Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-11-08
CHAPTER VI.
A struggle In the Dark.


have seldom been more deeply
embarrassed than at that moment. /
Knew not what TO say or now best TO
approach this young woman, IeIt so
strangely 10 nav protection. The very
fact. which ! now realized, that she
was both young and fair. added some
Indefinite burden and complicated the
delicate situation. saw no safety
for us but In careful hiding until
Craig could return. squad OF hard.
riding troopers at his back To per.
init the girl to venture forward alone
through the desolate country We were
in. oyerrun as | knew It to be by ir.
regular bands whose sole purpose was
plumber, aud whose treatment of won.
en- had made my blood run cold as |
listened to its recital. was not to be
so much as thought of
There was no help for It. and but
! one way out. disagreeable as that
might prove to my lady. She stood
there before me. motionless and silent
as statue, exactly where she had
alighted when the sergeant took her
horse, and Il seemed to me could
plainly read righteous indignation in
the indistinct outline Of her figure and
the naughty pose Of her head. TO her
at that moment was evidently most
disagreeable and even hated eompan-
ion. Rebel" the being of all others
she had been taught to despise. the
enemy Of all she held sacred, Gould
any good thing come out OF Naza-
reth ="
The time has come when II be-
comes my duty TO look after your
comfort and safety" | said. striking
TO disguise all self-eousciousness.
Every moment we delay now merely
Increases the danger of our remaining
here"
Il imagine | might very easily dis
pense with any further care on your
part"
Her reply nettied me, and | answer
ed with an earnestness which she
could neither ignore nor check: Pos.
slbly you may think so, but II you do
ii is merely because of your utter ig-
noranee Of the disorganlzed conditions
which prevail In these mountains,
Your pride is almost ridiculous under
all the circumstances. GU have no
Just cause TO feel this am forcing
| myself unnecessarily upon you. Our
| being compelled TO take you In charge
has proven as disastrous TO us as 10
you. Personally can say that moth
Ing will relieve me more than 10 be
able to place you uninjured into the
care of your own people. would
willingly assume great risks to that
end But while you remain here and
In my care. shall perform my full
| duty toward you as though you we're
my own sister. Now please listen to
me. and assure you | shall speak
nothing for the mere purpose of alarm
ing you, but simply that you may bet
ter comprehend the facts which must
influence our present relationship,
have sent forward Sergean; Craig
with the message especially intrusted
TO rue for delivery. and thus. II II
fails TO reach its destination. have
laid myself open TO the charge OF q
grave military crime. In doing this
have not only periled my own future
but the lives OF my comrades aud the
faith Of my commander Yet I have
deliberately chosen to do so because
feel the impossibility Of leaving yoy
here unprotected. and because / wa.
unwilling to trust you alone with m!
companion. dare not permit you Il
traverse these roads slone, The noun
tains an about us. deserted as the!
now appear. are fiied with wandering
bands OF desperate and hunted mel
whose tenderest mercy Is death An,
rock may be the hiding place OF al
outlaw. any dGra ravine the rendes
vous Of as Wild gang as ever mur
} dered for plumber"