The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-07-10
MY LADY OF DOUBT.
CONTINUED from Page ThIrteen)

pered swiftly. There are British pa
trolls between here and the Delaware,
Quick. and I will have your horse unr
tied"
1 I'D as directed, feeling the value
Of the suggestion, and. a moment later.
to all appearance an officer Of Queens
Rangers, slipped through the thicket
Of trees, and took the reins from heI
hands.
~You VIM go straight back into the
house?"
eyes" she said obedient1y; then ez
tended her hand. "Goodby, Major
Lawrence. I suppose this ends our
acquaintance.
mot If I can avoid such fate" ]
EaDlied, holding her fingers closely. IF
Z 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
as old friends. Surely you cannot be-
neve me 30 ungateful as your words
seem TO imply"
"But ] deserve no gratitude" max
ing no effort to draw away, yet look,
ing into my face frankly. Perhaps
you have misunderstood. Is It not
possible for the women of these Colo
MES to sacrifice as well as the men in
the cause Of patriotism? You must
not believe that have done this mere
~ for your sake, Major Lawrence."
"Yet I would Hike to believe So" ]
Rnsisted warmly. You are the daugh.
ter OF Ioyalist."
"And Eric is the son Ola foxalist, {"
zugtdngly, land wears Continental
uniform. I am not privileged to go so
Tar, restrained by the limitations OF
sex, yet may be equally rebel"
Which would seem TO mean that all
POUR kindness toward me would have
been similarly given to any patriot
soldier"
"Why-why, yes; II think 50"
"And I do not, Mistress Claire; /
refuse to 80 believe" Her eyes
dashed up at me, and lost all re-
ytraint in their swift challenge. Il am
going to speak-1ust word, yet l
must give it utterance before ! ride
put into the dark, away from you. l
love you. It 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
2 back to camp, back to the campaign.
know not what the night, what the
morrow may bring. But l know for
ever l love you, and that IL l live
shall surely come back. Win you be
glad? VIII you promise me welcome ?"
could feel her tremble, yet there
was no shrinking In her face, no alarm.
"Oh, why were you compelled to
say thatl ! tried so hard not to let
you. II cannot make the promise.
L would not be right"
Not right"
mo, you do not know me. told
Eou before / was sham, fraud, not
what appeared to be. l will not ex-
plain even to you, and you must not
ask me. Only 1t 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 that?"
She threw her head back proudly,
making no attempt to withdraw her
hands.
~Yes. care; any woman would. It
b not true that I have served you
merely because you were a soldier Of
the Colonies. 1 think it was true, per
haps, at first, but-but later it was
different Oh! why do I say this!
Why do delay your departure by con-
senting to remain here in converse
tionl Major Lawrence, cannot you
realize that my only desire is to have
you get away safely?''
~Bu+ that is not my only DESIRE"
protested. 1T must be weeks, months,
before I can hope to see you again.
must go where am sent; we are upon
the verge of a campaign involving ex.
posture and battle. I may not even
come forth alive. Must I so without
4 word. without a hope? Claire, Claire
sweetheart, you have no right to turn
me away, because of some phantom OF
G Imagination"
'But It is not, It is terribly real"
Il care not; would stiu love yoU
N spite OF alls you may De spy
British spy-but the fact would NEAR
nothing to me. would trust you
Claire, your womanhood; I should
know that whatever you did was il
: accordance with your conscience, ant
be content-if you but love me. And
thank Godl know you do
as 'T-I-noi You cannot mean that!'
cay, but do. Have you supposed
& could not read the message Of thos,
- eyes? Oh, it may be dark. dear. Blu
there is a star-gleam, and when th'
lashes lift-they confess a Thousand
times more than your lips acknowl
edge. Yet insist on the lips! Nov
tell me-" and held her to me- "tel
me-"
"What-oh, major, pleased"
There are but three words Z
speak; whisper them, dear, and go.
Three words"
Such easy words; they are tren
bling on your lips now-I love you"