Licking Valley courier. [volume] (West Liberty, Ky.) 19??-current, 1912-07-03
My Lacy Of Doubt.
fContlnued from Sd page)

lUliOIuI. ALI nOI pllNllS6Su W o. -
far, restrained by the limitations OF
sex, yet l may be equally rebel"
(Which would seem to mean that all
your Kindness toward me would have
been similarly given to any patriot
soldier"
"Why-why, yes; II think So"
"And | do not, Mistress Claire; l
refuse to so believe Her eyes
flashed up at me, and l lost all re-
straint in their swift challenge. 81 am
going to speak-just g word, yet |
must give it utterance before l ride
out into the dark, away from you.
love Ebu. II makes no Inference to
me where your sympathies may be in
this struggle, you have won my heart.
Look up. dean and liste1. am going
back to camp, back 10 the campaign.
/ know not what the night, what the
morrow may bring. But ! know for
ever love you, and that II live
shallfsurely come back. Will you be
glad? VIII you promise me welcome"
Il could feel her tremble, yet there
was no shrinking in her face, no alarm.
"0h, why. were you compelled to
cay that! tried so hard not to let
YOU. III cannot make the promise,
1t would not be right"
+ "Nct right"
eNo, you do not know me. told
yoWbafore was sham, fraud, not
what I appeared to be. will not ex-
plain even to you, and YOU must not
ask ire. Only it hurts me to hear
you cay what you have, and be COM
PEELED to return this answer"
You care then-you do not dis
guise that?"
SHE threw her head back proudly,
making no attempt TO withdraw her
hands.
Eyes, / care; any woman would. 1t
is not. true that have served you
merely because you were soldier Of
the Colonies. think IL was true, per-
haps. at first, but-but later it was
different Oh! why do | say this!
Why do delay your departure by con-
senting to remain here in CONVERSE
uon! Major Lawrence, cannot you
realize that my only desire is to have
you get away safely?"
bat that is not my only desire" ]
protested. at must be weeks, months,
before / can hope TO see you again
I an a servant of the Colonies, and
must so where am sent; We are upon
the verge of a campaign involving ex
posture and battle. I may not even
come forth alive. Must 60 without
a word, without q hope? Claire, Claire
sweetheart, you have no right to turn
me away, because Of some phantom Of
Imagination"
"But 1t is not, It is terribly real"
81 care not; l would still love you
in spite Of all; you may be a spy-s
British spy-but the fact would near
nothing to me. would trust you
Claire, your womanhood; l should
know that whatever you did was II
accordance with your conscience, ant
be content-if you but love me. And
thank God! know you do"
"l--I-Hcl You cannot mean thatI'
"Ay, but do. Have you supposed
. could not read the message of those
eyes? Oh, 1t may be dark, dear, bu
there is star-glesm, and when the
lashes lift-thoy confess a Thousand
times more than your lips aclnowl
edge. Yet I insist on the lips! Nov
tell me-" and I held her to me. 'tel
me-"
"What-oh, major, pleased"
There are but three words L
speak; whisper them, dear, and go.
Three verbs"
"Such easy words; they are trem
bling on your lips now--I love you"
Tut if / 90 not; If they are false
Hush! There is some one on the We
randa-ssldon must have returned"
"All the more reason why vol
should speak quickly" whispered
without releasing her.
"Wiil you so, then? At once%
81 pledge my word"
She drew a deep breath, her eyel
Swallowed, but could hear the swift
pulsing other heart.
Tit will mean nothing-nothing.
. "Of course; only memory to dream
over"
Her lashes lifted, her head tilted
back upon my shoulder. For bare
instant / eazed down into the depths
"Then--I will love you'll"
With the words kissed her, press
ing my lips to hers; an instant they
cling, and / felt the pressure OF hei
arm, the hot blood rioting through my
veins.
Sweetheart" l whispered. sweet
heart"
"No, mol" and she thrust me from
her you forget. / am not that. You
must not think it even. See. that mar
is coming down the steps. He will
discover Captain Grant, and It will b.
too late-oh, go, major, please go!"
Iturned without another word, fully
realizing the danger, the necessity o
action. Her hand touched mine as
grasped the rein.
I'VE part friends" she said softly
Some day you may understand ant
forgive me-"
81 understand now more than yol
think" returned swiftly, "and / an
coming back to learn ALL"
CHAPTER XXI.