Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1916-02-05

No. the one is ell. You really be.
neved those who attacked us we're
! Cowan's: men?". IL"
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
7 desperate chance, yet the only one ap,
parently left us. That is what
wanted. to say: to EXPLAIN went on
hastily. before she could interrupt ~
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, l real
lie that I.have no right. .:.t'..
You may call me Noreen, "she said
simply. I'VE have been friends. and
think we will always be. l. 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
/ row we must meet the issue as we
best can. Perhaps | should not have
! said what | did back there ia 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
wife was the only excuse l could urge
for such disloyalty"
! And now you are sorry?" -:
lido not know" hesitatiugly. 81
cannot decide, Where dc you take
me?" 80
-.."Noreen," l said soberly. struggling
! to keep my head from touching her
own, where it rested on the grass. sit
is too late now to so back; to think
Of going back We cannot deny or
conceal our marriage. since you have
openly acknowledged it, and we have
gone away together There Ia 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
in whom I could confde." s'.'.'.
Then we will find a 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. -.
IF you think it best: IL have
never met your mother; perhaps"
you will be just as welcome;
will write her. every detail, and she
will be reioiced to shelter you. The
only trouble is the necessary delay in
volved by the war; the impossibility
of your veuturing to return to Green
Briar until the conflict is over"
She was silent long while. her ewes
cast down, her breathing noticeably
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
III session. Possibly the ceremony was
not even legal without witnesses. but
under the circumstances, it had better
be dissolved in court Such action
would remove all doubt from your
mind" j
Yes suppose so; you-you make
It very clear. And that would have
to be done in Green Briar?--the-the
action for divorce?" -. = .."...i
AT Lewisburg; not necessarily, Of
course, but supposed you would rattf-
er have the facts made known there.
so that your friends can realize all the
f: conditions-the cause. j.: mean: Pos
sibly you may not need to do this"
Not need! Why?" 49,
"a soldier never knows what an
Other minute means; l am a soldier. ~. 1
she did not look. at me. or move:
although Thought the. hand resting on
the grass trembled
Il believe ] will lie down" she SAID
finally. rs that the place you have
chosen, beyond those trees u.
yes; let me help you up. the blan. /
kets are both yours. L.shall not ne ed I
any" ....'.. .':.,":: -;
stood and watched her move across !
through the mingled shade and sun. I
until her slender form finally diaap- !
peared behind the screen OF under
growth Once she had glanced about:
pausing as though some thought had |
occurred suddenly. but. she did not
speak. l was left alone.
CHAPTER XIII.