The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1912-08-10
By RANDALL PARRISH
COPYRIGHT. 1909. BY a. c MecLuRG & CO.


you will renounce all claim upon me
reIinquish all effort to hold me through
this form OF marriagey"
Yes | assented soberly. IL will
endeavor to act the part of a gentle
man"
There was moment Of silence in
which | looked at her. leaning against
the dresser with eyes lowered to the
door. That she was embarrassed
doubtful. was plainly evident. Sud
denly her eyes uplifted TO mine.
ASK me your question. and I will
! answer
do you love Colonel Dona!d?''
She drew II quick breath. but there
was no faltering in her steadfast
SAFE.
II do she said quietly. us that
an?"
That is surely enough" bitterly, las
it leaves me nothing further to hope
for"
is that not best? Would you wish
me to act less frankly"
There was something in the depth
OF those eyes ] could not fathom;
something that seemed to contradict
the speech of her lips and to lure me
on in unreasoning hopefulness. Per-
haps it was q trace OF coquetry in
her nature she was unable wholly to
restrain. Certainly ! was not insen.
sible 10 il.
Il accept your word, Miss Dens-
low" | answered quietly. because
must. as ] am pledged to it. and yet
| feel you are not entirely indifferent
toward me-that you do care
Her lips were compressed. her hands
clasping and unclasping nervously.
Have ever said otherwlse|
NO. but wish you might feel JUS
tilted I'm confessing. You say l am
not prisoner. 1 am strong enough
now to travel. and after what you
have already said there Is no reason
for me TO delay departure. The de-
mands of war are not likely to throw
us together again. yet wish | might
bear away with me some knowledge
that you do care. although 1t be ever
so little. The real love of any man
must have meaning to the memory
Of the one woman"
and 1t has-will ever have to me-"
There was an impulsiveness to these
words which sent my heart throbbing.
"How-how could l be different"
she went on. almost Indignantly. II
am Young. scarcely more than Il girl,
and this Is all new to me: hardly
comprehend the meaning of It. But
but | cannot forget. No tale or ro-
nance could be- stranger than the
way I'm which we have been thrown
together. You are n Yankee. an en-
envy to all have been taught to re-
we're, in warfare against my people.
your first act grievous wrong against
myself. and-and yet i can't hate you
I've tried, but | can't! Oh. 1t Is the
strangest thing. 1 even believe i
dread to have you 20 away, and yet
you must. and wish you to-
"Then ] shall go. but you tempt me
strongly"
"Tempt you?-how?-to what?
"Tempt me to urge that the war
will some time be over; tempt me, to
hope may be welcome when that
time comes"
Have said that?-have said
anything like that
mo; only that you are not indiffer-
ent: that you do care a little II is
not Your words. but your eyes. which
encourage me-"
"My eyes," They dropped an In.
slant then opened wide. gazing into
my own.
Yes: ! cannot explain. yet they
seem to say shall be welcome. even
while your lips deny" ] caught her
clasped hands In mine and separated
them. (which tell the TRUTH"
She made no effort to draw away
from me, but laughed lightly.
Neither. would be the safer guess"
she responded. ''for both are masks.
You cannot understand me. Lieutenant
King. and 1t is useless to try. do not
even understand myself. am a con-
tinual contradiction 1 don't In the