Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-06-30

that, and she caught her breath.
Thank you-Philip."
We'll have our holiday. Jeanne, but
We must have . better understanding
drst."
moi No more!-I can't!"
But he went steadily you said
there was only one way out, and I
knew what you meant. It 10 a way
out- way that I can't deny your
right to take. II we're talking Of
rights. During the i've years that !
spent at sandoval I always regarded
It - q right that I could exercise
when I chose. Perhaps that 10 n OF
the reasons I lever exercised 1t. But.
Jeanne, II you elect to take that way,
I shall take 1t with you"
She struggled away from him. turned
and faced him with horror-strcken
eyes. You must not say that! You've
no right to threaten me with that!
No right" Then, clutchinE At his
hands again, you must promise!"
Again she pulled her hands way
and covered her face with them. She
was trembling uncontrollably.
1T was not a threat" he said stead
lily. TT was a promise, a promise l
have the right to make. I make 1t
again, now, Jeanne-a solemn prom
Use before God. Whether it's living OF
dying, l shall go beside you"
mo right" she repeated in q wh1s-
per. What possible right could you
have to make a promise like that
threat that calls itself q PROMISE"
II have the only right there 10.
Listen. Last night, when o were
lying there asleep. I sat thinking.
thinking about you. about the love l
had for you; about the change which
that love had made in me and would
| 70 on making after I had lost you. For
I faced losing you. I knew that when
| they sent q BOAT ashore for you, !
should have to let o go without q
word. r. could have heard . prophecy
then, that today I should be telling
you I loved you. telling It with a clear
heart and conscience, I should have
gone half-mad for Joy. 1t seemed as
II tho thing could neve happen. l am
a man with a stain upon me, and yes
terday that stain made 1t impossible
to say anything to you but goodby. I
meant to q 1t, and take my way
through the air again and live out tho
rest Of my life on what, from your
bounty, you had already given me.
But the coming Of a new day
| changed all that. It has given me the
right to tell you what I have told you.
and 1t gives me the right to make that
promise. Isn't that quite plain7 Don't
you understand"
IT must think" she gAspsd You
must lot me think"
NO." he said, II have not asked for
an answer. There is nothing that you
have to tell me. Nothing that I'm
waiting to hear. No decision that you
must make. You understand what l
said and you know it's true. The
supreme fact in my universe 10
just you. That gives me the
right to follow you wherever you
60. But you are still free. You
can stay here, where Fate has put you,
and let me stsy here, too. being sure
that all the happiness in the world
there IL for me Is to be foundh here at
your side, in helping you. And then II
the torture of privation. loneliness ana
despair become too hard
She turned to him then and inter
rupted. Her words came quietly, I'M
accompanied by any gesture OF her ex-
pressive hands. She spoke with the
utmost simplicity.
They won't be too hard, I think
neither the privation nor the loneli-
ness. There won't be any despair
not with you, my friend. And-and
We will follow my fathers gospel"
She saw the blood go ebbins out OF
his face, and then come back with a
surge. He drew in two or three great
breaths of the keen. winelike ar.
Then, in a strangely matter-of-fact
fashion. he seated himself beside her.
THAT gospel begins with breakfast"
/, he said.