The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1912-01-05

| respect not less keen than yours. In.
! deed SO sure am | Of the delicacy. the
refinement of your instincts. that
feel perfectly safe under this roof"
How so!' asked F1tz Hugh. sur
prised.
Il am the guest of that young lady"
Marx stood with nis arm outstretch
ed. his finger pointing TO Laura Fain,
Laura gave a glance at Mark as be
| spoke. which caught the eye Of Cap
! tain Fitz Hugh. 1t contained admira
tion. devotion. Fitz Hugh gazed from
one to the other without u word.
II need not explain further. cap
tain" Mark added. "A gentleman can
no, mistake my position; only a gen
tieman can understand It,"
"You mean. sir" said Fitz Hugh.
that | canno, bly enter this
house and profit or cause my country
10 profit by what | find e r without
the consent Of the inmates"
II do"
"Mrs Fain Is the acknowledged head
IT This house. Il she Ia evidently de-
eivpd But | concede to Miss Fain
the right to speak for her. | acknowi-
edge Miss Eain's right to hold me to
this secret. II any n has such q
right. But when Miss Fain shall have
been fully advised Of all the facts
Pardon NE: she knows all you
know
Then when Miss Fain shall have
duly considered the Interests Ut her
ountry | am quite sure she will give
Ter consent"
TIL. attention Of both men became
iXpd upon Laura. for 1t was evident
hat she would ~ called upon to make
decision bet her country and
Ter lover on the one hand and the de-
%enSeless Union spy on the other. Lau-
"A knew the sterling worth. the high
ense of honor and duty OF her lover.
She knew that II she held him to Sc
rery he would consider II evidence
hal she permitted her interest In the
,py 10 Overwheim her sense of duty.
and would he not attribute her protec-
ion TO something more tender than az
ordinary interesti Fitz Hugh realized
Ter position: indeed there seemed to
fash into both OF them the feeling that
ner decision would lie bet ween two men
her lover and the Federal spy. With
Mark 1t was ii question OF life or death.
Miss Fain-Laura." said Fitz Hugh.
speaking slowly and impressively II
,sk our permission to give up this i'm
)Ostor-pardon me. sir. for the plain
Tess of my language: II Ia essential
his spy. who desires to carry infOrma-
ion north 10 the detriment OF our
cuntry: who seeks the defeat Of our
ause-th- cause in which your broth
Ar ia every day risking his life: lastly
though this may be a matter of
small importance the cause for which
l.. your lover. would lay down my life
as | would lay 1t down for you. 1t
seems to me that II is a question be-
tween you duty and your inclination.
poes /, seem SO to your"
1T does"
Then tell me. may I send for q
yuard to take himy"
| Laura's eyes shOne ike those Of q
( iyress ut bay. In "a firm. clear voice.
abe said:
NO"
For q few moments there was the
stiffness Of death.
she has decided In your favor. SIR"
said Fitz Hugh. whose color left his
heck when Laura spoke the little
word that decided his and Marks fate.
You have nothing to fear from me-"
Then turning TO Laura:
II can understand the motive. thu
temptation. The act remains"
You may consider yourself released
from all ties with one whose act you
do not approve" said Laura.
"Be 1t So and he turned to go.
Mark sprang forward and seized
him by the wrist.
My God. this shall not be! You be-
iieve that this Is due to more than an
ordinary womanly interest In Miss
Fain for ME. 1t Is not 80. swear to
you. OIL the honor OF a gentleman and
a soldier. that Miss Fain has mani
tested no other feeling than one Of
commiseration for a man hunted for
his life"
Your words do you credit. sir. Miss
Fain. will you make my adieus to
your mother! And l leave II to you to
impart TO her whatever. II anything.
you may have to say as to the reason
for my farewell to you."
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