Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1914-12-12

hand, yet he made no answer for
some time. A vagrant breeze
swayed the lantern Until they sent
rosy streameTs of light fitting like
wraiths Of dead ambitions, checker
ing across his face. 81 wonder il
you are right" said the man after
a time. "My Godl never thought
of it like that"
continue. "You didn't look from the
other side. You were unjustly ac-
cused and Lnjustly condemned But
because Il few ,nortal men erred in
their judgment-did that give you a
right tC destroy your immortal man
hood and forsWear your divine birth
right of land :"
"You believe it was unjustly done
that ] was not guilty." he ques-
toned
eyes. Would | nave asked you to
me else? am an American girl,
lieutenant. | love my country. That
is why"
q" began Gafford, choked, and
paused. He forced himself to go on.
Don't say any more than just that
to me now-please," he begged her.
"You are making me see. While
have fancied myself victim, have
been utterly selfish-utterly blind.
AS ong as | was not guilty should
have been stronger than that. My
own weakness has made me what
am" He bowed his head in his
hands, sat so for a moment, then
dashed clenched fists to his sides and
raised a white, drawn face to the
light. "How much of my miserable
affair do you know" he asked.
"All of it," she told him. 81 told
you knew your father. | have
talked with him. When he knew
was coming here he half hoped,
think, that | might meet you. |
think your father likes me as much
as do him, for he told me all about
this thing. Lieutenant, he is grow
ing an old man."
"Don'tw he protested thickly. 1T
hurts, Miss McRae. | am the last
Gafford. Once dad was proud"
"Why don't you write to him ?"
she said softly.
Gafford rose and stood before her
in the glow of the lanterns, drawing
himself quite erect. "Shall | tell
you? ?" He spoke harshly. "Well,
then-lt is because / have gone too
low"
Low" Shiela drew back from
the confession with wide, question
ing eyes. Just what do you mean 2"
"'All hat the word MEANS" he re-
sponded in logged accents. 81 am
just what Yamata said. am a
h,,,,o I
rooms of resorts like the House of
Moon Faces. drink sake. | smoke
opium. | have no right to even look,
let alone talk, to you" Abruptly he
turned away.
Shiela rose and swayed to his side.
"Yet you came to me today anG saved
me--a foolish girl, from her folly.
And from instinct alone | trusted
you. Do you wish me to believe that
my intuition was at fault? Lieuten-
ant, man may do all you have men,
toned and yet win back. 1t is only
we women who are utterly lost if we
err-lost as | would have been-but
for YOU"
He swung back to face her almost
fiercely. "Do you mean that YOU
think could-win back ?" he asked.
She smiled. can American and a
Gafford? Yes"
~ wonder, wonderw said ;af-
ford. He sank back on the seat.
"Have you lost your love of coun-
try" she whispered.
81 lave denied her for years." he
~eplied.
UTbo+ ,Inp. rn,,as ,,,,, lox,o -. -
her wv tones told him. you denied
her because you were ashamed-of
yourself. 1t was the inner voice of
the real you which urged you to deny
the self which knew you worthy of
better things"
MY God" breathed the man.
'Oh, | am glad you came to see
meW Shiela rushed on. "Wher |
knew | had found you, and that it
was you who had saved me, ! was
glad-glad! | wanted you to come
are such babies. You we're unjustly
punished, and for years have sulked
like a little boy. But now it is time
to smile up your face. Sometimes
! think that the things we do, and
think we do of our own volition, are
really the working out of inscrutable
design. Perhaps | went to that dread
full place today just in order to meet
you and tell you about an old, white
haired man who loves his country and
his oy."
She paused with a break in her
voice.
The man beside her trembled. His
face twitched. Love of country"
he said hoarsely. at is great
thing. All these years have
been trying to kill it out. Tonight
you have made it live-you, the first
person in five years who has voiced
a belief i'm my innocence! am an
American, Miss McRae. That is the
first time / have said it in over four
years. love my country.
love her! Why, my people have
loved her, fought for her, died fer
her for years. 1t is born in me
bred in the bone. And l thought once
that |, too, would serve her. love
those stripes Of red and white.
Through all the years, when / have
met them in strange places, my heart
n