Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1912-06-08

on the part of all concerned. the pos
sibility that the necessary papers had
not been procured. the girls strong OPP
position to the ceremony
We were at the steps. and I could
perceive the outlines of two black tig
ures rising up to greet me. 1t was the
deep voice OF the elder Densiow which
spoke. his outstretched hand warmly
grasping mine
the last minute. So we are to march
at. midnight. you say? Well. we can
make it with hard riding. and can
go now with a relieved heart. know
ing Jean will he well looked after
while we are away. Come up. my boy.
The thieving Yanks have not left us q
light about the house. nor very much
of anything else However. we can
get along in the dark ] reckon the
parson knows his lines without book
Chaplain Mordaunt. you must he ac-
quainted with Lieutenant Dunn. as you
Ii are both stationed at headquartersT
Il have seen him occasionally. al
| though. as you may recall. he is but
newly assigned"
|. True: only your second week of
staff duty. isn't it. Calvert? Jean.
daughter"
A swift hope thrilled through me
that she might have -already lied or
have hidden herself within the dark
ened house. The hospitabie colonel
had half forced me back into a vacat-
ed chair and remained facing me.
standing shoulder to shoulder with his
son on the upper step. The chaplain
remained seated close upon my left
All about US was latticework thickly
covered with trailing vines The only
way of escape would be by ,dinging
both father and son headlong to the
walk below. or perhaps a sudden dash
back into the unknown interior.
l neither saw nor heard her as she
came forward When she answered
her slight figure suddenly appeared
standing between her father and the
chaplain. a mere indistinct outline. yet
so womanly as to send sudden thrill
to my heart.
Very well. father. am here to keep
my word with Lieutenant Dunn"
1t had come. The urgent necessity
for instant action. for immediate de-
cision was upon me. and-l failed. I
saw the chaplain rise deliberately to
his feet. and struggled up also. fierce
ly gripping the back of my chair. half
tempted to use it as q weapon with
which to sweep the steps before me
clear. Yet l hesitated. swayed by
doubt. Influenced by many emotions.
What was right? What was best2
What ought i to do? Would even the
license of war exonerate me? The OPP
| portunity for an easy escape lay clear
before me; merely a few brief words
spoken in the darkness. the silent act
| ing of a simple part. the riding away
| together. the others departing unsus-
| pectingly to their several commands,
the leaving of the uninjured girl within
| easy reach of Fairview. which could
not be far distant. then the spur. the
river. and Rosecrans.
] could not distinguish a feature of
her averted face. but a vagrant
| breath Of air blew a strand of soft
hair against my cheek. Could / sac
| rifice. her. even for such a causef
| Suddenly, as If it were the whisper OF
the devil in my ear. came the con-.
! trolling thought-she despises the man
Dunn; she is being driven into this
marriage against her will. Possibly
this very fraud on my part will best
serve her. will eventually result in her
final happiness. We would be togeth-
er merely for an hour or two hours.
Then she would be left safe in the
care of friends. comprehending the
deceit. angry with me no doubt, yet
nothing the worse for the adventure.
1t might even be that the marriage
contracted under such peculiar cir
cumstances would not be held as legal,
while if it was a divorce could be
most easily obtained on the ground of
| fraud.
You will join right hands,"
How soft and small her hand wasi
How cold to the touch, and how it
trembled beneath the clasp of my fin
gers. Once the drawling voice ap-
peared to ask me something. repeat
ing the question somewhat sharply
before 1 could force my dry lips into
| the few necessary words of response.
Then I heard her distinctly say. 81
do yet with an effort. as though the
utterance nearly choked her. The
very sound of these two words as she
thus spoke them. filed with utter
| hopelessness. shocked me even then.
and L looseneu my clasp. permitting
| her hand to drop as 1 stared toward
her. The hot blood rushed to my
| head. every nerve tingling. I would
not be guilty of this cowardly thing!
would fight them all first!
And now l pronounce you husband
! and wife: whom God hath joined to-
gether let no man put asunder.'
1t was already too late. Too latel
| The evil was done. the act conSum-
mated In darkness. in masquerade.
pretending to he another. stood there