The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1912-06-20


could have found 10 fire at So long
but it is certainly not Peter. 'TWould
be my guess that he is even now in
the house, calmly eating supper, not
even wasting a smile on the racket
without. You may have observed he
is not Of an emotional disposition"
My attention rms, indeed, bccn
called to that fact. Yet that does not
explain how he could lie in two places
at one and the same time
Nothing that Peter pleases to Do
is eXplQ,natle His wayslare not our
Aays, nor his thoughts our thoughts
lie is simply Peter. lie started all
this, but was never in front of those
guns long. They must be shooting at
shadows, But. Major, we forget whore
we are. the peril5 about us, and the
necessity Of your immediate escape.
We must not stand talking here"
She was close beside me, looking up
into my face. her eyes filed with anx.
ETY.. There were words upon my lips
l longad to speak, questions | desired
to ask, hut | held these sterply back,
restrained by the pleading in those
eyes.
"No, for your sake I must so at
once" / answered soberly. seldom
must not find you here, nor must
Grant suspect your connection with
ray assault upon him. | doubt if he
recognized my face in this darkness,
although he will surely realize the
truth when he learns OF my escape.
But how can l leave you here unprc-
tected? When this man returns to
consciOusness-and that can mean but
a few moments--he will be furious"
y shall be safe enough. He will
have no opportunity to find, me alone
again. Tonight had no conception
that he was near, and was not even
armed have been afraid of hira
for months; he has acted like a cra2eG
man. But you must got" She caught
my arm, urging ME toward the thickot
where the horse was concealed: then
suddenly paused with & new thought.
Take his hat and coat" she wills
persd swiftly. There are British pa
trolls between here and the Delaware.
Quick, and ! win have your horse un-
tied"
l did as directed. feeling the value
cf the suggestion, and, moment later,
to all appearance an officer Of Queens
Rangers, slipped through the tHicket
Of trees. and took the reins from her
hands.
You viii 50 straight back into the
house?o
Yes" she said obadiently; then OK,
tended her hand. "Goodby, Major
Lawrence I suppose this ends our
acquaintance"
Not if can avoid such a fate" I
replied, holding her fingers closely IF
/ believed that | am not sure but
would return TO the cell. 1t has been
a strange intimacy into which We have
been thrown; three days have made
US old friends. Surely you cannot be-
Heve me so ungrateful as your words
seem TO imply"
"But I deserve no gratitude" max
ne no effort to draw away, yet look
ug into my face frankly Perhaps
you have misunderstood. Is it not
possible for the women Of these Colo,
ties to sacrifice as we'll as the men in
he cause CT patriotism? You must
OF believe that have done this mere.
2 for your sake, Major Lawrence"
yet | would like to believe So" |
insisted warriy You are the daugh
ar Of a ioyalist."
And Eric is the son Of a loyallss, .
Iaughingly "and wears a Continenta,
uniform. / am not privileged to 20 SO
far restrained by the limitations OF
sex, yet | may be equally a 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;
refuse to so believe" Her eyes
flashed mp at me, and | lost all re-
straint in their swift challenge. Il am
going to speak--just word, yet
must give it utterance before ! ride
out into the dark, away from you.
love you II makes no difference to
me where your sympathies may be In
| this struggle, you have won my heart
Look up, dear, and listen am going
| back to camp, back to the campaign.
| know not what the night, what the
| morrow may bring. But | know for
! ever love you, and that if | live
shall surely come back WIZ you be
glad? win you promise me welcome?
| could feel her tremble, yet there
was no shrinking in her face, no alarm
ooh, why we're you compelled to
say that! ! tried so hard not to let
you, II cannot make the promise
it would not be right"
"Not right"
mo, you do not know me. ] told
! you before | was a sham, a fraud, not
what ! appeared to be- | will not ex
/ plain even to you, and you must not
! ask ne, Only it hurts me to hear
/ you say what you have, and be com
PEELED to return this answer"
You care then--you do not dis
guise that2"
| She threw her head back proudly
making no attempt to withdraw hel