The Clovis news. [volume] (Clovis, N.M.) 1907-1929, 1912-02-22
CHAPTER XVII.

aroused me thoroughly to a sense Of
q situation.
You seem to derive much amuse
ment from q condition Of affairs al
most i~ntolerable to me" I said bitter
~. Il have always valued most highly
the friendship Of Mrs Brennan. but
this unfortunate occurrence will doubt
less end A."
She glanced up st me. her Iona
lashes wet but her dark eyes spark
ling with mischief.
"Oh, aho won't care so far as you
are concerned" she exclaimed lndif
~ferently. But suppose she will
think I am perfectly horrid. Wen. /
don't care II she does; she might
have waited and learned the truth
first. Wasn't her face a study? And
how shall I ever explain to Arthur *
that he viii understand I'm sure I
have got the worst OF It. Oh, Captain
Wayne, Is my hair all RULED up? !
know ! look like a fright You must
come in now. and we win explain to
Mrs. Brennan the whole matter. She
cannot help believing US both. while
know she would be so cold and
proud to me alone"
1 shook my head decisively. Per
haps It was better ended so; at least
possessed no courage just them to
face her indignation. She might but
deem we had c%oncocted our explana-
tiop, and would very likely receive It
with all the scorn she felt It deserved.
Besides, 1t was clear there was moth
ing / could do to aid them. / should
be now merely an unwelcome intru-
der. An escort was to be there short
ly to convoy them northward. and for
me to be found in their company by
Brennan would only inhame him and
add greatly to the embarrassment Of
his wife's position. Much as I might
long for immediate v%indication in her
sight, the plain duty Of true love was
to depart at once and permit time to
straighten out the tangle.
you must pardon me-" | fastened
to say, standing hat in hand before
her. but it would not be best for
me to intrude upon Mrs. Brennan aft
er her late reception. | merely halt
ed here In order to assure myself Of
your presence and safety. My men
are even now waiting for me a few
hundred yards away"
But | wish you to meet Arthur"
"Oh, l think not. Miss Minor. l feel
warm friendship for Lieutenant Cation
bat we wear different uniforms, serve
under different flags, and a meeting
here, both with armed forces behind
US. would naturally have to be a hos.
tile one. However the Lieutenant and
might consent to a temporary truce
his superior officer, Major Brennan
would not likely prove Of the same
mind"
Then you really must go?"
Unless you specially desire to wit
ness a cavalry skirmish in your from
d~ooryard, / certainly consider It best
and / held out my hand. Surely w
part as friends. and / may hope thaI
you will intercede in my behalf with
Mrs. Brennan"
She rose up impulsively.
How ridiculous; how supremely RI
diculousi Why. of course will
though don't suppose Edith really
cares very much. but she believed
would be highly proper to be shocked
/ don't think she likes you so verl
} well euyway, Captain Wayne. for sh'
never will talk about you"
With these cheering words ringing
in my ears. and feeling thoroughly de
feated IN every cherished hope.
strobe savagely down the long hill ant
mounted my horse, How roughly for
tune had suffeted me. to be sure. ant
how extremely small the inspiration
left Well, perhaps | deserved 1t 10
ever permitting myself to love on.
whom ! knew TO be the wife Of an
other. Doubtless she had seized upol
this slight pretext to be rid Of me
! and was already rejoicing over 1t
easy accomplishment
IN my agitation / forgot entirely th
presence Of Maria Rungay at tn
house. and ordering my men into sac
die prepared for departure withou
giving a thought to the little fello'
4 and his domestic troubles. chos
the road leading toward the norti
q west for although I had not asked ia
question / conceived IL highly propabi
that Brennan and his party would rid
D from the Federal calvary quarters q
Golfers Church, and ! had no desir
y to meet them They We're upon a
errand Of mercy Of far greater lmpo.
8 lance than my revenge;
As we swung along through th
heavily umbered land fringing on
o road. Bungay pressed his mule into
trot and finally succeeded ia rangin
up at my side. Eyen In my disturhe
d mental condition J was amused AZ hl
o unique style Of riding, although
would NOS wound him by laughing
P CTO BE CONTINunD)