The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1912-09-26

proved.
But now. woman-like, she only long
ed for his safety, and forgetting all the
tradition of her past life, all the old
lessons of self-restraint, forgetting ev-
erything except his immediate danger,
she chung to him with all the true pas
sion In her, which she nc longer tried
to keep In check.
mo, Luke" she murmured in quick,
jerky tones, 1T is not too late-not at
all too late. You stay in her quietly
and I'll ask father to go and speak to
them. He'll tell them that you haven't
come home yet, and that he Is waiting
here for you himself. Father is well
known; they won't suspect him Of
shielding you; and in the meanwhile
you can slip u easily; we'll send your
luggage on. You can write and let US
know where you are-it is quite easy
and not too Late"
Whilst she spoke, she was gradually
edging toward the door. Her voice had
sunk to a horse whisper, for maddening
terror almost deprived her of speech.
With insistent strength she would not
allow him to detain her, and he, whilst
trying to hold her back, was afraid of
hurting her. But at the last when she
had almost reached the door, he con-
trived to forestall her, and before she
could guess his purpose he had pressed
a finger on the button Of the electric
bell. .t .
She heard the distant tinkle Of he
bell, and his made her pause.
What is it. Luke?" she asked. why
did you ring?"
For YOU father. DEAR" he replied
simply.
Then you will do what I want you
to-" she rejoined eagerly. you will go
away?"
He gave no immediate answer, for
already the maids fOOtstep was heard
along the passage. The next moment
went up to 1t, gently forcing Louisa
back into the shadow behind him.
Mary" he said, with his hand on
the latch of the door, holding 1t slightly
a1ar, Just ask Colonel Harris to come
here, will your"
yes, sir"
The girl was heard turning away.
and walking back briskly along the
passage. Then Luke faced Louisa once
again.
He went up to her and without a
word took her in his arms. It was a
supreme farewell n she knew it. She
felt 1t In the culver Of agony which
went right through him as he pressed
her so close-so close that her breath
nearly left her body and her heart
seemed to stand still. She felt it in the
sweet, sad pain of the burning kisses
with which he covered her face, her
eyes. her hair, her mouth. It was the
hnal passionate embrace. the irrevoc-
able linking Of soul and heart and mind.
the parting Of earthly bodies, the un-
ion of immortal souls. 1t was the end
o. an Things earthly, h beginning of
things eternal.
She understood and her resistance
vanished. All that had been dark to
her became suddenly t~ransngured and
lllumined. With the merging of earth
lly passion into that love which is Gods
breath, she-the pure and selfess
woman, Gods most perfect work on
as God. and knew what
was good and what had been evil.
Neither OF them spoke; the word
farewell was not uttered between
them. His final kiss was upon her
eyes, and she closed them after that,
the better to imprint on her memory
the vision Of his face lit up with the
oiVlne nre OF an uncomfortable pas
sion.
The entrance Of Colonel Harris
brought them both back to present
reality. He, poor a looked severely
troubled, n distinctly older than he
usually did.
u you want me, Luke?" he asked.
Yes, SIR" replied the latter, the DO
lice are here, and I thought that per
AAAp SOu LII LOul5d would De SO KIND
as to take Edie along with you. Jim
Is tgoing to sleep in barracks tonight,
n Edie ought not to stay here alone"
Yes. Well take Edie," said the col
onel CURLY, she'll be all right with us.
Are you ready, Lou?"
Yes, DEAR" she replied.
And she passed out of the door with
out another word. or another look.
The supreme farewell had been
spoken. Further words-even another
have almost d~esecrated its
undying memory.
The two men remained alone. and
colonel Harris without any hesitation
held out his hand to Luke de Mount
ford.
1.-THE police are here, sir" said Luke,
without taking the hand that was Of
fered him.
Il know they are" muttered the 9TH
err, that's no reason why you should
an old friends hand"
Then as Misunderstanding no longer
his burning hand in that of
his friend, Colonel Harris said quietly,
entreatingly:
It's only a temporary trouble, eh,
my boy? You a easily refute this
aoominable charge. and prove your IN
Il think not, SIR replied Luke. .I
refute the charge and my In
cen will be difficult to prove"
But you are mad. mani" retorted the
man holly. You are mad! and
are breaking a woman's heart!"
forgive me for that, sir. It
Is the greatest crime"
. Colonel Harris smothered a powerful
oath. Luke's attitude puzzled him more
and more. And his loyalty had received
such a succession of shocks today that
II would have been small wonder IL II
begun to totter at last.
He turned away without another
word. But at the door he paused once
.ore-in obvious hesitation.
Tnere's nothing else I can do for
your he asked.
Nothing, sir. Thank you"
"You-you were not thinking-of-"
OF what, sir ?" asked Luke.
Then as he saw the other mans eyes |
wandering to the drawer of the desk, he |
said simply:
or suicide, you mean, sir?"
Colonel Harris nodded. \
oh. no." rejoined Luke. And he
added after a slight pause: Not at
present"
What do you mean by that?"
i mean that / shouldn't exactly hang
Tor the murder of the Chaplain brick
/ shouldn't let it come to that.
am sorry I did not manage to get
way tonight. l thought they meant to
ct me-"
Il think they did mean to. Some
olunder suppose on the part of the
subordinates."
Il suppose so."
Well, Luke" said Colonel Harris