The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1908-04-30

WQlle the W.iu ye!ieil Iou'l!y uUuAt tis'
caves and the windows dru:3med be
meath the rain. His heavy bruws knit
themselves together as she whispered:
IL love you. love y0l. love
you" with such an agony Of longing
! in her voice that her soft accents were
sharply distinglshable above the tur-
moil The growing wildness seemed
a part Of the woman's passion, which
whipped and harried her like a willow
In blast.
Things are fearfully jumbled," he
said finally. And this Is bad time
to talk about them. l wish they might
b different. No other girl would do
what you have offered tonight"
Then why do you think Of that
woman she broke In fercely. She's
bad aud false. She betrayed You once;
she's In the play now: you've told me
% yourself. Why don't you be man
and forget herr"
Il can't" he said simply. You're
wrong. though. when you think she's
bad. found tonight that she's good
and brave and honest. The part she
played was played lnnocently, I'm sure
Of that, la spite Of the fact that she'll
marry Mcnamara. 1t was she who
heard them plotting and rlsked her
reputation to warn me"
Cherry's face whitened. while the
shadowy eagernees that had rested
there died utterly. "She came into
that dive alone? She did that?" He
nodded, at which she stood thinking
for some time, then continued: You're
honest with me, Roy, and Ill be the
same with you. I'm tired OF deceit.
tired Of everything. tried to make
YOU think she was bad. but In my own
heart | knew differently all the time
She came here today and humbled her
self to get the truth. humbied herself
to nie. and | sent her away. She sus-
pected, but she di.ln't know. and when
she asked 70" information | insulted
her Thrts the ,;inL OF creature
am. / set her back u Struve, who
offered 10 tell ilef the whole story"
What dos t,iLt renegade want?
"Can't you guess?"
WAY. I'd rather The young man
ground hi. teeth. bat Cherry FASTENED
"YOu needn't worry: she won't see
him again. She loathes the ground be
walks on"
"And YET he's no worse than that
other scoundrel. Come. girl. We have
work to do; we must act. and act
Quickly" He gave her his message to
Dextry. then she went to her room and
slipped into a riding habit. When she
came eut hs asked: Where b your
ratncoatt You'll be drenched In no
time"
"I can't ride with 1t. III be thrown.
anyway. and I don't want 10 be all
bound up. Water won't hurt me-"
She thrust her tiny revolver into her
dress. but he took 1t and upon examina-
ton shook his head.
"If you need a gun you'H need a
good one" He removed the belt from
bis own waist and buckled his Colts
about her.
but your she objected.
"TH get another In ten minutes"
Then as they we're leaving. he said:
"Oue other request. Cherry. I'll be
in hiding for time. and I must get
word to Miss Chester to keep watch
Of her uncle. for the big Hght 10 on
at last and ths boys will hang him sure
II they catch him. owe her this last
warning. Will you send 1t to herr
"I'N do 1t for your sake, not for her,
no, no: don't mean that I'll do the
right thing all round. Leave 1t here
and I'll see that she gets 1t tomorrow.
And, Roy, be careful Of yourself"
Her eyes were starry and in their
depths lurked neither selfshness nor
jealousy now, only that mysterious
glory Of a woman who makes sacrifice
Together they scurried back to the
stable. and yet, in that short distance.
she would have been swept from her
feet had he not seized her. They blew IN
through the barn door. streaming and
soaked by the binding sheets that
drove scythelike ahead OF the wind
he struck a light. and the pony
whinnied at recognition Of his mis-.
tress. She stroked the little fellows
muzzle while Glenister cinched on her
saddle. Then when she was at last
mounted, she leaned forward:
"Will you kiss me once, Roy, for
the last time"
He took her rain wet face between
his hands and kissed her upon the lips
as he would have saluted little maid.
AS he did so. unseen by both Of them,
face was pressed for an instant
against the pane Of glass In the stable
| wall.
You're a brave girl and may God
bless you" he said, e1tinguishing the
light. He flung the door, wide and
she rode out into the storm. Locking
the portal, he plunged back toward the
house to write his hurried note, for
there was much to do and scant time
for Its accomplishment despite the
helping hand Of the hurricane. he
heard the voice Of Bering as 1t thun-