thai
nc had made her suffer. and without
stopping to think what she was saying
she burst out passionately:
do you think then, that you are the
only one who has suffered through
your madness? That yours is the
only life wrecked?"
Something in her voice caused hin
to raise his head, and there was fain
gleam Of hope in his eyes, as he eager
ly started to his feet
do you love this man." he de-
manded, with a passion that was saw
age in its intensity.
The blood rushed in a torrent tt
Florence's face. dyeing it crimson from
4 1A.l n.