The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1912-10-31
have turned back at LIE Pas II you

| ulIH ~ Unut.TStdHu Will Mic uuu
meant to say. In an instant Rowland
was at her side. Once more his old.
resolute fighting blood was up. Firm
~ he took her hands again. his eyes
compelling her to look up at him.
"If don't go tomorrow-they will
kill me-" he completed. repeating the
words of her note to him. 'Now. II
you are going to be honest with me.
tell me this-who is going to kill me.
and why?"
He felt convulsive shudder pass
through her as she answered.
II also said that would not lie to
you again. II can not tell you the
truth | will tell you nothing. It Is
impossible for me to say why your life
is in danger"
But you know?"
YES"
He seated her again in the chair be-
side the table and sat down opposite
her.
"Will you tell me who you are"
She hesitated, twisting her fingers
nervously in silken strand Of her
hair.
"Wi!l your he persisted.
"If tell you who am" she said at
last. you will know who is threaten
ing your life."
He stared at her in establishment
"The devil. you say" The words
slipped from his lips before he could
stop them. For second time the girl
rose from her chair
"You will go?" she entreated. "Yon
will go tomorrow"
Her hand was on the latch Of the
door.
"You will goY'
He had risen and was lighting
cigar over the chimney of the lamp.
Laughing. he came toward her.
"Yes, surely l am going-to see you
safely home" Suddenly he turned
back to the lounge and belted on his
revolver and holster. When he re-
turned she barred his way defiantly.
her back against the door.
You cannot 60"
"Why?"
"Because"-he caught the frightened
autter of her voice again-"because
they will kill you"
The low laugh that he breathed in
; her hair was more Of joy than fear.
Il am glad that you care" he whis-
pered to her softly.
You must co." she still persisted.
with you, yes" he answered.
"No, no: tomorrow. You must so
back to La Pas-back into the south.
Will you promise me thatT'
Perhaps" he said II will tell you
SOON" She surrendered to the deter
. minatfon in bis voice and allowed him
to pass out into the night with her.
Swiftly she led him along path that
ran into the deep gloom Of the balsam
and spruce. He could hear the throb-
bing of her heart and her quick. ex-
, cited breathing as she stopped. one Of
her hands clasping him nervously by
! the arm.
'1t is not very far from here" she
whispered. "You must not go with
me- If they saw me with you at this
hour He felt her shuddering
against him.
"Only little farther" he begged.
She surrendered again hesitatingly.
and they went on more slowly than
before until they came to where few
faint lights in the camp were visible
ahead of them.
"Now-now you must 60"
Howland turned as If to obey. In
an instant the girl was at his side.
"You have not promised" she en-
treated. "Will you go-tomorrow?
In the luster of the eyes that were
turned up to him in the gloom How
land saw again the strange sweet pow
er that had taken possession Of his
soul 1t did not occur to him in these
moments that ne had known this cir
for only few hours: that until tonight
he had heard no word pass from hel
lips. He was conscious only that ir
the space Of those few hours some
II thing had come into his life which
he had never known before. and :
; deep longing to tell her this. to tak'
!! her sweet face between his hands Il:
they stood in the gloom of the fores
and to confess to her that she had be
= come more 10 him than a passing II
. = ZION in strange wilderness. filed him
He crushed her hands once more Il
his breast as he had done on the Grea
: North trail. holding her so close tha
. be could feel the throbbing Of he
! bosom against him. He spoke n
word, and still her eyes pleaded witt
him to go. Suddenly he freed one 0
his hands and brushed back the thicl
, hair from her brow and turned he
/. face gently until what dim light cam
down from the stars above glowed i
the beauty Of her eyes. In his ow'
face she saw that which he had no
dared to speak. and from her lip
!, there came a soft little sobbing cry.
, mo. have not promised. and ! wi
9 rot promise" he said. holding her fac
;, % that she could not look away fror
him "Forgive me for--for-doin
this And before she could move
, caught her for a moment close in b
: !. arms. holding her so that be felt tt
. quick beating of her heart against b
;, own. the sweep Of her hair and breat
;, in his. face This Is why | will NJ
;. go back" he cried softly. 1T Is b
; cause | love you-love you
He caught himself. choking back Il
- words, and as she drew away fro'
him her eyes shone with glory th'
!. made him half reach out bis arms
:, her.
/. "You will forgive me" he begge
), 81 do not mean to do wrong. On
you must know why ] shall not