Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-02-09

people saw but little difference between
the red and the black. II would mean
his social osiTscisTyI; he would be shun-
ned by his brother officers. and his ca
reer would be at an end. He swore aloud
in the darkness that this was too great
a price TO pay for Iove, that he owed
II to himself and to his dear ones at
home to give UP this dark-eyed maid VINO
had bewitched him.
He had wandered far during this de-
bate. clear past the town, and out through
the Indian village; but now that he be-
lieved he had come TO an understanding
with himself. he turned back towards
his quarters. He knew 1t would be hard
TO give her up; but he had irrevocably
decided, and his path began to unfold IT.
self so clear and straight that he mar
yelled how he could have failed to see 1t.
He was glad he had conquered, although
the pain was still sharp. He felt a better
man for 1t, and, wrapped In this COM
placent optimism, he passed close by the
front Of the traders store, where Nicola
had crept to be alone with her misery.
The high moon cast a deep. wide shad-
ow upon the store steps where the girl
sat huddled. staring out into the unreal
world, waiting for the night wind to blow
away the fears and forebodings that
would not let her sleep. 1t was late, and
the hush of a summer midnight lay upon
the distant hills. Burrell had almost
passed her when he was startled by the
sound OF his name breathed softly; then,
to his amazement, he saw her come
forth like a spirit into the silver sheen.
'NecIaP' he cried, what are you doing
here at THIS hour7" She loked UP at him
sadly; he saw that her cheeks were wet
and something inside him snapped and
broke Without a word he took her In
his arms, meeting her lips in a long
kiss, while she, trembling with the Joy
OF his strong embrace. drew closer and
closer and rested her body YEARLY
against his.
Little grill little girlI'' he whispered.
over and over, his tone conveying every
shade OF sympathy, love, and under
standing she had craved. He knew what
had made her sad, and she knew that he
knew. There was no need for words, the
anguish Of this long day had wheted the
edge Of their desire, and they were
too deeply. too utterly lost in the ecstasy
of meeting to care for speech.
As she lay Graded in his arms, which
alternately held her with the soft tender
ness OF a mother and crushed her with
the fierce ardor of lover, she lost her
self In the bliss of a woman's surrender,
and forgot all her terrifying doubts and
fears. What were questions Of breed or
birth or color now, when she knew he
loved her? Mere vapors that vanished
with the first fiutter Of warm wings.
Nor did Meade Burrell recall his re-
cent self-conquest or pause to reason why
he should not love this little wisp Of
the wilderness. The barriers he had built
went down in the sight and touch of his
love and disappeared; his hesitation and
infirmity seemed childish now-yes, more
than that, cowardly. He realized all in a
moment that he had been supremely sell
fish. that his love was a covenant, a
compact. which he had entered into with
her, and had no right TO dissolve without
her consent. and, strangely enough, now
that he acknowledged the bond to him
self. II became very sweet and satisfying
your lips cling so that I can't get
free" sighed the girl at last.
You never shall" he whispered. But
when she smiled up at him piteously, her
eyes swimming, and said II must" he
wrenched himself away and let her go.
AS he went lightly toward the bar
racks through the far-stretching shadows,
for the moon was mellow now. Meade
Burrell sighed gladly TO himself. Again
his course ran clear and straight before
him, though wholly at variance with the
one he had decided upon so recently. But
he knew not that his vision was obscured
and that the mood-madness was upon
him.