The Southern herald., 1913-08-01
coH0HicHT 1872 BY A.c.Mclueo a ca

Aei III Ills trouble, still the man
could but be conscious of those bar
rlers formerly existing between them
which this discovery had Instantly
swept away Now they could meet
upon a level, as man and woman. No
longer could rank intervene; not even
the stain Of his own court.martial
Fosslbly she dreamed Of what was
passing in his mind, for she suddenly
lifted her eyes to his.
Shall tell your"
mo; not now; both your exp,ana.
ton and mine can wait" he replied
quickly Il 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 1t; take hold of me un-
I'll you test your limbs-that was an
ugly fall you got when | 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. Il only went down
into the snow, but my arms were
bound, and the pony fell on my foot
1t feels quite natural now"
Good. We shall have to tramp a
little way. In which direction did Du.
pont 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. II wonder If that fel.
low meant to hit me? l never trust
ed him much, but l didn't expect that.
Did you see him firc?"
Yes, but it was so 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 it.,
and jumped just as he pulled the trlg-
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. l 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 manner"
She shook her head questioningly.
mo; wasn't that his real name?
The woman back there-wasnt she
hiR wife?"
"she was his wife, yes; but their
name was not Dupont That was as.
sumed; the correct one was LIE
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. l did not know
him at Dodge; not until Hughes told
me. He had changed greatly in ap-
pearance, and l only saw him at night
But 1t was because l knew that /
failed to kill him here; l wanted him
alive, so 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 | do not care quite as
much as l did"
She looked up quickly into his face,
and as swiftly lowered her lashes.
you mean you have found other
evidence?"
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 mean that / am indif-
erent to the stain on my name, or any
ess desirous Of wringing the truth |
rom Gene lie Fevres lips, but even
he memory Of that past can keep me
iilent no longer. You are alone in the
world now, alone and in the shadow of
lisgrace-you need me-"
He stopped amazed at the boldness
u his own words, and, in the silence
II that hesitation, Molly lifted her
'ye5 to his face
81 think have always needed you,"
he cGid simply
He did not touch her. except to clasp
he extended hands The loneliness
+ the girl, here helpless, alone with
in In that wilderness Of snow, bore
n U'Hnp,hts sciousness with sud
q that robbed him of all sense
ph He had spoken passion