Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-02-21
n Me l& n
Silver Horde
By REX BEACH Author .t .1h. ishs s.:s sss3'''' and
COPYRIGHT. 1909 HARPER g. BROTHERS


dices law for him. Above all, she
could not respond to the exultation Of
his success. She had no conception OF
the pride of accomplishment that is the
wine. Of every true mans life. He had
waged a bitter fight that had sapped
his very soul: he had made and won
the struggle that a man makes once In
a lifetime. and now. just when he had
proved himself strong and fair In the
sight of his fellows. she asked him to
forego 1t all. Engrossed in her own
egoism, she required Of him greater
sacrifice than any he had made. Now
that he had shown his strength she
wanted to load him down with golden
fetters-to make him dependent. Was
II because she feared another girl?
She had tried to help him. he knew
in her way-and the thought OF II
touched him. That was like the Mil
dred he had always known-to act
fearlessly, needless Of what her father
might do or say. Somehow he had
never felt more convinced Of the sin
cerity Of her love. but he found him
self thinking Of 1t as Of something OF
the past After all. what she had done
had been little. considering her power
She had given carelessly out of her
abundance, while Cherry He saw l.
all now, and sudden sense Of loyalty
and devotion 10 the girl who had real
" shared his struggles swept over him
In q warm tide. 1t was most unlike
his distant worship Of Mildred. She
had been his dream, but the other was
bone of his bone and flesh Of his flesh.
For a long time the two sat talking
while these thoughts took gradual
form in the young mans mind, and
although the deck was deserted. Miss
Wayland had now no need to curb her
once headstrong wooer.
He could not put into words thc
change that was working in him. but
she saw It. and. grasping its meaning
at last. she began to battle like
n mother for her child. His awaken
ing had been slow. and hers was even
slower. but once she found her power
over him waning her sense OF loss
grew and grew as he failed to answer
to her half spoken appeal.
Womanlike, she capitulated at last.
What matter II he stayed here where
his hopes were centered? This lie III
the north had claimed him. and she
would wait until he came for her. bu'
still he did not respond. and II was not
long until she had persuaded herself
that his battle with the wilderness had
mt red blood into his veins and his
conduct had been no worse than tha'
of other men. Finally she tried to
voice these thoughts. but sh0 only lcd
him TO n stiff denial Of tho charges sh!
wished to forgive. AS she saw hlii'
Slipping further away from her she
summoned all her arts to rekindle IN"
flame which had burned SO steadily
and when these failed she surrendered
every prejudice. 1t was his love she
wanted. All else was secondary. ~
last she knew herself. She could nav"
cried at the sudden realization that he
had not kissed her since their parting
in Chicago, and when she saw he hhd
no will to do so the memory OF his last
embrace arose to torture her. She wns
almost glad when launch bringing
her father came from the shore ana
the old man Joined them.
The two men bore themselves VIII
unbending formality. unable as yet TO
forget their mutual wrongs. The IL
terrupt!on gave Boyd the opportunity
he had not been brave enough to make
and he bade them both goodby. for the
tide was at lts flood. and the hour OF
their departure was at hand.
There were meaningless exchangr
NJ words and a handshake In the glare
from the cabin light that showed lil
dred's pallid lips and frightened eyes
Then Emerson went over the side. and
the darkness swallowed him up.
The girl clutched at her fathers
arm. standing as II frozen while the
creak Of rowlocks grew fainter anu
fainter and died away. Then she
turned.
"You see, he came" she said
The old man saw the agony that
blanched her cheeks and answered
gently: 49,,
Eyes. daughter" He struggled with
himself. And II you wish It be may
come again"
"But he won't come again. That !"
what makes It 30 hard; he will never
come back"
She turned away. but not quickly
enough to keep him from seeing tha'
her eyes were wet. Wayne Wayland
beheld what he would have given half
his mighty fortune to prevent He
cried out angrily. but she anticipated
his thought.
mo. no. you must never injure him
again. for he was right and we were
wrong. You see I-couldn't under
stand"
He left her staring into tho nigh'
and walked heavily below.
Emerson felt Il great sense OF relief
and deliverance az he leaned against
his oars. His heart sang to the mur
mur of the waters oversize. For the
arst time In many months be felt
young and free. How blind he had
been and how narrow had been his
escape from a life that could lead to
but one result. The girl was swee'
and good and wonderful In many
ways, but three years had altered him
more than he had realized. He had
begun to understand himself thai
very afternoon. when Cherry had toic
him her own unhappy secret. Inc
shock of her disclosure had reused hin
from his dream. and once he began tt
ace himself Us he really was the res
had como quickly. he had beer
doubtful even when he went out t
the yacht. but what happened there
had DESTROYED the last trace Of un
certainty. He knew that for hin
there was but one woman In all th'
world. 1t was no easy battle he hat
fought with himself. He had beeI