Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1909-02-11
CHAPTER NIU-(Conrinn !


her Indignation was a bitter resentment
at the thought that he had tricked her
into coming into the cabin at his sum
mons, and then trcked her into giving UP
the paper. The feeling that if she had
made Il more stubborn resistance, he
would neither have entered the cabin nor
have allowed his men to do so was most
calling to her And the fact that her
disposSesSon of the chart was inevitable
greatly comforted and relieved her
II suppose" she said, lit wasn't trick
them"
1T was not"
Would you have sent those men in
there to drag me out? You told me you
would not
THAT was true"
How would You have got me out
them
Il should have gone in for YOU myself"
And you would have dared lay hands
on me. On the woman you-loye." :"
Listen to me, Ellen. For you. for my
country. | would dare even your displeas-
ure, which | trust is only temporary.
See how it stands Your father would
have none of me before. Now that the
war has started and we are on different
sides in this great struggle just begin
ming, he will be more bitterly opposed to
me than ever This adventure gives me
a hold upon him by means of which |
hope to win you. If | capture the pri-
vateer-''
Would you give her up to him for
me?'
Miss Ellen" said Mr. Smith quietly.
You have faulted me for my conduct to-
wards you this afternoon with some de-
gree of justice, perhaps. That last re-
mark. however has struck the balance be-
tween us. If you think so meanly of me
as to suppose that | would be false to my
duty, sacrifice my country to my own per-
sonal affection. great though it is then,
and for the first time since [ met you.
do l despair of ever winning you for my
own. | know you could never love where
you did not respect, and you could not re-
spect me if you believed me capable of
that. | asked you to come on deck that
YOU might enjoy the evening. | see now
that you can enjoy it better alone | will
communicate my intentions with regard
to you tomorrow. Goodnight
He bowed gravely, and turning on his
heel stepped forward. In two bounds she
was by his side.
You shall not go" she said passion
ately. Why do you always put me in
the wrong? l meant nothing. 1t was
just chance"
''To say a bitter thing? Well, you
said it. Thank you. It's what | might
expect from such an Affection"
stop ~ she cried "Who said that |
had any affection for you:'
Il thought So"
And you think l could retain it after
this morning.
Il thought So
"Oh, you are impossible" cried the
girl.
He changed his attack swiftly.
Have you retained it,
She parried the question deftly. salts
fed with her success in detaining him.
I'm what way would your success with
the privateer enable you to win-me:"
she asked softly.
Il hoped to capture your father with
the ship. | reasoned that so soon as the
Greyhound was seen coming around the
bend he would board the Ellen to receive
us. With him in my power, intended to
offer him his personal freedom in return
for. his consent to our marriage"
ibid you think so meanly of my father
as to believe that he would be a party
to a bargain of that kind:'
NO" answered the young officer
quickly. hear me out. | knew that. be-
ing an honorable and brave old soldier
he would refuse that proposition
You have not misjudged him"
But thought that you might he NOV
ed by love to secure his freedom
by my own slaveryE
by marrying me. BY letting me love
you for the rest of my life. You would
be my captain.
To-day looks like that. doesn't it?"
"You must not judge by to-day. The
circumstances were unusual"
Il fancy circumstances are always un-
usual when a man wishes his own way"
Il do not care anything about having
my own way ordnarily-where you are
concerned. that is" smiled Mr. Smith, "if
/ can only have you. You can have your
own way
And do you propose to carry out this
little plan now?" she asked.
Il do"
And you wish to win me, force my
consent. by the threat of a northern
prison for my father?
Il want to give you an excuse for OBEY
ing the dictates of your heart. Won't you
believe me when | solemnly assure you
that since | first met you, four years ago.
/ have loved only you? That / have
never had thought for another woman =?
That your beautiful face"-even the
plainest woman likes to be told that she
is beautiful-"has been before me al
ways? / love you more than ever"
More than your country"
Certainly" he answered without hesi-
tation.
"why. then, do you do your duty to
my hurt?"
"AIiss Ellen, men do not always do the
thing they wish to do. They do the thing
that honor demands, though oftentimes
the heart pulls quite another way. Moth |
ing would give me more pleasure than to |
be able to turn this ship over to you and
10 say that / and all in it would do your
bidding; that your cause would be my
cause, your words my words. To be able |
70 do that, to be yours in deed as I am in |