The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1913-07-10
Words of Love,

lCIt w uGlp. ne udI ucNcI SuSpSClSu
this, and yet he could not refrain al
together from experiencing a feeling
CT relief. Deeply as he sympathized
with her III this trouble, still the man
could but be conscious of those bar
rierS formerly existing between them
which this discovery had instantly
swept away. Now they could meet
upon q level, as mar and woman No
longer could rank Intervene; not even
the stain Of his own court-martial.
Possibly she dreamed OF what was
passing in his mind, for she suddenly
lifted her eyes to his.
Shall tell you?"
mo; not now; both your explana-
ton ard mine can wait" he replied
quickly. 81 can stand alone now
see," and he regained his feet, sway
ing slightly with dizziness, yet smiling
down at her as he held forth a hand.
Now you try it; take hold of me IN
til you test your limbs-that q an
ugly fall you got when l shot your
pony"
She Strengthened slowly, her cheeks
flushing in the keen air, her eyes
striving to smile back in response to
his challenge.
THAT was nothing" she protested,
tramping about. II only went down
into the snow, but my arms were
bound, and the pony fell OF my foot
it feels quite natural now"
Good. We shall have to tramp a
little way. In which direction did Du-
pcnt go?"
Across the ridge there; see, that
is his trail"
Then he never saw our horses out
yonder. That is one piece Of good
luck, at least. The sooner we get to
them the better. / have been guilty of
enough foolishness today to be careful
hereafter" He looked across at
Hughes body. 81 wonder If that fell
low meant to hit me? l never trust
ed him much. but / didn't expect that.
Did you see him ire?"
Yes, but 1t was 80 sudden I could
not even cry out. He was upon one
knee, and his revolver waved like this
as he tried to aim. Dupont saw 1t,
and jumped just as he pulled the trig-
ger"
Il thought so. The poor devil got
the wrong man."
why? Were these two enemies? %.
"They had been partners, stealing
and running cattle. Dupont had cheat
ed Hughes out Of his share, and there
was bad blood between them. I ran
across the fellow up on the Cimarron,
waiting for Dupont to come back to
his old range. Did you ever hear Du-
pont called by any other name?"
She shook her head Questioningly. ;
mo; wasn't that his real name?
The woman back there-wasn't she
his wife?" ,
"She was his wife. yes; but their
name was not Dupont. That was as
sumed; the correct one was Lee
Fevre."
lie Fevre! Why--why, wasn't
that the name Of the man you told me
about once?-the officer who brought
you those orders?"
HE is the same. I did not know
him at Dodge; not until Hughes told
me. He had changed greatly in ap-
pearance, and I only saw him at night.
But 1t was because l knew that I
failed to kill him here; l wanted him
alive, 30 l could compel him to tell
the truth"
She gave a little sob, her hands
clasped together. The mans voice
softened, and he took a step nearer,
bending above her.
And yet now I do not care quite as
much as / did,"
She looked Up quickly into his face,
and as swiftly lowered her lashes.
You mean you have found other
e~vidence?"
mo, but / have found you, dear.
You need not try, for l am not going
to let you get away. 1t is not the off,
GERS daughter and the enlisted man
any more. Those barriers are all
gone. / do not that I am indif-
ferent to the stain on my name. or any
less DESTROYS of wringing the truth
from Gene LIE Fevre's lips. but even
the memory of that past can keep me
silent no longer. You are alone In the
world now, alone and in the shadow OF
disgrace-you need me-"
He stopped, amazed at the holiness
Of his own words, and, in the silence
Of that hesitation, Molly lifted her
eyes to his face.
IT think I have always needed you"
she said simply.
He did not touch her, except to clasp
the extended hands. The loneliness
Of the girl. here, helpless, alone with
him in that wilderness Of snow, bore
In upon his consciousness with q sud-
denness that robbed him of all sense
of triumph. He had spoken passion
ately, recklessly, inspired by her
n~earness, her dependence upon him.
He had faith that she cared; her eyes.
her manner had told him this, yet
aver now he could not realize all that
was meant by that quiet confession.
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