The Red Cloud chief. [volume] (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923, 1915-12-16
Qlep[DN MIST
A TAIf or CIVIL STRIFE 7.
6cRANDALL PARRISH n
ILLUSTRATIONS :ll:,;I| 2&{-cDpHoDE5

lieved those who attacked us were
Cowan's men7"
II had no other thought, Miss No.
reen."
Then your proposal was merely
made In the hope OF thus protecting
me from insult2"
THAT was my sole thought at the
time" replied soberly. 1T was q
desperate chance. yet the only one ap-
parcntly left us. That Is what I
wanted to say, to explain" went on
hastily, before she could interrupt. 81
realize the serious mistake made. and
how embarrassing II must all be to
you. But you must believe me a
gentleman. ! would never have spo.
ken one word; never have made any
claim upon you. Miss Noreen. ] real.
lie that ] have no right"
you may call me Noreen," she said
simply. I'VE have been friends, and
| think we will always be. do trust
you, and believe In you; only ] wanted
TO understand fully your motive. do
not blame you, nor myself: we did
what seemed best at the time. and
now we must meet the issue as we
best can. Perhaps | should not have
said what did back there In Lewis.
burg. ! had no time in which to con.
slider. and my only thought then was
to Justify my action In aiding your
escape. My-my being your-your
Nlifa tha nplx, \
for such disloyalty"
And now you are sorry?"
do not know" hesitatingly. 81
cannot decide. Where do you take
me?"
"Noreen." said soberly. struggling
to keep my head from touching her
own. where It rested on the grass. ut
Is too late now to go back; to think
OF going back. We cannot deny or
conceal our marriage. since you have
openly acknowledged II. and we have
gone away together. There Is only
one straight path left for us now
across the mountains to old Virginia.
II know--and Them"
You must trust my honor, my dis.
erection. We are friends. you say. and
l mean to prove worthy. My orders
Will take me to Richmond; have you
either friends or relatives there?"
IL am not sure. the war has made
such changes-but hardly think any
I'm whom ] could cOnfide."
Then we will find way for you to
Join my mother; she Is In North Caro-
lima. out Of the track OF armies. You
will consent to go to herr"
III you think It best. IL have
never met your mother; perhaps"
"You will be just as welcome; I
will write her every detail. and she
will be rejoiced to shelter you. The
only trouble Is the necessary delay in.
volved by the war: the impossibility
OF your venturing to return to Green
Briar until the conflict is over"
She was silent a long while, her eyes
cast down. her breathing noticea bly,
rapid. waited. not knowing what
else to add, and was about to propose
her lying down. when she spoke sud
denly:
you mean our-our separation?"
Certainly. That can be easily ar
ranged as soon as the courts are again
In session. Possibly the ceremony was
not even legal without witnesses. but
under the circumstances. II had better
be dissolved In court. Such actor
would remove all doubt from your
| mind"
"Yes-l suppose so; you-you make
II very clear. And that would have
to be done In Green Briar?-the--ths
action for divorce?"
| AT Lewisburg; not necessarily, q
course, but supposed you would rath
er have the facts made known there
so that your friends can realize all tn,
conditions-the cause. ! mean. Pos
sibly you may not need to do this"
Not need! Why?"
"A soldier never knows what an
other minute means; l am soldier"
She did not look at me. or move
although thought the hand resting OF
the grass trembled
Il believe ! will lie down." she sal,
finally. us that the place you hav
chosen, beyond those trees?"
Eyes: let me help you up; the blar
kets are both yours. shall not nee
any"
stood and watched her move acros
through the mingled shade and sur
until her slender form finally disaI
peared behind the screen OF under
growth, Once she had glanced abou
occurred suddenly. but she did nc
speak. was left alone.