The Holly chieftain., 1909-05-28
<p' The Barrier
Rex Beach
eosva,onr. 1909. ~ nARpss 4 eRorrERs


marriage. He still considered her un-
worthy. beneath him.
"You do love me. Necia-yOu do!
see 1t In your eyes!" And he started
toward her with open arms. but she
shrank away from him.
NO, no! Don't touch mee' she al
most screamed.
MY dear one." he breathed. You
must listen to me. You have nothing
to fenr. for love you-lOve yOu-lOve
you! You were made for me! You'll
be my wife, Yes: yOu'll be married
on Sunday, but TO me. not to POleOn or
any other man!'
Did she hear Alright? Was he, her
soldier lover asking her. the Indian
girl?
"You do love me. don't your" he
pleaded. But still she could not speak.
and he tried to read the answer In her
swimming eyes.
You mean-you want to-marry
me?" she murmured at last, hesltating
shyly at the word that had come to
play so momentous part in her little
world.
''Lndeed 1 do" he declared. with en-
pllasis. lin spite of everything, any
thing! Nothing else matters. I'll quit
the army. I'll give up the service and
my people too. I'll put everything
back Of me. and we'll start cut anew
just you and IT,
"Wait u moment" she said. retreat
ing little from his eager, outstretch-
ed arms. ''Why do you need to do all
that?'
Never mind why. It's as good as
done. You wouldn't understand
but l think | do understand now.
Do reaily mean all that to your
..Yes. and niOre!'
Listen to me-" said the girl quietly.
II want YOU TO talk slowly SO may
not misuMderstand. II yOu-marry
me must you forego all those great
/ things you speak of-your profession
|. your family. your future?"
.'NOnsptise" exclaimed the. soldier,
"If they don't bother me. Necia. why
should ya,l worry"
.'IN. rl,l YOU really have to give Hp
yunr lamilv--yDur sister? Would those
people you are ~ proud Of and who
ars 50 proud of you-wOuld they cnt
vc:: rf':"
''There is m question Of cutting OF.
have no Inheritance coming. don't
want any. don't want anything ex-
cept you. dear"
won't you tell me?' she persisted.
"you see. | am dull at these things
We'll, what II they do?" he con-
cedcd. You more than make it up to
me. You outweigh Thousand fam
lies
"And would your marriage TO a-a-
to me destroy your army career?'
well. it viii really be much easier
for beth Of as II ! resign from the
srrvice;'' be finally admitted. "In fact.
I've decided to do 50 at once
"No, no! rou mustn't do that. To-
night you think ! am worth the price,
but a day will come
He leaned forward and caught her
hands in his.
Meade, l can't let you do It,"
"I'd like to see you help yourself"
he said banteringly.
| II can and will. You must not
marry me, Meade. It's not right: 1t
can't be-" She suddenly realized what
this renunciation would mean and be-
gan to SILVER.
"It will be over before you know It,"
she heard him saying in lame at
tempt at levity. Father Rarnum IL
an expert. and the operation won't oc-
cupy him ten minutes"
At that moment they heard the
voices Of the trader and his squaw
outside. approaching the house. The
girls breath caught In her throat. She
flung herself recklessly upon her low
er's breast and threw her arms around
his neck in an agony Of farewell.
Meade Meade, my soldier" she
sobbed. kiss me goodby for the last
timer
NO" he said roughly.
"Now you must CO." she said. tear
ing herself away. and for my sake
don't see me again."
~ will! Will! l will ask your IA
thcr for you tonight"
"No. no! Don't. please don't! Wait
till-tlll tomorrow-till say the word!
Promise me! On your love. promlse!'
Her eyes held such painful en-
treaty that he nodded acquiescence as
the door opened and her father and