Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-11-04

a slave highland again we went On
in silence. The moon rose and threw
our shadows far before us along the
road; we came at last to the rough
and uneven ground ] 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 1t In on either hand and
sometimes even meeting overhead, so
that we seemed to be stumbling for
T In a tunnel into which no ray
Of light could penetrate. 1 aided her
as wen as I could, but even then 1t
was dlsheartening and ~exhausring
work, and her labored breathing de-
noted her fatigue.
I'VE must rest" I said. I'VE must
rest" and I led her to a seat In the
shadow Of the hedge.
II shall recover In a moment" she
protested. I'VE must reach Coulanges
Remember, we burnt our ships behind
US when we abandoned our provi-
sions."
we shall reach Coulanges," I said
confidently. "At 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 / let her keep the place for a mo-
ment that I might admire her erect
and graceful figure, when suddenly she
shrank back against me with a little
cry Of fright.
What ts it?' I asked. You are not
hurt?"
mo, nor 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 II, my heart stood still.
For there, not 200 yards distant, was
encamped q regiment Of infantry-the
same, perhaps, that we had seen pass
that afternoon. I contemplated the
camp III silence for a moment, noting
how II lay In the little valley, then l
drew back and rejoined my comrade.
There is no danger" I said. we
must made a wide detour and avoid
these fellows"
I searched along the hedge until l
found q place where l could break
through, and in a moment we were to-
gether in the field on the other side.
cautiously %e crept away up the hill
side until the lights Of the camp
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
q seen pass, no dOuDt-and at q dis
lance, so low We crept, we could not be
distinguished from them. We came to
another hedge and broke through II,
and | was just turning back toward the
road. when a low brought me
sharp around.
What is it," 1 asked again, and
stretched out my arms and caught her,
or she would have fallen.
NV anklp" Eba on gpa7 bar live
white to the very edge. Il turned it
back yonder. | though I could walk
on 1t, but-Oh!" and she shivered and
hit my face against my shoulder.
l 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
ing, and the sweat poured down my
face as l realized what anguish she waa
in.
Il must get aid" I said thickIy. II
must get you to some house."
She was clutching wildly at my
sleeve, her face convulsed. her eyes
bright with suffering.
Leave mo-" she said, pulling me
down to her. Leave me. 1t is no
more than I deserve. Save yourself.
Only" she added softly, kiss me
For answer, I bent and lifted her
tenderly In my arms, and pressed
BE" Gloss against my ifeart, ana Kissed
her quivering lips and shining eyes and
fragrant hair.
II love you'll" I whispered. More
than ever l love you!" oh. / shall
never be able to tell you how 1 Iowa
you!" u
She chung to me desperately and
held her close, close, trembling with
a great happiness.
Tell me-" I whispered. IT know II
now-but tell me-"
She lifted her face TO mine. no longer
pinched with suffering, but radiant
with Joy.
Il love you'll" she said. "Oh, why
should 7 deny 1t? l 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 / knew that 1t was not
with pain. She was mine-mine!
Nothing could alter that! Not all the
oaths Of heaven and hell could alter
that. Not the scorn OF the living nor
the memory of the lead could alter
that. I had happiness within my hand
and ( would hold 1t fast; there should
be ne paltering with 1t. no looking back.
no question of this or that. How fool
ish all such questions seemed, now that
the die was cast.
an instant h~esitated, looking up and
down. To ask aid OF the Blues would
be to our the guillotine. and vet
might blunder along the road for
hours without coming to a house
where help could be secured. Had
the right TO condemn her to that suf-
fering? Then I remembered Gouion.
Better a sprained ankle than that In
famy-better n suffering than that!
And r~esolutely l set my face westward.
Continued Next Week.D