The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1912-05-30
BY RANDALL PARRISH
COPYRIGHT. 1909. BY A. c MecLuRG co.

| among rocks and trees. until we tinall'
emerged upon the smooth grass liant
of the lower valley. The silence her,
was profound the brooding night seem
ing even more dense and lonely thar
upon the open ridge above | felt my
/ uncertain way forward until the mar
row road suddenly ended before a higt
! gate. This | succeeded in opening
| without much difficulty. and we fol
| lowed a grayeled driveway that led
circling TO the front of what appeared
! in the gloom to be house of consider
sble size. II was wrapped In dark
hess. AS | hesitated at the foot of the
steps leading upward to the front door
/ felt her extended hand touch my
shoulder
What are you going to say-how
explain my being here alone with
your"
| glanced back toward her. wishing
could read the meaning of her eyes,
the expression of her face.
II was merely intending to name
myself as Confederate officer,
friend Of Lieutenant Dunn. intrusted
by him TO bring you here for safety,
owing TO his having been suddenly or
dered out on special duty"
"And-and my accident2"
"Your horse stumbled In the dark.
ness and fell. In consequence of which
/ was compelled to convey you on my
own"
Hra n re
''Yes. that will do-that will be best
now: they need never know the whole
truth"
The expression of her face could not
be seen, yet knew she was leaning
slightly forward, as though seeking
vainly to decipher my features In the
gloom.
II feel that you have sufficient rea-
son to dislike me-" | began, anxious to
uncover. If possible. her true feeling.
II know | have. and yet | do not"
she exclaimed impulsively and as
though surprised at her own frankness.
II cannot explain why; l ought to ha
you for what you have done. Yet
all this trouble you have proved you
self kind. thoughtful. considerable. an
can only feel mortified. hurt and n
gretful at my present helplessness."
1T is very good of you to confess
even that"
II am simply accustomed to speak
ng the truth under all circumstances.
It is an unpleasant habit acquired in
childhood You are nothing to me and
never can be. | would do everything
n my power to thwart your present
purpose. / believe 1 could shoot you
Town If / were still armed. and |
know l would denounce you here and
low If there was any one at hand
Ible to make you prisoner We re-
main enemies, but-but In some un-
accountable way l cannot personally
Iate you"
''You mean 1t is the Yankee and not
he man you war against?"
II am certainly enlisted against
our cause. Nor have any real rea-
on to respect you otherwise"
You consider me guilty. then. of de-
berate treachery toward your
what was ii except treachery?
'ou came to us falsely wearing that
inform which we respect; you came
to be another man; you {
btained entrance to the sanctity of (,
ur home under an assumed name; /
on deliberately tricked me into {
lost unhappy and compromising po-
tion. Could any right minded wom- I
u ever forgive all this2 Is what you I
ave done justified even by Yankee s
thics?" |
NO" l acknowledged gravely. .All c
ne rest might be justified by the me- |
assities of war, but not the personal Y
Jury which ! have done you. Yet {
M going TO make that wrong as easy '
, remedy as possibly can. | am go S
ig away now the very moment can L
eel assured you are In the care of Q
riends. 1t is not at all probable we '
hall ever meet again. But first | de- '
ire to say this: You have appealed to G
he. have won my deepest admiration e
nd respect. ! cannot bear to feel. I
owever much it might be deserved, 0