The Sauk Centre herald., 1908-11-26

CuSSc0 III OlSdXrecdDie teTllS Dy TIE
newspapers. and studied the landscape
Then he went on up the gradual slope
Of the meadow until he came to the
pasture wall. 1t was under the trees
beneath which Oscar had waited for
Zmai that he found her.
venture out for week." she said, ad-
vancing toward him and giving him
her hand.
''That was what they told me-" he
said, laughing. but escaped from my
keepers"
"You will undoubtedly take cold
without your hat!' ~
"Yes; shah undoubtedly have pneu-
monia from exposure to the Virginia
sunshine. take my chances"
"You may sit on the wall for three
minutes; then you must go back.
cannot be responsible for the life Of
q wounded hero"
"Pleasev' He held up his hand
'That's what I came to talk to you
about" ~
"About being hero? You have TAX
en- an unfair advantage. l was going
to send for the latest designs in laurel
wreaths tomorrow"
The sheep were a grayish blur against
the green. A little negro boy was
shepherding them, and they scampered
before him toward the farther end of
the pasture. The faint and vanishing
tinkle of a bell and the boys whistle
gave emphasis to the country quiet of
the late afternoon. They spoke rapidly
and impersonally of his adventures In
the hills and Of his illness.
II didn't know, Miss Claiborne, that
I was going to lose my mind that morn
ing at the bungalow or I should have
asked your brother to conduct you to
the conservatory while tainted From
what they told me must have been
little light headed for a day or two. If
I had been in my right mind should
not have let Captain Dick mix up in
my business and run the risk Of getting
killed in a nasty little row. Dear old
Dick! I made a mess of that whole
business. l ought to have telegraphed
for the Storm Springs constable in the
beginning and told him that II he
wasn't careful the noble house of
Schomburg would totter and fall"
Eyes, and just imagine the effect on
our constable Of telling him that the
fate of an empire lay in his hands. It's
hard enough to get man arrested who
<, 10 INT v,Cf nh
to your keepers. You haven't your
hat
Neither have you. You shan't outdo
me in recklessness. I inspected your
hat as I came through the pergola.
liked it immensely. came near seiz-
ing it as spoil of war-the loot of the
pergola"
"There would be cause for another
war. have rarely liked any hat SO
much. But the baron will be after you
In q moment. I can't be responsible
for you"
"The baron annoys me. He has
given me a lot Of worry. And that's
what l have come to ask you about"
"Then I should say that you oughtn't
to quarrel with q dear old man like
Baron von Marhof Besides. he's your,
uncle" !
"No, no! don't want him to be my
uncle! l don't need any unclew d,
He glanced about with an anxiety
that made her laugh.
II understand perfectly! My father
told me that the events of April in
these hills were not to be mentioned
But don't worry. The sheep won't tell
and l won't"
He was silent for a moment as he
thought out the words of what he
wished to say to her. The sun was
dipping down into the hills; the mel
low air was still; the voice of negro
singing as he crossed distant field
stole sweetly upon them.
''Shirleyr'
He touched her hand.
"Shirleyp' And his fingers closed
upon hers.
II love you. Shirley! From those
days when l saw you in Paris before
the great Gettysburg battle picture
loved you. You had felt the cry of the
old world, the story that is in its bat
tlefields, Its beauty and romance. just
rs l had felt the call of this new and
more wonderful world. I understood
I knew what was in your heart ]
knew what those things meant to you,
but had put them aside. had chosen
another life for myself. And the poor
life that you saved, that is yours If
you will take it. have told your
father and Baron Won Marhof that l
would not take the fortune my father
left me. would not 60 back there to
be thanked or to get ribbon to wear
In my coat. But myx name, the name
l bore as boy and disgraced in my
fathers eyes-his name that he made
famous throughout the world, the name
cast aside with my youth, the name
l flung iaway in anger-they wish me
to take that"
She withdrew her hand and rose and
looked away toward the western hills.
'The greatest romance in the world
Is here, Shirley. have dreamed it all
over-in the Canadian woods, on the
Montana ranch as watched the herd
at night. My father spent his life
keeping king upon his throne, but /
believe there are higher things and
finer things than Sfoodyino cho hin o.