Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1910-05-27


srtla aaain. Episfiug her 10 him, very,
very close. Her aFIas went around his
neck. For long time they stood like
that. At length he said:
Now yOu can never marry any one
but me!'
She stepped back little. In her
eyes was the wonder Of it ali-the
great, great wonder.
"No," she said softly. never.
didn't understand before. This IS
what he meant - something that
makes one soul cling TO another In
spite of fear or shame or death-some.
thing that comes all at oncer"
IT'S true" be whispered. THAT'S
the way it comes"
There was long. long pause.
He said, at length. TREMENDOUSLY:
Madeleine"
She looked up at him.
SAY my name again" she breathed.
"Madeleine," he said agaln-"Made-
ieine, IL love you"
Came to her lips the ghost OF a smile.
"And l." she whispered-"l love you,
Gilbert"
always" he asked.
"Always," she repeated always
and always and always. There1l new
er be anything else in the world. Only
this morning Father O'Mara called me
a child" she went on. But don
think he VIII any more. think In
a woman now. Gilbert" She paused.
Came to them only the shrill notes OF
a bird, far above amid the sun fecked
leaves. At length she said. "And only
10 think that If It hadn't been for this
you'd have gone off to the war"
1t broke his dream. Swiftly he start
ed to bis feet. She rose. too. fright
ened
Madeleine" he cried. eve must be
married without any delay! The priest
here
"Father O'Mara!' she exclaimed.
"But he wouldn't do It! He'd take me
home. He thinks he has to marry me
to Raoul."
But" he said in despair, what
can we do? If ] have to leave you
here
Leave mew She chung to his sleeve.
"I've got to go with the company.
I've enlisted. I've promised"
She cried piteously:
"You could leave me-nowT
They'd call me coward If didn't!
It's question of honor. Listen. Mad
eleine. I'm running away to join them.
gave them my word. aud must keep
it. You mustn't speak Of my going
when you get back homer
Homer she cried brokenly, aghast.
you want me to go home!"
"You must.' he cried. ITS growing
late. Aud we were to meet at sunset.
and | don't know where. | haven't
even found Wolf"
There had come the sound Of fife
and drum.
"And haven't even my rifle!' cried
Gilbert despairingly. "They are com.
ing now. If they think I've broken my
wOrd"-
She had been standing silent, eyes
wide she had not known. but she
had been learning many things. AT
length she said. with pronounced eff
fort
''They are~to meet here. Your rifle
Is there" She pointed to the hollow
tree. He leaped to it. He took there
from gun and pOwderhOrn, singing
the latter across his shoulder
There" he cried exultantly, that
makes a soldier of me"' He turned to
her. "And you'll be soldiers wife
yet. sweet heart!'
NO" she cried, fingers intwined
mo"
"Say goodby to me-" he besought.
Say goodby, like brave girl. There's
no other way"
Her face was buried in her hands.
81 can't!' she moaned. Gilbert,
can't"
He placed his arm about her In affec.
tomato manner.
They mustn't see yOu," he said
You must go quicklyw
But even then it was too late. Men
were coming from all sides Gilbert
looked about him.
They came, rugged backwoodsmen
bronzed and gaunt. callOw recruits.
awkward. red faced-all manner OF
men In all manner of garb. And with
them WAS Wolf He marshaled them
with confident manner and bOasting
words. He arrayed them in semblance
of order. LAcadienne had come with
them. She, suspecting that Madeleine
was still there. made that suspicion d
certainty, and during all the confn
sion that had come to the silent glade
found time to say to the crOuching lit
tie figure in white:
"He cannot stay, But you could go
with him.
Came the voice of Wolf:
Now. then. boys. Off we go. You've
got a fifteen mile march ahead of you.
but you can sleep in the boat as we