The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1912-08-01

She leaned back sgainst the dresser.
her cheek flushed. evidently struggling
for self control.
Are you not mistaken? ! had sup
posed my husband to he Sergeant King
OF Rey nolds battery"
I leaned toward her across the chair
arm. endeavorine to see into the depths
of her eyes. but she yelled them BE-
hind lowered lashes.
He was Sergeant King at the time
Of your marriage. yet think you have
no doubt as to who he 10 now"
II have not had a great deal at any
time" she said. looking At me directly.
although l could not be sure. The
night OF that unfortunate occurrence
you seemed to regret my predicamen(3
and expressed a desire to make ny
burden as light as possible. WouA II
not have been best when you came
here to have informed me % to your
IDENTIFY"
"Yes. II the relationship between ~
had been the same"
Had been the same! What Do y0u
meanf'
took a deep breath. mastering ny
courage to face whatever fate might
have in store.
This. Miss Jean." said Gravely.
my voice trembling in spite Of every
effort to hold 1t frm. "Sincs then
have learned to love you"
For moment her intense surprise
robbed her Of all power OF speech. her
round throat swelling. one hand press
ed upon her heart. So still was every
thing could hear q bird singing with
out and the rustic Of wind through the
leaves.
"You hnve learned to love me-meT
she faltered at last incredulously. Il
did not expect to hear you say that
Lieutenant King"
"Yet / have said It." insisted, ~
cause 1t is the truth. and 1t y tima. II
It not. that the truth should be known
between usf'
Her head dropped upon her hands.
her arm supported BY the dresser. and
she remained silent, her slight form
trembling perceptibly.
DO you blame me for what occurred
that night?'
She uplifted her eyes quickly. look.
ing frankly into my face.
You perhaps did the most natural
thing. although sincerely wish It had
never occurred. No. l do not blame
you; IL have never felt in that way
toward you. 1t Is strange. IL 1t not7"
straightening up and now looking me
again frankly in the eyes. There II
certainly every reason why I should
feel otherwise. I have no sympathy
with your cause; all love 10 connected
with the south and l am a thorough
rebel. Seeking to serve your flag you
did me as grievous an injury a. a
man could do woman. At first l
was angry. indignant. could have
killed you and felt my anger Just. 1
can never understand the change that
| came over me. for when we finally
parted that night we were almost
friends. l have never been able to
think Of you since as an enemy"
You have thought of me. them"
Gould l do otherwise? Sergeant
King certainly wrought havoc enough
to make immediate forgetfulness i'm.
possible. Then Lieutenant King ap-
peared-the artilleryman changed into
cavalry oflcer-but in voice and
manner continually reminding me of
the former. did not know you were
the same. but suspected 1t. wanted
to avoid you. yet that was impossible.
and l have been compelled to accept
your help. to trust and confide in you.
Not only am l personally indebted to
you. but you have served others who
are near and dear to me. l had al
most forgotten you were a Yankee.
except for the constant reminder of
your uniform. l even felt that we
were destined to friendship. in spite
Of all the barriers between us. but
now-now you have spoiled every
thing"
~? Howw
by your avowal-your expression Of
feeling toward me. You must have
spoken those words in Jest. and yet
they are not easily forgotten"
IN jestv' and 1 arose to my feet.
Indignant that she should even sug-
gest such a possibility Miss Dens-
low. you do not mean that: surely my
sincerity can be felt Perhaps ought
not to have spoken thus; 1t may be
you have no right to listen. But In
sist l have said no more than the
truth. l realize now that from tho
moment Of first seeing you while con-
versing with the old negro In the shed
on your fathers plantation, was un-
usually interested In you. That first
impression might. indeed, have passed
away had we not again been thrown
together upon terms Of peculiar init
| macy. A certain tie was contracted
between US which caused me to think
Of you even while We were absent
from each other. could not remain
Indifferent under such circumstances
could your
f-AA 49, II