The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1912-02-22

duel?"
I bowed gravely. "T was permitted
to aid In defense Of this house only
by pledging myself to Major Brennan
afterwards"
But why need IL beat least now
that you have stood together as com
rades?"
81 fear" ! said quietly, that fact
will not count for much. We both
fought inspired by your presence"
"Mine!" | hardly knew how to in
terpret her tone.
Certainly; you cannot be ignorant
that Major Brennan's dislike is based
upon your friendship for me-"
But there is no reason," she stam-
mered. "He has no cause"
His reason | must leave him to ex-
plain interrupted, to relieve her evi-
dent embarrassment. His words, how
ever, were extremely explicit; and to
ignore them by departure is to i'm
peril my own reputation in both arm
les. would do so for no one else in
the world but you"
How can ever thank your" she
asked gravely. Captain Wayne, you
make me trust you utterly. and place
me constantly in your debt"
Then you realize that l am right?"
Yes" slowly, but making no ef-
fort to release her hands. yet is no
other escape possible?"
None within my knowledge"
And you must go?"
81 must go-unless you bid me
stay"
"Oh. | cannot: / cannot at such
cost" she cried, and could feel her
body tremble with the intensity of her
emotion. But, Captain Wayne, our
friendship surely need not be severed
now for ever? cannot bear to think
that it should be. am no cold, heart
less migrate, and shall never forget
what you have done to serve me. I
value every sacrifice you have made
on my behalf. Let us indeed part
now If, as you say, 1t must be SO;
yet surely there are happier days in
store for both OF us-days when the
men of this nation will not wear differ
ent uniforms and deem 1t manly to
fight and kill each other"
The great struggle will certainly
cease, possibly within very few
weeks" answered. greatly moved by
! her earnestness, but | fear the men
engaged in it will remain much the
same in their natures however they
may dress. / can only say this: Were
the path clear. | would surely find you.
no matter where you were hidden
How terrible it is that woman
must ever choose between such evils, "
she said ain st bitterly. THE heart
says one thing and duty another all
through life. 1t seems to me. | have so
much OF suffering In these last few
| months, so much of heartless cruelty,
that | cannot bear to be the cause of
any more You and Major Brennan
must not meet; but, Captain Wayne,
will not believe that we are to part
thus forever"
DO you mean that am to seek you
when the war closes?"
There will be no time when | shall
not most gladly welcome you.'
Your homer asked, wondering
still II she could mean all that her
wards implied. II have never known
where you resided in the north"
"Stonington, Conn" She smiled at
me through the tears yet cling
ing TO her long lashes. You may
never come, OF course; yet shall
always feel now that perhaps you will;
and that is not like final goodby
is it?"
/ bowed above the hands | held
and pressed my lips upon them. Fol-
the moment burst not speak. and
then-a voice suddenly sounded in the
hall below:
81 am greatly obliged to you, Miss
Minor; she is probably lying down
! will run up and call her"
We started as If rudely awakened
from a dream while a sudden express
sion OF fright swept across her face
"Oh. do not meet him, she begged
piteously. For my sake do not re
main here"
II will go down the back stairway,
returned hastily but do you indeed
mean It? May come to your"
Yes, yes but pray go now!"
Unable longer to restrain myself,
clasped her to me, held her for one
brief instant strained to my breast
kissed her twice upon lips which hat
no opportunity for refusal.
This world is not so wide but tha
somewhere in it shall again find the
one woman Of my heart" | whispered
passionately and was gone.
CHAPTER xxxIV.