The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1912-10-31
thing for me. You will go tomorrow. :"
ssApd vOr1s


get that you hav-eyer-seeB me-"
From down the path there came the
sound of low voices. Excitedly the
girl ran to Howiand. thrusting him
back with her hands.
go! Cor she cried tensely. "Hur-
" back to the cabin! Lock your door.
and don't come out again tonight. Oh.
please. if you love me. please. co.
The voices were approaching How
land fancied that he conld distinguish
dark shadows between the thinned
walls of the forest, He laughed softly.
Il am not going 10 run. little girl"
he whispered ''SeeY' He drew his
revolver SO that it cleaned in the light
Of the stars.
With u frightened gasp the girl pull
ed him into the thick bushes beside the
path until they stood dozen PAGES
from where those who were coming
down the trail would pass. There was
a silence as Howland slipped his weap-
on back into it's holster Then the
voices came again. very near. and at
the sound of them his companion
shrank close to him. her hands clutch
ing his arms her white. frightened
face raised to him in .piteous appeal.
His blood ieaped through him like fire.
He knew that the girl had recognized
the voices--that they who were about
to pass him were the mysterious enc
mics against whom she had warned
him Perhaps one was the man who
had attacked him on the Great North
trail His muscles grew tense. The
girl could feel them straining under
her hands. could feel his body grow
rigid and alert. His hand fell again
on his revolver. He made step past
her. his eyes flashing. his face AS set
as iron Almost sobbing. she pressed
herself against his breast. holding him
back
"Don't-don't-don she whisper
ed.
They could hear the cracking Of
brush under the feet of those who
were approaching Suddenly the
sounds ceased not twenty PAGES away.
From his arms the girls hands rose
slowly to his shoulders. to his face. ca
ressingly. pieadingly. her beautiful
eyes glowing. half with terror. half
with prayer to him.
Don't" she hreathed again. so close
that her sweet breath fell warm on
his face "Don't-if you-if you care
for me!r'
Gently be drew her close in his arms.
crushing her face to his breast. kiss
ing her hair. her eyes. her mouth.
II love you" he whispered again and
again.
The steps were resumed. the voices
died away. Then there came pres
sure against his breast. gentle re-
sistance. and be opened his arms Sc
that the girl drew back from him. Her
lips were smiling at him. and in that
smile there was gentle accusation. The
sweetness of forgiveness. and he could
see that with these there had come
also flush into her cheeks and daz
zling glow into her eyes.
"They are gone" she said trembling
ly.
"Yes: they are gone"
He stood looking down into her glow
ing face in silence. Then. "They arr
gone" he repeated. They were thu
men who tried to kill me at Prince AL
bert. have let them go-for you
Will you tell me your name?"
''Yes-that mucb-now. 1t is Me
leese"
'Meleese!'
The name fell from him sharply. II
an instant there recurred to him al
that Croisset had said. and there al
most came from his lips the hal
breeds words. which had burned them
selves In his memory. perhaps yo'
will understand when tell you thi
warning is sent to you by the littl
Melecse" What had Croisset meant :?
She drew back from him slowly. tn
color fading from her cheeks. and a
she saw the light in his eyes thar
burst from her short. stifled cry
Now you understand-you under
stand why you must go back into th
SOUTH" she almost sobbed. oh
have sinned to tell you my name
But you will go. won't you? You vii
go-for me"
"For you would go to the end O
the EARTH interrupted Rowland hi
pale face near to her. But yon mus
tell me why. don't understand yo'
don't know why those men tried I
kill me in Prince Albert. don't knox
| why my life Is In danger hero. Crois
yet told me that my warming bac
there came from girl named Melees'
| / didn't understand him. don't III
derstand you 1t is all a mystery ;
me. So far as I know I have neve
| had enemies. never heard yonr nan,
until Croisset spoke II. What did h
mean? What do you mean? Why d
| you want to drive me from the w
kusko? Why is my life in danger?
| Is for you to tell me these things.
have been honest with you. love yo'
/ will fight for you if it is necessar.
| but you must tell me-tell me-
His breath was hot In her face. az
she stared at him as If what she hear
robbed her of the power of speech.
Wont you tell me!" he whispers
more softly. "Meleese"- She mac
no effort TO resist him as be drew b.
once more in his arms. crushing b.
sweet lips to his own. "Meieese. won
you tell me!'
T Suddenly she lifted her hands to b
face and pushed back his head. ioekir
squarely into his eyes.
/ 1f tell you." she said softly. "aT
iD telling you | betray those whom
love. will you promise TO bring mar
to none Of them. but gO-gO back in