The Dolores star. [volume] (Dolores, Montezuma County, Colo.) 1901-current, 1912-08-23

piece Of furniture In the opening. and
then. shading the bit OF candle. began
cropping my way down. ] had reached
the lower floor before the fiickerins
yellow rays revealed any evidence Of
her presence. Then ] saw girl lying
head down upon the table. My hand
touched her arm before she moved.
but then she faced me, wild-eyed. the
pistol cleaning In the candie-light.
Claire! Claire!" exclaimed.
startled at her sudden movement.
Surely you know me-"
For the instant she did not. her
eyes full Of terror.
"No! mol" she cried Historically
"oh. II cannot be! II 10 Q dream! You
-you--teli me who you are?"
caught her hand. the pistol fall
Ing to the floor. and placed the candle
stick upon the table.
1T Ia no dSeam, dear. am Allen
Lawrence. and ! have come for you
know ] look disreputable enough. hut
there has been fghting-surely you
know me now"
She caught her breath quickly,
clinging to me with both hands--heY
eyes softening as she studied my face.
"Allen--Ailen Lawrenoei" she re-
peated softly. "oh, I can scarcely be-
lieve It true. Let me feel Of you. -
] believe was going inssne--the
dark. the awful dark. and. and no way
out-no way out"
"Yes, yes, ! understand" whis.
pered. drawing her to me. II was hid.
den here once. remember. But II 10
over with now"
"But--how did you fnd a way 10
me? IL never thought until II was
all over that had shut myself in here
to die. was SO frightened. I Just
ran and hid. Oh. you cannot conceive
what had gone through"
She drew away from me. and again
hid her face on the table.
"Oh. but ! can. Claire" and I bent
over her. my hand fondllng her hair.
Il was there In the hall below. ready
even then to act In your defense. I
heard all that was said, saw all that
was DONE"
"You-you were there!" sobbing out
the words. "You saw me kill him?"
Yes. and had you delayed another
instant I should have done IT,"
"Then-then," she glanced up. tears
dImming her eyes, you do not blame
me? You do not think me wicked
wretch"
Il think you brave. noble woman"
I burst forth. allow could feel 9TH
erwisef Look up. little girl: ! want
to see your face. No. don't shrink
back from me. There 10 no cause I
know the whole story without your
speaking a word. You asked me to
come back to help you. and I came"
"Yes." she whispered. II know.
You have been so good"
Good! loved you. dear. From the
moment ! lifted you out Of the way OF
that mob In Philadelphia, I have loved
you. ! did not understand much that
occurred. but I have never doubted
you. Now ! realize the cause Of your
masquerade and know you were justi.
fed can bring you good news-Eric
10 not . traitor. but was = prisoner.
captured by Fagin. and held 1t Grants
request. We found him bound snd
under guard out yonder. ~ We ap-
preached the house."
And he 10 here now?"
yes; he was hurt In the fight, and
10 still unconscious. but win live"
His reputation"
rs safe. Washington believes he
brought him the news Of Clinton's
route Of march. and will never know
otherwise"
She arose to her feet. standing
straight and slender before me. the
fiickering light Of the candle on her
face.
Major lawrence" she began. II
wish to get out Of here-it seems like
. grave to me--but must speak FIRST.
Oh. am 20 glad have accomplished
what endeayored to do for my broth.
or. Captain Grant tried to make me
believe him q deserter, but ] would
not. When he failed to come back 10
me ~ he had promised. I could hardly
determine what my duty was. ] knew
his plans. his orders. and the thought
came that should carry these out
myself. We looked sufficiently alike
20 that this could be done with little
danger Of discovery. He had uni
forms concealed here. and felt driven
10 impersonate him. ] do not insist
that ] did right: ] do not know-only
u seemed right 10 me. Then-then'
her voice faitered. Il met you. again
and again. and ~ began 10 doubt
myself ! had no ons to confds In.
no one TO advise me. ] was simply
compelled 10 70 ahead, and keep ny
own secret. The only ones ! knew
could absolutely trust were our old
house servants.s
You doubted me-, svenf"
Eyes. ct Arst. but 200 must no,
blame ne. We met strangely; you
were . gentleman and IN ollcsr; !
felt surs Of this. and was tempted off,
times 10 tell you my story. But before