The state herald., 1913-01-24

"And Eric is the son Of a loyalist."
laughingly, "and wears Continental
uniform. am not privileged to go 30
far, restrained by the limitations of
sex. yet may be equally rebel"
(which would seem to mean that all
your kindness toward me would have
been similarly given to any patriot
soldier"
f"Why-why. yes; IL think So"
"And l do not. Mistress Claire;
refuse to SO believe" Her eyes
flashed up at me, and l lost all re-
straint in their swift challenge. 81 am
going to speak--iust a word. yet !
must give 1t utterance before | ride
out into the dark. away from you l
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. | am going
back to camp, back to the campaign.
know not what the night, what the
morrow may bring. But ] know for
ever love you. and that If live
shall surely come back. VIII you be
glad? VIII you promise me welcomeY
could feel her tremble. yet there
was no shrinking In her face, no alarm.
ooh. why were you compelled to
say that! ! tried so hard not to let
you. IL cannot make the promise.
1t would not be right"
Not right"
mo, you do not know me. | told
you before was n sham. a fraud, not
what appeared to be. | will not ex-
plain even to you, and you must not
ask me. 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.
Yes, / care; any woman would. II
is not true that I have served you
merely because you were soldier OF
the Colonies. | think It was true, per
haps, at first, but-but later 1t 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. at must be weeks, months,
before ! can hope to see you again
am a servant Of the Colonies. and
must go where I am sent; we are upon
the verge OF campaign involving ex-
posure and battle. | may not even
come forth alive. Must | 20 without
word, without hope? Claire, Claire.
sweetheart, you have no right to turn
me away, because Of some phantom OF
Imagination"
But II is not, Il is terribly real
II care not; would still love you
In spite OF all; you may be spy-a
British spy-but the fact would mean
nothing to me. 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"
|
"Ay. but ! do. Have you supposed
could not read the message OF those
eyes? oh, II may be dark. dear. but
there is a star-gleam, and when the
lashes lift-they confess thousand
times more than your lips acknowl-
edge Yet insist on the lips! Now
tell me-" and I held her to me. tell
me-"
"What-oh. major. please!"
There are but three words to
speak; whisper them, dear. and go" ="
Three wordsf
Such easy words: they are trem'
bling on your lips now--I love you"
But II do not: II they are false.
Hush! There is some one on the We
randa-Seldon must have returned"
"All the more reason why you
should speak quickly" ! whispered.
without releasing her.
"wili you 90. thenG A, oncc'"
81 pledge my word"
She erow deep breath. her eyes
shadowed. but | could hear the swift
pulsing OF her heart
TIT will mean nothing-nothing. ="
"of course: only memory to dream
over"
Her iashes lifted. her head tilted
back upon my shoulder. For bare
instant | gaSed down into the depths
"Then-I WILL love youl"
with the words kissed her. press
Ing my lips to hcrs: nm instant they
clung, and felt the pressure OF her
arm. the hot blood rioting through my
veins.
Sweetheart" whispered, sweet.
heart"
mo. mol" and she thrust me from
her. "You forget. nm not that You
must not think II even, See. that man
Is coming down the steps. Hc will
discover Captain Grant. and II will be
too late-oh. 30. major. please gol"
turned without another word. fully
realizing the danger. the necessity OF
action. Her hand touched mine ms !