Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-01-26
Illustrated By
Dsnman Fink
CONTINUATION OF CHAP. VI
The BurreH Code

that wou never change and that you re-
main just what you are You can't I'M
derstand what this means to me, for i,
too, was blinded. but the darkness OF
the night has restored my vision Now
you must so 10 sleep; the hours are
Tort and we must be going early"
He piled up a great, sweet-scented
couch OF springy boughs, and fashioned
her pillow out OF a bundle OF smaller
ones around which he wrapped his
khaki coat: then he removed her high
laced boots. and, taking her tiny feet,
one in the palm OF either hand, bowed
his head over them and kissed them
with a sense OF her gracious purity and
his own unworthiness- He spread one
of the big gray blankets over her, and
tucked her in. while she sighed in de-
lightful languor. looking up at him all
the time.
"Tu sit here beside you for a while"
he said. Il want TO smoke a bit"
She stole a slim. brown hand out from
beneath the cover and snuggled IL in his,
and he leaned forward. closing her lids
down with his lips Her utter weari-
ness was manifest. for she fell asleep
almost instantly. her fingers twined
about his in childlike grin.
At times a great desire to feel her in
his arms, TO have her on his breast,
apart from women. and the solitude OF
the night seemed TO mock him He was
q strong man. and In his veins ran the
blood OF maynard forebears who were
wont 20 possess that which they con-
cuered in the Iists OF love. mingled with
which was the blood Of spirited Southern
women who had on occasion loved not
wisely according to Kentucky rumor, but
only too we'll Nevertheless, they were
honest men and women. IF over-senu-
mental. and had transmitted TO him
heritage OF chivalry and a high sense OF
honor and courage Strange to say, this
little. simple half-breed girl had revived
this honor and courage. even when he
tried most stubbornly TO smother IL. II
only her love was like her blood, he might
have had no scruples: or IL her blood were
as pure as her love-even then IL would
be easier but. as IL was. he must give
her Up tonight. and for all time. Her
love had placed a barrier between them
greater and more insurmOuntable than
her blood
He sat for a long time with the dwind-
ing firelight playing about him. his man
hood and his desires locked in a grim
struggle. wondering at the hold this forest
elf had gained upon him. wondering how
It was that she had stolen into his heart
and head and taken such utter posses
sion Of him. II would be no easy task
TO shut her out Of his mind and put her
away from him And she..-.-.....?
He gently withdrew his fingers from
her grasp. and. seeking the other side
81 the wickiup. covered himself over
without disturbing her, and fell asleep.
It was early dawn when Necia crept to
him.
Il dreamed you had gone away" she
said shivering violently and drawing
close. "oh. 1t was a terrible awaken
ing"
II was too tired to dream" he said.
so had to come and see II you were
really here"
He quickly rekindIed his fire. and they
made a hasty breakfast. Before the
warmth OF the rising sun had penetrated
the cold air they had climbed the ridge
and obtained q wondrous view OF broken
country. the hills alight with the morn
ing rays. the valleys misty and mys-
teal They made good progress on the
summit. which was paved with barren
rock and sparsely carpeted with short
moss. while there was never a hint of
insects 20 annoy them. Merrily they
swung along. buoyed up by an unnatural
exaltafion; yet now and then, as they
drew near their destination, the young
man had a chilling premonition Of evfl TO
come, and wondered If he had not been
fooIhardy to undertake this rash enter
prise.
I wish Stark was not one Of Lees
party" he said once. He may misun-
6erstand our being together this way"
But when he learns that we love
each other. that win explain every
thing"
I'm not so sure. He doesn't know you
as Lee and PoleOn and your father do.
think we had better say nothing al ali
about-you and me-to any .o-.-.'
But why?" questioned the girl, stop
ping abruptly. They will know 1t. any
how. when they see US. 1 can't conceal
It"
soldier insisted. "and we mustn't act like
overs: trust this TO me-
"Oh. won't play that!' cried Necia,
petulantIy. IF all this is going to end
when we get to Lees cabin, Wen stay
right here forever"
He was not sure Of all the logic he
advanced in convincing her. but she yield
ed fnally. saying.
seWell, suppose you know best, AMI,
anyhow. Titles should always mind"
They chung to the divide for several
hours then descended into the bed of
stream. which they followed until IT join
ed a larger one couple Of miles below,
and there. sheltered in a grove OF whis-
pering frs. they found Lees cabin mes
ting in a narrow. forked valley. Evident
IL the miner had selected a point on the
main creek below the confluence OF the
feeders as a place in which to prospect
and Burren fell TO wondering which one
OF these smaller streams supplied the run
OF gold.
There's no one here" said Necia, giee-
fully. We've beat them in! We've beat
them inr'
They had been walking rapidly since
dawn. and. although Burrelrs watch
showed 2 o'clock. she refused to halt for
lunch. declaring that the others might
arrive at any moment; so down they
went to the lower end of NO Creek
Lees location. where Burrell blazed a
smooth spot on the downstream side OF
a tree and wrote thereon at Necia's die
tation. When he had finished. she signed
her name. and he witnessed II. then paced
OF four hundred and forty steps, where
he squared a spruce-tree, which she
marked: Lower center end stake Of No
below discovery. Necia Gale, locator"
She was vastly excited and immensely
elated at her gOod-fortune In acquiring
the claim next TO Lees. and chartered
like a maybe. filing the glades with re-
sounding echoes and dancing about IN
tha brfght sunlight that filtered through