The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1912-11-14
IsH, La, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER IA, 1872

the same time he began to realize that
he should no longer be Influenced by |
her pleading He bad promised in re
turn for her confidence this night to |
leave nnpunishad those whom she
wished to shield He would take hack |
that promise Before she revealed any
thing to him he would warn her that
he was determined tO discover those
who had twice sought to kill him
1t was nearly midnight when he
looked at his watch again Was it
possible that Meleese would not come
He could not bring himself to believe
that she knew of his imprisonment in
the coyote-of this second attempt on
| his life And yet If she did
Suddenly he heard a step. light run
| ming step and with recognizing cry
he sprang out into the starlight to
meet the slim. painting. white faced
figure that ran to him from between
the thick walls of forest trees.
"Meleeser be exclaimed softly
He held out his arms and the girl
ran straight into them. thrusting her
hands agains: his breast. throwing
| back her head so that she looked up
into his face with great. staring hOr
ror filled eyes.
"Now-now." she sobbcd. 'now will
you go?"
Her hands left his breast and crept
to his shoulders, Slowly they slipped
over them and as Rowland pressed
her closer. his lips silent she gave an
agonized cry and dropped her head
against his shoulder. her whole body
torn In a convnlsion Of grief and ter
ror that startled him
"You will goy' she sobbed again
and again. you will go-you will
co.
He ran~his fingers through her soft
hair. crushing his face close to hers.
mo: am not going. dear" he re-
piled in low. firm voice. mot after
what happened tonight"
She drew away from him as quickly
as II he had struck her. freeing her
self even from the touch of his hands.
81 heard what happened an hour
/
II overheard them talking She
struggled hard to control herself.
"Yon must leave the camp tonight"
In the gloom she saw Howland's 8
teeth cleaning There was M fear
in his smile. He laughed gently down
: into her eyes as he took her face be-
tween his hands again.
81 want to take hack the promise
p that gave you last night. Meieese
want to give you chance to warn
any whom you may wish to warn.
!. shall not return into the south From
3 this hour begins the hunt for the COW
: erdly devils who have tried to murder
I me- Before dawn every man on the
q Weknsko will be In the search and Il
J. we find them there shall be no mercy
e Will you help me. or"
e She struck his hands from her face
e springing back before he had finished
II He saw sndden change of expression
y Her lips grew tense and firm Fron
q the death whiteness OF her face thor
K faded slowly away the look of sof
e pleading. the quivering lines Of fe:l'
There was n strangeness in her vote
K when she spoke-something Of the har
determination which Howiand had pr
y in his own. and yet the tone of it iack
e ed his gentieness and love.
10 "Will you please tell me the time?"
'e The question was almost startling
Rowland held the dial of his watch I
" the light of the stars.
70 'It is quarter past midnight"
q The faintest shadow of smile pas!
'. ed over the girls lips.
~ "Are you certain that your watch
III not fast? she asked.
d In speechless bewilderment Howlan
ie stared at her.
&c Because 1t will mean great deal
you and to me If it is not a quartz
past midnight" continued Meleese.
~ growing glow in her eyes. Sudden
NC she approached him and put both
IL her warm hands to his face. holdil
down his arms with her own Iii
ten," she whispered. "Is there not
NC ing nothing that will make 81
~ change your purpose that will tai
W you back into the south-tonight?'
= The nearness of the sweet face. I!
81 gentle touch of the girls hands. t
ne soft breath of her lips. sent madd;'
ing impulse through Howland to -
ne render everything to her. For an
NC slant he wavered.
There might be one. just one. thil
'u' that would take me away tonight
ce he replied. his voice trembling wi
le' the great love that thrilled him. IF
~ you. Meleese, | would give up ever
lgs thing-ambition. fortune. the builds
nis of this road. If go tonight will y
as 20 with me? Will you promise to
re- nv wife when we reach lie Pasf''
Sc A look of ineffable tenderness car
into the beautiful eyes so near to
IN own.
lao 'That is impossible. You will \
al love me when you know what q
ON what have done"-
his He stopped her.
be slave you done wrong. a gre
hot wrongY
ost For a moment her eyes faltere
at then hesitatingly there fell from b
lips: "I-don't-know. | believe ha'
But it's not that-it's not that"
"Do you mean that-that | have
right to tell you love you?" be al
ed. do you mean that it is wro
our for you to listen to mef I-I-took
len for granted that you were CIR
I'd that
be "No. no; 1t is not that" she cri
in quickly. catching his meaning. 1T
be not wrong for you to love me-" 81