The enterprise-recorder., 1912-06-07
NV Lady of the North.
Copyright by Randall Parrish.)

acclaimed emphattcally, Il tell you
mats mighty fins woman. Blanc
me. II she didn't face us like
queen"
No one answered, and without CT
hanging another word we walked to-
yether to the house. There found
ths remnant Of my troop standing
beside their horses, chatting with
dozen idle Yankee cavalrymen who
we're lounging on the wide steps.
The time had come when [ must
ssy final farewell and depart Not
tbe slightest excuse remained for fur.
her delay. | dreaded the ordeal but
no escape was possible. and eu.
tered the house for what | well knew
ras to be the last time. Ny mind
ras gravely troubled. knew not
what 70 expect. how far might ven.
lure TO hope. Why had she desired
10 SEQ me again Surely the public
reason she offered could not be- The
real one. Had she only been free,
maid whose hand remained her
lwn TO surrender AZ she pleased,
should never have hesitated, never
invc doubted her purpose, but now
hat could not be.
As knocked almost timidly at the
closed library door gen-le voice
said, Come" and entered my heart
lhrobbng like A frightened girls
She stood waiting me- nearly m the
center Of that spacious apartment.
dressed in the same light rpiment she
had worn without and her greeting
was calm and friendly. yet -lnged by
= proud dignity. [ cannot describe
believed for an instant tha, we were
done. and my blood raced through
NY veins In sudden expectancy, then
ny eyes Tell upon Mrs Minor com.
foriably seated in an armchair be.
ore the fire, and I realized that she
was present to restrain me from for.
getfulness- But In very truth my
ady hardly needed such protection --
her speech, her manner, her proud
'onstralut told me- at once most plan.
ly that no existing lie between Us
ndu NuuDCu Jul ulcclluB,
Captain Wayne" she said softly,
her high color alone giving evidence
IT any memory Of the past, "l scarce
y thought that we should meet again,
vet was not willing to part with you
rnder any misunderstanding. [ have
learned from Lieutenant CatQl The
full particulars OF your action in con
nection with Major Brennan. | wish
YOU to realize that | appreciate your
efforts to escape hostile meeting
forbearance on the field It WAS in
Iced a noble proof OF true courage.
May I ask why did you Arc IN the
iir3"
Had she not held me 80 away from
her by her manner | should have then
md there told her all the truth. As
It was I burst not
y felt convinced that II my bullet
reached Major Brennan it. would in
lure YOU. [ preferred not 10 do that. ,
81 believed It was for my sake you
made the sacrifice" She paused then
isked in yet lower tones Was my
name mentioned during your conten-
tion--I mean publicly"
ut was not, Cation alone is aware
refrained because Of tho reason |
have already given you
Your wound is not serious"
TOO insignificant to be worthy Of
mention"
She was silent, her eyes upon the
carpet, her bosom rising and falling
with the emotion she sought in vain
10 suppress.
II thank you for coming TO me"
abe said frankly. II shall understand
II all better, comprehend your motive
better, for this brief talk. Whatever
YOU may think of me In tho future
and she held out her hand with some
thing of the old frankness in the ges-
ture, do not hold me as ungrateful
for a single kindness you have shown
me. have not fully understood you,
Captain Wayne; indeed, doubt II
do even now, yet am under great
obligations which | hope some day 20
be able to requite, at least IN part
"a thousand times they are already
PAID exclaimed, eagerly, forgetting
for the moment the presence of her
silent chaperon. you have given me
that which is more than life
DO not, Captain Wayne she in
terrupted, her cheeks aiiame. u
would rather forget. Please do not;
did not send to you for that, only
10 tall rnI1 lrnnu and nndnrRlnOd