The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1912-05-23

ten thar particular errund which ha
brought Lieutenant Dunn to this neigh
borhood Here was most awkwar
predicament. indeed-the prearrnnged
hurried wedding between him aud tina
young sweet faced girl. with the gra,
blue eyes. The pleasant memory o
her came before me instantly. tn
musical sound OF her soft voice. will
It's delicate southern accent. the pa
thetic pleading Of her girlish expires
sion. the cnrelessly rutIlcd hair. the in
dignant tone with which she haC
spoken of her coming lover
There appeared to me no path lead
Ing out from this labyrinth now. but
through the killing of some one: yet
every manly instinct within me revolt
ed against cold blooded murder. was
q soldier. hut never an assassin. And
surely there was yet an opportunity
for escape-the very lateness of the
hour, the urgent requirement for haste
on the part of all concerned. the pos
sibility that the necessary papers had
not been procured, the girls strong OPP
position to the ceremony.
We were at the steps. and could
| perceive the outlines of two black fig.
ures rising up to greet me II was the
| deep voice Of the elder DenslOw which
spoke. his Outsuetched hand warmly
grasping mine.
"The last minute. Calvert. my boy.
the last minute. So we are to march
at midnight. you say? Well. we can
make II with hard riding. and can
go now with relieved heart. know
ing Jean will be well looked after
while we are away. Come up. my boy.
The thieying Yanks have not left us a
light about the house. nor very much
of anything else However. we can
get along in the dark. reckon the
parson knows his lines without book.
Chaplain Mordaunt. you must be ac-
quainted with Lieutenant Dunn. as you
are both stationed at headquartPrsT
81 have seen him occasionally, al
though. as you may recall, he is but
newly assigned"
True; only your second week of
staff duty. isn't it, Calvert? Jean.
daughter"
A swift hope thrilled through me
that she might have already fed or
have hidden herself within the dark
ened house The hosptable colonel
had half forced me back into vacat-
ed chair and remained facing me-
standing shoulder TO shoulder with his
son on the upper step. The chaplain
remained seated close upon my left.
All about us was latticework thickly
covered with trailing vines. The only
way of escape would he by hingins
both father and son headlong to the
walk below, or perhaps a sudden dash
back into the unknown interior.
neither saw nor heard her as she
came forward When she answered
her slight figure suddenly appeared
standing between her father and the
chaplain, a mere indistinct outline. vet !
so womanly us to send sudden thrill
to my heart
Every well, father am here TO keep
my word with Lieutenant Dunn"
1t had come The urgent necessity |
for instant action. for immediate de- |
cision was upon me. Hnd-l failed. | |
saw the chaplain rise deliberately to
his feet, and struggled up also. fierce
ly gripping the back OF my chair. half
TO use it as weapon with
which TO sweep the steps before me
clear. Yet | hesitated. swayed by
doubt. Influenced by many emotions.
What was right2 What was best?
What ought | to dor Would even the
license of war exonerate me? The OPP
portunity for an easy escape lay clear
before me; merely few brief words
spoken In the darkness. the silent act
Ing of simple part. the riding away
together. the others departing unsus-
pectingly TO their several commands,
the leaving OF the uGinjured girl within
Easy reach of Falrview. which could
not be far distant. then the spur. the
liver, and Rosecrans
| could not distinguish a feature of
Ter ayerted face. but vagrant
breath of air blew a strand of soft
lair against my cheek. Could | sac ,
'ifice her. even for such cause?
as II II were the whisper of
he devil I'm my ear. came the con-
rolling thought-she despiSes the man ,
Dunn; she is being driven into this
marriage against her will. Possibly
his very fraud on my part will best /
erve her. will eventually result I'm her
nal happiness. We would he togeth-
r merely for m hour or two hours !
'heu she would be left safe In the
are OF friends. compTehending the
eceit. angry with me no doubt. yer
othlng the worse for the adventure. :,
t might even he that the marriage
ontracted under such peculiar cir :
would not be held as legal.
rhlle II II was divorce could be
host easily obtained on the ground of
raud
You VIII Join right hands"
How soft and small her hand was!
low cold to the touch. and how II
-embled beneath the clasp OF my fin !,
ers! Once the drawing voice ap-
cared TO ask me something. repeat
~ the question somewhat sharply
efore ! could force my dry lips into
10 few necessary words Of response.
hen heard her distinctly say. II
o" yet with an effort. ms though the a
ttqranpa naorlv choxed bar TIM, | 4,