The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1912-08-10
By RANDALL PARRISH
A Fiaaieah Anniversary \
COPYRIGHT. l9o9. BY A. c MecLuRc & co.

with cause you Will! With cause
you will u all claim upon me.
relinquish all effort TO hold me through
this form OF marriage?"
"Yes," | assented soberiy. :" viii
endeavor to act the part of a gentle
man"
There was a moment of silence In
which | looked at her. leaning against
the dresser with eyes lowered to the
floor. That she was embarrassed.
doubtful. was plainly evident. Sud
denly her eyes uplifted to mine.
".Ask me your question, and | will
answer"
DO you love Colonel Donaldr'
She drew a quick breath. but there
was no faltering In her steadfast
gaze.
Il do" she said quietly. as that
allr"
That is surely enough" bitterly. "as
1t leaves me nothing further to hope
for"
as that not best? Would you wish
me to act less frankly?"
There was something in the depth
of those eyes | could not fathom:
something that seemed to contradict
the speech of her lips and to lure me
on in unreasoning hopefulness. Per-
haps 1t was a trace of coquetry in
her nature she was unable wholly to
restrain. Certainly l was not insen-
sible to Ii.
Il accept your word, Miss Dens
low" answered quietly. because |
must. as | am pledged to it. and yet
| feel you are not entirely Indifferent
toward me-that you do care"
Her lips were compressed. her hands
clasping and unclasping ~nervously.
Have | ever said otherwise!"
NO. but l wish you might feel jus
tilted in confessing. You say | am
not a prisoner. l am strong enough
now to travel, and after what you
have already said there is no reason
for me 10 delay departure. The de-
mands of war are not likely 10 throw
us together again. yet | wish | might
bear away with ME some knowledge
that you do care. although it be ever
so little. The real love of any maj
must have meaning to the memory
of the one woman."
And 1t has-will ever have to me"
There was an inpulsiveness to these
words which sent my heart throbbing
"How-how could ! be diferent?'
she went on. almost Indignantly. Il
am young. scarcely more than n girl.
and this is all new TO me; I hardly
comprehend the meaning of it, But
but | cannot forget. No tale of 70
nance could be stranger than the
way In which we have been thrown
together. You are n Yankee. an en-
envy to all | have been taught to re-
we're. in warfare against my people.
your first act a ~grieyous wrong against
myself. and-and yet l can't hate you.
I've tried. but | can't. Oh. it Is the
strangest thing. ! wen believe ]
dread to have you go away. and yet
you must. and | wish you to-"
"Then l shall go. but you tempt me
strongly"
Tempt you?-how?-to whatT"
Tempt me 10 urge that the war
will some time be over: tempt me TO
hope l maj be welcome when that
time comes"
Have / said t~hat?-have l said
anything like that:"
No: only that you are not indiffer-
ent: hat you do care a little. II is
not your words. but your eyes. which
encourage me-"
My eyes,. They dropped an in
slant. then opened wide. gazing into
my own.
yes; l cannot explain. yet they
seem 10 say ! shall be welcome. ever
while. your lips deny" | caught her
clasped hands in mine and separated
them. which tell the TRUTH
she made NO effort 10 draw AVA
| from me. but laughed lightly.
Neither. would be the safer guess"
she responded. flor both are masks.
You cannot understand me. Lieutenant
| King. and II Is useless TO try. ] do not
even understand myself. | am a con-
tinual contradiction l don't in the