The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-06-08

armed. have been afraid OF him
for months; he has acted like crazed
man. But you must go!" She caught
my arm. urging me toward the thicket
where the horse was concealed; then
suddenly paused with a new thought.
Take his hat and coat" she whis.
pered swiftly. There are British pa.
trolls between here and the Delaware.
Quick, and will have your horse un.
tied"
did as directed. feeling the value
Of the suggestion, and, moment later,
to all appearance an officer of Queens
Rangers, slipped through the thicket
Of trees, and took the reins from her
hands.
You will 60 straight back into the
house?"
eyes," she said obediently; then ex.
tended her hand. "Goodby, Major
Lawrence. suppose this ends our
acquaintance"
mot II can avoid such fate"
replied, holding her fingers closely. IF
{ believed that I am not sure but I
would return to the cell. 1t has been
a strange intimacy into which we have
been thrown: three days have made
us old friends. Surely you cannot be-
lieve me so ungrateful as your words
seem to imply"
"But I deserve no gratitude" max.
Ing no effort to draw away. yet look
Ing into my face frankly. Perhaps
you have misunderstood. Is 1t not
possible for the women of these Colo
niles to sacrifice as we'll as the men in
the cause Of patriotism? You must
not believe that have done this mere
ly for your sake, Major Lawrence"
"Yet I would like to believe so,"
insisted warmly. "You are the daugh.
ter Of q loyalist"
And Eric Ia the son Of n loyalist,'
laughingly, and wears Continental
uniform. l am not privileged to go 80
far. restrained by the limitations of
sex. yet may be equally rebel"
(which would seem to mean that all
your kindness toward mo would have
been similarly given to any patriot
soldier"
"Why-why, yes; IL think So"
And I do not. Mistress Claire;
refuse to so believe" Her eyes
flashed UP at me. and l lost all re.
: straint in their swift challenge. Il am
going to speak-just word. yet
must give It utteranoe before ride
out into the dark. away from you. I
love you. 1t makes no difference to
me where your sympathies may be In
this struggle, you have won my heart.
Look up. dear. and listen. I am going
back to camp, back to the campaign.
I know not what the night, what the
morrow may bring. But know for.
ever love you. and that II live
shall surely come back. Will you be
glad7 Will you promise me welcome?"
could feel her tremble. yet there
was no shrinking in her face. no alarm.
"Oh. why were you compelled to
say thatl I tried 30 hard not to let
you. IL cannot make the promise,
1t would not be right"
mot right"
mo. you do not know me. told
you before was a sham. fraud, not
what l appeared to be. I will not ex-
plain even to you. and you must not
ask mo. Only 1t hurts me to hear
you say what you have. and be COM
PEELED to return this answer"
You care then-you do not dis
guise that?"
She threw her head back proudly.
making no attempt to withdraw her
hands,
7 mn n.
ie not true that l have served you
merely because you were a soldier of
the Colonies. I think 1t was true, per-
haps, Mt first, but-but later it was
different. Oh! why do say thisl
Why do delay your departure by con-
senting to remain here in converse
ton! Major Lawrence, cannot you
realize that my only desire is to have
you get away safely?"
But that Is not my only DESIRE"
protested. 1T must be weeks. months,
before l can hope to see you again.
l am servant Of the Colonies, and
must go where am sent; we are upon
the verge Of a campaign involving ex-
posture and battle. l may not even
come forth alive. Must go without
word, without hope? Claire, Claire,
sweetheart, you have no right to turn
me away, because Of some phantom of
imagi' otion-"
"But it is not. it is terribly real"
Il care not: I would still love you
IN spite Of all; you may DO spa
British spy-but the fact would mean
nothing to me. l would trust you.
Claire. your womanhood; should
know that whatever You did was in
accordance with your conscience, and
be content-if you but love me. And,
thank God! know you do"
"I-I-no! You cannot mean that!"
"Ay, but I do. Have you supposed
I could not read the message Of those
eyes? Oh, 1t may be dark, dear. but
there is a star-gleam, and when the
1ashes 1ift-they confess a thousand