The Washington times., 1913-02-06


vim
Il will kin him. roared the Macdon-
Nay" said I: he is mine"
Then he is to be one of you" chuck
led Bordeaux. And the maid?'
She is mine.' said the chieftain.
1t was on my tongue TO say SO be il.
and may you have joy with her" but
the thought came TO NE that il was all
a lie. II could not be true. Yet, had
she not loved young Jamie but a year
ago? Was not her weakness the love Of
fnery and name? Had the embers OF
that old love been famed aglow? Or
was IL the embers Of my old Jealousy?
Heaven knows / was Jealous fool:
but the memory of young Jamie, and
what I had suffered for her sake. and
the thought OF her smile as she lay in
the arms Of this drunhen chieftain-sll
spoke Of the tickle actress who could be
as loyal 10 others in my absence as she
was Il me In my presence. Yet 1t was
hard to believe that the lass OF the
bsnnocks could be such a serpent
| said nothing in protest against the
chieftain s claim. But / would be there
bT the elms. trusting TO ehaven and by
manhood TO acquit NE in the right. II
L could speak with her for a moment
] would - ". ds / had always known,
whether she was true or false. Yet
would her word cure this poison bite.
when the very cure was the poison it.
self? No. | would DC b. the elms at
the appointed time, and II she came
with hlm-then I would know.
Il will be there. Macdonald" I said.
Heaven knows IL Is rot in nv heart
to kill him nor yet TO begrUdge you the
killing: but ] would first know il this
thing be true
] arose and walked to tho tayern-door
Il will he here 81 t.:e Thistle" / said.
over ",T shoulder, as Z SPOKE I saw
a look, hdf Of pity. half amusement.
on dr '-ce OF BORDEAUX II ,nrssed
me be'""G all things thai another
should SO sec into NY mind. / flung
myself into the street and began 10
walk simlessly. tortured bv rage and
love and jealousy.
| hated her. | loved her. despised
her. worshiped her. and on; OF the
tangle Of emotions came a great snaH-
ing, uncOmprohendinc pain. 7 fell that
young Jamie WAS mUIe worthy Of her.
for so ono feels Of him .yEo wins the
love one coveted. No logger did | love
Bordeaux. lie was not my friend bIyI
a sneerinG onlooker. The Macdonald
pitied, as ] pitied myself, and loved
him almost with feeling Of kinahip
remember giving Two grosts 10 the
ferTyInan at the riverside and recover
ing the dirk which had once vowed TO
sink IN her throat. ] know not why /
wished to have IL now, save that having
70. the white heat OF my heart slowly
dulled into hard coldness and indif-
ference.
Hours later. when the blush. wintry
dusk was upon the town. ! returned TO
my lodginG. The Thorntons' sorrow
seemed only itting part OF the curse
that had fallen upon me and all that
surrounded me. went to my little
room, ana there ! found, lying On my
bed, a sealed ieter.
II was addressed TO me in the straggly
letters which hsriposs and had
learned out of the old Bible. The sight.
succeedinp the memory. stirred all my
love again, and ] came as near TO tears
as bsfits man. Ii was some time be-
fore dared break the seal and read the
letter. for something told me that the
whole of my life and love hung by Il.
This is what II contained, although
written I'M Gaelic:
RoTie--You have hurt me sore, and
my love is as a stricken thing. How
was ! TO know you had come from the