The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1910-10-27

| a slave might-aud again we went on
In silence. The moor rose and threw
our shadows far before us along the
road: we am at last to the rough
and uneven ground I had seen from the
hillside, and here we found the way
more difficult, for the road grew mar
row and rutted, with high untrimmed
hedges closing it in on either hand and
sometimes even meeting overhead, SO
that we seemed to be stumbling for
ward In a tunnel into which no ray
OF light could penetrate. I aided her
as wei as I could, but even then 1t
was disheartening n e%xhausting
WORK, and her labored breathing de-
noted her fatigue.
we must rest" I said. 1--WE must
rest" and I led her to a seat in the
shadow OF the hedge.
Il shall recover in a moment" she
protested. w must reach Coulanges
tonight. 1 have set my heart on it.
Remember, we burnt our ships behind
US when we abandoned our provi-
sions."
We shall reach Coulanges," I said
confidently. A the next house I will
inquire the way"
Come" she said, starting to her
feet- Let US &C. I am quite rested"
She was a few PAGES ahead of me.
and l let her keep the place for a mo-
ment that I might admire her erect
and graceful figure, when suddenly she
slrank back against me with a little
cry of fright.
VIVA Is itT' I asked. "You are not
hurt?"
mo, mol" she whispered. But yon-
der-creep forward and look"
There was a sharp turn in the road,
and as / went forward cautiously and
look around n INV haort ctan1 -&1II
For there, not 200 yards distant, was
encamped a regiment Of infantry-the
same, perhaps, that we had seen pass
that afternoon. 1 contemplated the
camp in silence for a moment, noting
how 1t lay in the little valley, then I
aIeM eacS and Tejoined NY comrade.
There is no danger" l said. I'VE
must made a wide detour and avoid
these Fellows"
searched along the hedge until
found a place where I could break
through, and In a moment we were to-
gether in the field on the other side.
cautiously We crept away III the hill
cleaned faint behind us, then we went
forward past them. There was no
danger of our being seen, despite the
brightness of the moonlight, for the
field was full of sheep-the same we
had seen pass, no doubt-and at a dis.
lance SO low we crept, we could not be
distinguished from them. We came to
another hedge and broke through 1t,
and l was just turning back toward the
road, hen q low moan brought me
sharp around.
What Is it?" 1 asked again. and
stretched u my arms and caught her.
or she would have fallen.
My ankle" she gasped, her lips
white to the very edge. II turned it
back yonder. | though I could walk
on 1t, but-Oh!" and she shivered and
hit my face against my shoulder.
placed her gently on the grass and
with trembling finger undid the laces Of
her shoe. She shivered again with
agony at my touch and closed her eyes.
felt that her ankle was already swell
ling. and h sweat poured down my
face as l realized what anguish she wau
In.
Il must get aid" I said thickly. 1T
must get youAto some house."
She was clutching wildly at my
sleeve. her face %convulsed, her eyes
bright with suffering.
.Leave me-" she said, pulling me
more than I deserve. Save yourself.
Only" she added softly, kiss mo
first"
For answer, I bent and lifted her
tenderly in my arms, and pressed
her close against my heart, and kissed
her quivering lips and shining eyes and
fragrant hair.
Il love you'll" I whispered. More
than ever ! love you!" oh, I shall
never be able to tell you how I love
you'll" u
She chung to me desperately and +
held her close, close, trembling with
a great happiness.
Tell me-" I whispered. II know it
now-but tell me-"
She lifted her face to mine, no longer
pinched with suffering, but radiant
with Joy.
II love you'll" she said. "oh, why
should I deny 1t? 1 love you!"
Again I kissed her; then I set off
down the hill, while she dropped her
head upon my shoulder and sobbed
silently-but I knew that 1t was not
with pain. She was mine-mine!
Nothing could alter that! Not all the
oaths OF heaven and he'll could alter
that. Not the scorn of the living nor
the memory Of the dead could alter
that. I had happiness within my hand
and I would hold 1t fast: there should
be no paltering with it, no looking back,
no question of this or that. How fool
the die was cast.
At last / reached the road, and for
an instant hesitated, looking up and
down. To ask aid Of the Blues would
be to court The g%uillotine, and yet
might blunder along the road for
hours without coming to- house
where neip could be secured. Had j
the right to condemn her to that SUI
fering? Then I remembered Goujon.
Better q sprained ankle than that In
~famy-better any suffering than that!
And r~esolutely I set my face westward.
Continued Next Week.
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