Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-09-11
Armita pc lauphed aloud.

looking for me?"
II don't know, Mr.. Armitage. You
forget that I'm only traitor and not
a spy"
"You are the noblest woman in the
world" he said boldly, and his heart
leaped in him, and he spoke on with
fierce haste. "You have made sacri-
fees for me that no woman ever made
before for q man-for man she did
not know. And my life, whatever it is
worth. every hour and second of 1T,
lay down before you, and it is yours
to keep or throw away. l followed
you halfway round the world, and
shall follow you again and as long as
| live. And tomorrow or the day after
I shall justify these great kindnesses,
this generous confidence, but tonight
have work to do"
As they stood on the verge of the de-
file 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, and to both
Of them the sound urged the very real
and practical world from which for a
little time they had stolen away.
II must go back" said Shirley and
turned to the bridge and put her hand
on its 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 at once.
please say no more. You must not
make me sorry came. must go. I
should have gone back instantly"
but not across that spiders web.
~ .'ssr,>>-----s-'st 60 by the long road. will
give you horse and ride with you
into the valley"
ut is much nearer by the bridge, and
I have my horse over there"
1--WE shall get the horse without trou-
ble," he said. and she walked beside
him through the starlighted wood. As
they crossed the open tract she said:
This is the Port of Missing Men"
Eyes, here the lost legion made its
last stand. There lie the graves Of
some of them. It's pretty story. l
hope some day to know more of 1t
from some such authority as yourself"
II used to ride here on my pony
when 1 was a little girl and dream
about the gray soldiers who would not
surrender. 1t was as beautiful as an
old ballad. I'll wait here. Fetch the
horse" she said. land hurry, please"
eff there are explanations to make,
he began, looking Mt her gravely.
II am not person who makes ex-
plantations, Mr.. Armitage. You may
meet me at the gate"
As he ran toward the house he met
Oscar, who had become alarmed at his
absence and was setting forth in
search Of him.
Come; saddle both the horses, Os-
car" Armitage commanded.
They went together to the barn and
quickly brought out the horses.
"You are not to come with me, o.
car"
"a captain does not go alone. 1t
should be the sergeant who is sent
yes?"
at is not an affair of war, Oscar,
but quite another matter. There is a
saddled horse hitched to the other side
of our abandoned bridge. Get it and
ride it to Judge Claibornes stables
and ask and answer no questions
A moment later he was riding to-
ward the gate, the led horse following.
He flung himself down, adjusting the
stirrups, and gave her hand into the
saddle. They turned silently into the
mountain road.
'1The bridge would have been simpler
and quicker" said Shirley. "As 1t is,
shall be late to the ball"
II am contrite enough, but you don't
make explanations"
"No; don't explain, and you are to
come back as soon as we strike the
valley. / always send gentlemen back
at that point" she laughed and went
ahead Of him into the narrow road.
She guided the strange horse with the
ease of long practice, skillfully testing
his PAGES, and when they came to a
stretch of smooth road sent him flying
at gallop over the trail. He had CIV
en- her his own horse, hunter OF IA
nous strain, and she at once defined
and maintained a distance between
them that made talk impossible.
Her short covert riding coat, buttoned
close, marked clearly in the starlight
her erect figure. Light wisps OF loos-
ened hair broke free under her soft
felt hat, and when she turned her head
the wind caught the brim and pressed
it back from her face, giving a new
charm to her profile.
He called after her once or twice at
the start, but she did not pause or re-
ply, and he could not know what mood
possessed her or that once in flight,
in the security the horse gave her, she
was for the first time afraid Of him.
He had declared his love for her and
had offered to break down the veil OF
mystery that made him a strange and
perplexing figure. His affairs, what
ever their nature, were now at crisis,
he had said; quite possibly she should
never see him again after this ride.
As she waited at the gate she had
known a moment of contrition and
doubt as to what she had done. 1t
was not fair to her brother thus to
give away his secret to the enemy, but