Yellowstone monitor., 1912-08-08
"a thousand Things aelayen II. les
DO WIS mr. fna,lt

Il
now, since this thing has begun. since
You have thus involved her and COM
promised her. and as imagine in some
ioui way have engaged her affections
now say. II must go on. When we
gel back to Laramie. sir. you shall
marry that girl. And then out you go,
anu never see her face again"
Colonel Meriwether." said I to him
hnaiIy, IF 1t would do her any good
would give up my life for her.
but her father can neither tell me
now nor when my marriage ceremony
runs nor can he tell me when to leave
the side of the woman who is my wife.
am subject to the orders of no man
in the world
You refuse to do what you have
planned to do? Sir. that shows you
As you are. You proposed toto live
with her here but not be bound to her
elsewhere"'
ut is not truer' I said to him in
somber anger Il proposed to put be-
| fore her the fact of my own weakness.
OF my own self deception. which also
| was deception Of her. propose to do
that now"
IF you did she would refuse to look
/ at You again"
Il know it, but it must be done. /
| must take my chances"
! And your chances mean this alter
| native either that my girls reputation
shall be ruined all over the country
all through the army. where she is
| known and Ioved-or else that her
heart must be broken. This is what
It means. Mr.. Cowles This is what
you have brought to my family"
Yes" l said to him slowly, this Is
what have brought"
"Then which do you choose, sir|' he
demanded OF me.
II choose to break her heart" / an
swered, because that is the truth. and
that is right | only know one way to
ride. and that II straight"
| lie smiled at me coldly In his frosty
beard THAT sounds well from you!"
he said bitterly. Ellen" he raised his
voice ELLEN. say, come here at
oncen
She came before US slowly, halting,
leaning on her crutch. A soft flush
shone through the brown upon her
cheeks | shall not forget in all my
life the picture of her as she stood.
Then, loyabie III her rags, beautiful In
her sayagery. the Eentleness Of genera
tions Of culture in all her mien in spite
1 cha
up and laid hcr hand upon her fathers
shoulder. one finger half pointing At
the ragged scroll of hide which lay
upon the ground before us. | loved her
-ah. how loved her then!
Il signed that father" she said gen
tly. 4 was going to sign 1t little by
little. letter each week. We were
engaged. nothing more. But here or
anywhere some time intend to marry
Mr. Cowies This have promised o.
| my own free will He has been both
man and gentleman. father love
him"
| heard the groan which came from
his throat She sprang back.
what" she cried You object:
Listen. | will sign my name now.
will finish IT, Give me-give me-
she sought about OH the ground foI
something which would leave mark
Il say have not been his, but will be
father. as like. when | like. now. this
very night if | choose. forever. He has
done everything for me. trust him
| know tie IL d man of honor; that
he''- Her voice broke as she looked a
my face
But what-what is it," she demand
ed brokenly.
Ellen. child. Afr Cowles has some
thing to tell you"
Then some one In q voice which
sounded like mine. but was not mine
told her-toid her the truth, whiet
sounded so like a lie Some one, my
self vet not myself. went on cruell.
blackening all the sweet blue sky 70
her. Some one-I suppose 1t was my
self late free-felt the clamp Of III
iron yoke upon his neck.
| saw her knees sink beneath her
, but she shrauk back when wouft
have reached out an arm 10 HeE as "
| old.
Il hate that woman." she blazed
Suppose she does love you. Do no
, love you more! Let her lose-som
one must lose" But the next momen
/ saw her face change.
; 1T Is not that YOU loved anothe
girl" she whispered but that yo1
have deceived me-here. when | wa
in your power Oh. it was not right
: How could you? Oh. how could you
John Cowles?f
. Then once more she changed. Tn
> fame OF her thoroughbred soul cam
! back to her Her courage saved he
. from shame. Her face fnshed. sh
stood straight Il hate you!" she crie'
r to me- Go. will never see you an
! more
/. Still the bright sun shone on. A III
tie bird triIlesi in the thicket near.
3 Continued next week.