The Southern herald., 1912-11-29

colonel is he takes the affair too seri-
ously; imagines he Is actually on the
trail, and proposes to remain out all
night. became tired Of such foolish
ness and rode back"
"You mean you left? Deserted"
"Oh. hardly that" lazily. "You see
was sent out with a detachment to
ride down the Lewiston road. mere
ly left my sergeant In command and
turned my horses head this way. l
can be back by morning. and l wanted
to see you"
"To see me, Captain Grant! You
disobeyed my fathers orders to ride
back and see me? hardly appreciate
the honor"
"0h. suppose not" his tone grown
suddenly bitter. But am here just
the same, and propose carrying out
my intention. What do you think l
am made of-wood? You treat me as
though l possessed no feelings to be
hurt. See here, Claire, don't draw
away from me like that What has
got into you lately? You have led me
merry chase all winter in Philadel-
phia, but now you have even dared
to flaunt me to my face, and in the
presence Of your father. Do you sup
pose am the kind to stand for that?
What is the matter, girl? Who has
come between us? Is 1t that rascally
rebel? No; you stay where you are,
and answer me. That is what | came
back alone for, to find out"
She was upon her feet, and / could
even see her hand clasping a lattice
Of the summer house.
why do you ask this? What right
have you? There was never prom
ise between us."
"The understanding has existed for
ten years; never denied until now," he
protested hotly. "You knew l loved
you; I've fought a dozen men on your
account"
True enough" she broke in, you
have challenged every gentleman who
has dared address me. Did you think
such swashbuckling was going to win
my heart? Any girl possessing self
respect would revolt at such methods.
Whatever affection | may have felt
for you as boy has been driven from
me by these actions. You wanted a
slave, a servant, not companion, and
1t is not in Mortimer blood to yield
to every whlm, to every crack of the
whip. | never loved you, never con-
fesSed did. l tried to be obedient,
endeavored to like you to please my
father, but this past winter has SO
thoroughly revealed your real charac'
ter that will pretend no longer"
"My character! We have known
each other from childhood. | know
we'll enough what has made the diff
ference in you"
Indeed"
"Yes, indeed; it's that damned Con
tinental spy"
1T has been some one all along
according to your theory--any gentle
man who has shown me ordinary kind
ness. You have called out Captain
Kincade, Lieutenant Mathieson, Majol
Lang, and others, just to prove you
ownership of me. You have made mt
the laughing stock Of Philadelphia
Now it pleases you to select Majo
Lawrence with whom to associate m!
name. Because he danced with m.
once you feel justified in quarrelini
with him in my presence, in goadini
I, him into fighting you. 1t was the ac
4 of cowardly bully. Whatever respec
r l may once have had for you, Captain
Grant, has been dissipated this pas
g winter"
n Can you tell me it is not Law
y rence?"
! 81 could tell you, and very plainly
e but refuse to be questioned"
= well, by Cad! know without asl
e ing" and he sprang to his feet, gri]
b ping her hand. You've helped ths
d fellow against me from the first. L
put up with 1t no longer. / came bac
@ here tonight desperate, prepared to n
& sort to any measures. / meant
e give you a chance, and, by HEAVIER
e I have. Do you think am the sort
q man you can play with? If can haN
~ you only by force then it is going
e be that. Oh, don't try to pull away
t. I've got you now just as | wanted yC
e. alone! Your father is not here, an
ID that fool Seldom is busy enough o,
yonder. There is not even gual
le to interfere. Do you know what
ID mean to do?"
O. She made no answer, but her silen,
TX seemed to fan his anger.
"Sulky, are you? Well, I'll tell y,
just the same, There's preacher Il
rt ing at the crossroads-you know hi
u that sniveling, long-faced jerks He
It, a ranting rebel all right, but he'll
~ what / say, or I'll cut his heart OF
a You are going there with me tonig
re | to be married. I'll put an end to the