Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1916-03-16
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a LALf or CIVIL STRIFE Y.
NoRANDALL PARRISH "
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ventured TO breach the subject which
knew must be also uppermost In her
mind.
1T is an odd situation in which we
find ourselves" began awkwardly.
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"
No, the one is all. You really be-
lieved those who attacked us were
Cowan's 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 ap-
parently left US. That is what |
wanted to say. to explain" went on
hastily. before she could interrupt 81
realize the serious mistake made, and
how embarrassing it must all be to
you. But you must believe me a
gentleman. l would never have spo-
ken one word; never have made any
claim upon you. Miss Noreen. real
ize 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 l should not have
said what did back there in Lewis
burg. l 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 ! could urge
for such disloyalty.."
And now you are sorry?"
lido not know" hesitatingly. 81
cannot decide. Where do you take
me?"
"Noreen," l said soberly, struggling
to keep my head from touching her
own, where it rested on the grass. 1T
is too late now to go 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 Is only
one straight path left for US now
across the mountains to old Virginia. .
IL know-and them"
You must trust my honor, my dis
erection. We are friends, you say, and
I 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 / 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"
IF you think 1t best IL have
never met your mother; perhaps
you will be Just as welcome; |
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 long while. her eyes
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
in session Possibly the ceremony was
not even legal without witnesses, but,
under the circumstances, 1t had better
be dissolved In court. Such action
Wouiu icho'o al uouut rum your
mind"
"Yes-I suppose SO; you-you make
It very clear. And that would have
to be done in Green Briar ?-the-the
action for divorce?"
"At Lewisburg; not necessarily. of
course. but supposed you would rath-
er have the facts made known there,
so that your friends can realize all the
conditions-the cause, mean. Pos
sibly you may not need to do this"
mot need! Why?"
"A soldier never knows what an.
other minute means; am soldier"
She did not look at me. or move.
although thought the hand resting on
the grass trembled.