The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-11-23
THE COMPACT

laugh iTritated the girl.
Because Ferman knows of the
trouble. And If he has kept it to
himself he would have resented my
bringing the news TO you. Can you
not see, Mary, | am anxious, l am
Worried on your account-for you.
Ferman has no right"
"On the contrary he has every
right to keep it to himself the
girl interrupted him a little sharp
ly. If there is danger he will see
that | am safe from it."
She was less angry than her words
suggested but she felt it her duty
to defend her husband, even though
she wondered why he had not men-
toned the freebooters to her be-
fore.
Guy was equal to the occasion. He
was used to tight corners in both
peace and war.
Mary" he said, leaning further
forward. and enieavoring to pos
sess himself OF one of the two small
hands lying in her lap, but which
she drew away at once, Il know
you will never forgive me the past.
| have tried desperately to make
YOU see my true position-how it
was impossible for me to act other
wise than | did. | was a failure,
| have done nothing, have nothing
How could | come back to you,
loving you as | did, as / do. Had
| loved you less / might have done
so, had all sense of shame, honesty,
been lead in me. AS it was | be-
lieyed it better that you should
listen. Yes, yes, / know, You laugh
and say the past is nothing, you
have forgotten all about it. But you
haven't. You"
But the girl broke in. Her face
was flaming.
You forget"
NO, l don't. You must hear me
out now. I am not the man to wish
! TO cause you unhappiness. | know
you can never be anything 10 me
now. But do want YOU to-to un-
derstand. You believe that ! did not
/ mt 81, sa1
emnly that no greater happiness
could have fallen to my lot. But
should have been an utterly worth
less scoundrel had oone so. 7, like
many another, was full of schemes
for the future. | came back here,
and far more often than not 1 have
hat! 10 use the hard earth for my
bed with the starry sky for my
only covering. Tue love that |
you then has never changed. 1t is
that which has brought me tonight
to warn you Of your danger. You
must"
A heavy football sounded on the
stoep. Both Mary and Guy had been
so engrossed that two horsemen had
ridden up to the farm unnoticed.
Now Ferman Elwod strole down
towards them. His calm, plain face
was quite undisturbed. There was
neither approval nor disp.easure in
his steady eyes as they rested on
/ the figures of Guy Chalmer and his
own wife engaged in such earnest
conversation. Mary sprang to her
/ feet and greeted him, and for her,
At least, there was relief in his pres
ence
"Oh, Ferman, I'm so glad you've
come Mr.. Chalmer has taken the
trouble to ride over and give me
warning of what is going on down
Nryburs way-the freebooters, you
know"
Elwood permitted himself a slight
raising of the eyebrows.
"Vryburg?" he said interrogative-
ly. Then he added, And Kunwana-
Roof Grond-and Ramathlabama. All
round us in fact"
You never told me?"
NO. l did not see the necessity.
[ However"
Guy was standing back little in
the shadow. The sun had set, and
the brief twilight was deepening. He
was smiling, but his smile was not
quite easy.
Yes he joined in. Il came to
see YOU about it. You were away"
Yes"
Elwood's brevity was a little dis
concerting.
Mary came TO the rescue, and they
talked on. Later Guy refused her
husbands invitation to stay to sup
per, and took his departure on
plea of business.
AS he went Elwood stood at the