The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1910-09-29
CHAPTER xvm-(contlnuedy

firty. I am quite ashamed for yol
10 SEQ meI''
7 was just marveIling." i retorted
That you had kept yourself SO imnac-
uiate. / don't understand it."
'Imrracuiatei" she echoed. and set
on Town the slope,
Shall we return?'' she asked. "Shal
We aee the cave again"
No. l think not" / answered; I'VE
must be starting westward"
Then / must say good bye to It,"
and she RAJ back to the entrance,
Grew aside the curtain and fell upon
her knees. I say her throw a kiss into
Che darkness and her head bent for a
moment as though in prayer. !, too,
closed my eyes and prayed God hat
BE would give me strength to guide
this woman through to safety.
At last she arose and ~reJolned me.
1T is a lovable cave" she said, and
IL kept lis safe. II would nave been
~unErateful to go away without a word
of thanks" and somehow for me, as for
her the cavern in that instant assumed
G. personality, benign and cheerful; /
could fancy 1t glowing with pleasure
at thought of this last good deed,
You were right" I agreed. But
then. You are alwavs right"
oh, no" Che protested quickly.
Sometimes / am very wrong. But
o will d%isoovar that for yourself"
Shall II When?"
An too soon, / fear" and she looked
at me with a curious little smile.
Il don't believe I'll" | retorted, with
conviction.
But she only smiled again, In a way
L could not understand. and blushed and
went on without speaking. Who can
read q woman's ~thoughts2 Certainly
not II"
ua farc.,y ~o,at,, bua r.
the moment. no thought OF the future,
OF Its penalties and duties Swallowed
me. l was content to be here with this
brave and lovely girl, alone with her,
q cornrade n friend. Since nothing
moro was possible-since to friend and
somrade could not add iover-1 would
yet be happier In what was granted
me. And that / must be content with
this, l saw too weii-not In any cold
ness or aversion, but by a subtle
change of manner. the merest nuance
OF expression. which, at the same time,
kept me near to her and yet held me
Ri. away. On the tower sne had per-
mitted my endearments, had even
raised her lips to mine; but that was
looking In the face of death, at q mo-
ment when we need take no thought
TOR the future. at q moment wfen she
nad wished to comfort me and her
Felf stood In need OF comfort. But we
had emerged from that shadow. there
was the future again to be reckoned
With, and We an impalpabie
but ~invulnerabie veil was stretched
which / must never hope to pass.
We reached the brook. and I placed
ewo broad. fiat tones at the edge of
q little pool where the lucid water
paused for an instant before pursuing
fts course along the rocky way. and
watched her while she stopped and
drank. She had cast aside her cloak, |
and + nnfo1 vyttt, erfnov Aa1t~H,A $ka ~11t
curve OF he arms. the slim grace of
mack n shoulders.
Nov It 10 you turn, my friend" she
said. and made room for me.
! knelt and drank too. How good
The water tastedi How It cIeansed
It heartened the whole bodyl But at
Inst ! could drink no more.
And now 7 shall use some Of 1t
externally" she said. as 7 stood aside
and I sat down On q nearby rock to
enjoy the spectacle.
bound her hair in a tight coil upon
head. Then from some hidden
pocket h produced a handkerchief
and dipping It In the stream. applied
II vigorously to face and neck. I saw
skin glow and brighten under the
touch OF the cool water; she seemed
like a nymph-
Suddenly h looked aside and
caught my eyes.
rs this the first time you have seen
= lady at her toilet, NJ de Tayernayg"
she asked, withertngly.
ssr1 first, snadenna!se!ie.n
And do you feel no computations
81 conscience for keeping your seat
there 2,
Not in the least, I answered
calmly. q must see that no enemy
From what direction would an
come n ss5a
Probably from down the valley"
.sYsou have eyes. then, In the back OF
your head7 How fertunatel"
oh. I glanced around from time to
explained cooiIy. Surely.
the pleasure 1 have In locking at you!
would be heertlessi"
She glanced at me again. with a little
pout.
ssBut I should think that you your
self would feel h need OF a bath"
she retorteh
$50 that you might feel some
pleasure In looking at me?" I asked.
II know I must appear a most hid q
scoundrei: my skin is fairly
stifr with the dirt upon it, and yet /
da re m. torch y nth TwrGts - / +
ia not r.
. clean skin would hardly be In
'srhat Is true.n she admitted. Win
i swift glance owe 1t. .sTsut why did (,
:ssssirIe such . aiissuiss7 Who viii +
you?
Many people. I am afraid. IN the
arst place, wesrnust have food,
Is useless To deny that / am
very hungry" she agreed.
instead OF seeking food. feu !
ssIeep.ssI confessed. miserabIy. 81
new forgive myself
s..sfsoaseHEv; vYp both OF us needed +
first OF all. Indeed, I fnd the
pnngs Of hunger exhflarating-and how
/ shall relish the food when we get Ill .
continue: who else shall you !
I'm the second place. / went On.
Sc must ask my way, since i am ,
wh0ily unfamiliar with this country
& ~, OF COURSE.
ssA md in the third place, IN d coun-
even thinIy settled. we must be
prepared Tor chance encounters, 10 +
~ the people we meet I must appear
y R?asant sin order to protect you
Kee--syn1 are my prisoners spotl
y rice nsyas saeadd
1htchesISaMa@xery anxiouS fo secure.
ESuno AYeny have To- be q Htflc brutal H