The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1908-10-01

He distinguished O arnmanS hgfrt and
drc,B bach.
Certainly not. But Il has occurred
TO me that you may have the conccit
OF your own mystery, that you may
take rather too much pleasure in mys.
tifying people as TO your identity"
"rhat Is unklnd that ls unkind,
and he spoke without resentment, but
softly, with falling cadence. He sud.
denly threw down the hat he had held
In his hand. aud extended his arms 20.
ward her.
"You are not unkind or unjust You
have right 20 know who am and
what am doing here II seems an
lmpertinence TO thrust my affairs upon
you, but II you win listen should like
TO tell you II viii take but a moment e.
why and what
please do mott As | told you, !
have no curiosity In the matter. ! can't
allow you TO tell me- ! really don't
want TO known
81 am willing that every one should
know -tomorrow-or the day after
not later"
She lifted her head, as though with
the earnestness Of some new thought.
"The day after may be too late
Whatever II is that you have done
Il have done nothing TO be ashamed
OF. swear have notr'
"Whatever II is, and | don't care
what II is," she said deliberately, ut
IL something quite serious Mr., Armi
tage, My brother"
She hesitnted for moment then
spoke rapidly.
"My brother has been detailed to
help In the search for you. He Is at
Storm Springs now"
But he doesn't understand
"My brother is n soldier, and n IL
not necessary for him 10 understand"
"And you have done this you have
come TO warn me-
ut does look pretty bad" she said,
changing her tone and laughing a lit
tie "But my brother and I've al
ways had very different ideas about
you, Mr. Armitage. I'VE hold briefs
for different sides of the case"
"Oh, I'm case, am ~ And he
caught gladly at the suggestion OF
lightness In her tone "But I'd really
like 30 know what he has TO do with
my affairs"
"Then you will have 10 ask him"
"To be sure. But the government
can hardly have assigned Captain Clal-
borne TO special duty at NJ Chauve
nets request swear TO you that TN
as much in the dark as you are"
I'm quite sure an officer of the line
would not be taken from his duties
and sent into the country on any friv
olous errand, But perhaps an ambas
sador from a great power made the re
quest st-perhaps for example, II was
Baron Won Marhof."
Good Lordr
Armitage laughed aloud.
Il beg your pardonl ! really beg
your pardon But is the Ambassador
looking for meY'
Il don't know, Mr.. Armltage, You
forget that I'm only traitor and not
a spy"
"You are the noblest woman In the
world" he said boldly, and bis heart
leaped In him, and he spoke on with a
fierce haste. "You have made sacri-
fees for me that no woman ever made
before for man for man she did
not know. Aud my life, whatever IL is
worth. every hour and second OF It, !
lay down before you, and II Is yours
to keep or throw away. followed
you halfway round the world and !
shall follow you again and as long as
live And tomorrow or the day after
| shall justify these great kindnesses,
this generous confidence, but tonight
have work TO do"
As they stood on the verge Of the de-
nle by the bridge that swung out from
the cliff like fairy structure they
heard far and faint the whistle and
low rumble Of the night train south
bound from Washington, ana 10 both
OF them the sound urged the very real
and practical world from which for q
little time they had stolen away
Il must go bach" said Shirley and
turned TO the bridge and put her hand
on It's slight iron frame, but he seized
her wrists and held them tight
"You have risked much for me, but
you shall not risk your life again In
my cause You cannot venture across
that bridge again"
She yielded without further parley.
and he dropped her wrists NJ once.
"Please say no more You must not
make me sorry came. J must go. ]
should have gone back instantly"
''But not across that spiders web.
You must go by the long road. ! VIII
give you horse aud ride with you
into the valley"
ut Is much nearer by the bridge. and
! have my horse over there"
1--WE shall get the horse without trou
bitf NV hbhs hbb HAt NhAAf' V'HNNN
him through the starighted wood AZ
they crossed the open tract she said
'@rhls II the Port Of Missing Men"
"Yes, here the lost legion made its
Inst stand There he the graves Of
some ~ them it's pretty story.
hope some day 10 know more OF II
from s0me sIch authority as yourself"
y used 10 ride here on my pony
when was a little girl ana dream
about the gray soldiers who would not
surrender n Was ~ beautiful an hn
old ballad re- wait here Fetch the
borse," she said. and hurry. please"
@If there are explanationsto make
he began, looking at her grayely
II am moi q person who makes er-
plantations Mf Armitage You may
meet me at the gate"
Az be ran toward the house be- met
Oscar. who had become alarmed st bis
absence and was setting forth IN
search ~ him
"COme. saddle both the horsss, Os-
car" Armiiage commanded
They went together 70 the barn and
quickly brought out tbe horses.
-