Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1916-03-10
QlepEDN MIST
A ThLE OF CIVIL STQTL Y.
GRANDAIL PARRISH II
H sg!s'!.E z65-cDRHoDE5

| ventured to breach the subject which
l knew must be also uppermost In her
mind.
1T is an odd situation in which we
find ourselves" | began awkwarily,
my eyes on the ground. but hope
you-you will not feel embarrassed.
or-or fail to have complete conf
dence In me. IL have no wish TO
take any advantage: or-or assume
any authority"
stopped. unable to express the
thing desired to say, and the silence
seemed long. lifted my eyes. and
she was looking at me.
May ask you one question:"
"A dozen"
mo. the one is all You really be-
lieved those who attacked US were
Cowans menu"
II had no other thought, Miss No
reen."
Then your proposal was merely
made in the hope of thus protecting
me from insult?"
That was my sole thought at the
time" ] replied soberly. 1T was a
desperate chance. yet the only one APP
| parently left us. That is what |
wanted to say. to explain" went on
hastily. before she could interrupt Il
realize the serious mistake made. and
how embarrassing it 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
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-youl
wife was the only excuse ! could urge
lot SuCn ulSlOyalty.
And now you are sorry?"
lido not know" hesitatingly. "l
cannot decide. Where do you take
me?"
"Noreen." said soberly. struggling
to keep my head from touching hel
own, where it rested on the grass. II
is too late now to go back; to thinl
Of going back We cannot deny OF
conceal our marriage. since you have
openly acknowledged II, and we have
gone away together. There is onl!
one straight path left for US now
across the mountains to old Virginia.
IL know-and then?"
You must trust my honor. my dis
erection. We are friends, you say. ant
mean to prove worthy. My ORDER
will take me to Richmond; have yoI
either friends or relatives there?"
II am not sure. the war has mad,
such changes-but | hardly think an.
in whom l could confide."
Then we will find a way for you t,
join my mother; she Is in North Care
lima. out of the track of armies. Yol
will consent to go to herr"
'If you think 1t best. IL hav
never met your mother; perhaps"
You will be just as welcome:
will write her every detail. and sh
will be rejoiced to shelter you. Tn
only trouble is the necessary delay IL
volved by the war: the impossibiIit
: of your venturing to return to Gree
Briar until the conflict is over
She was silent long while, her eye
: cast down, her breathing noticeabl
!. rapid. waited. not knowing wha
else to add, and was about to propos
!. her lying down, when she spoke SUE
denly:
you mean our-our separation"
Certainly. That can be easily al
ranged as soon as the courts are agai
in session Possibly the ceremony wa
not even legal without witnesses, blu
$ under the circumstances, It had bette
t be dissolved in court Such actio
7 would remove all doubt from you
mind"
= "Yes-I suppose 50; you-you max
!. II very clear. And that would hav
I. to be done in Green Briar?-the-th
a action for divorced"
It AT Lewisburg; not necessarily. {
course, but supposed you would ratI
err have the facts made known Their,
+ so that your friends can realize all tn
F" conditions-the cause, / mean. Po
:, sibly you may not need to do this"
d Not need! Why7"
r "A soldier never knows what al
e other minute means; am soldier"
g She did not look at me. or NOV
:. although thought the hand resting O
:. the grass trembled.
= .
: