The Holly chieftain. (Holly, Colo.) 1897-1987, 1916-12-29

UsouI tuh08 yOo oeobuoo8. U0t y00
can't feel n - Ton havest all ibis
on your conscience-you weren't bic
friend. ~ was" He caught Q glimpse
at her face clean cut aGainst tie hight.
and suddenly b faltefed and ths si0v
color mounted 10 bis eyea
I'll understand. You're rather
splendid. Miss Smith. II { could eeiy
set things Fisht-maks good!' b mot.
tered.
She made little gesture Of assent
That seems to me all that We live
for" she said thoukhtfuiiy. ITO make
good-either to others or to ourselves.
Only-it isn't often granted us."
He had the feeling that she was not
speaking to him. that for the moment
he had passed out of her range Of
vision. and he remained silent. Some
one tapped at the door. and instantly
their eyes met in mutual Interrogation.
"A gentleman to see you. mademoa-
ee!Ie"
She Ssased into the little adjoining
sitting room and closed the door quiet
" behind her. So quiet indeed had
been her entry that the man hunched
together by the window did not appear
to notice her. His face was turned
to the full light A. though in deliberate
defiance OF its own harshly revealed
suffering and misery.
Stephen He started and tried to
rise. but she came toward him With 40
authoritative movement. mo. don't
get up. Sit there. You look-tired-
ILL.,"
Eyes, I am ILL.," he admitted. He
dropped back with a short stifed sigh.
III had not been Ill I should not have
come. 1t is my only excuse" He
looked at her almost wistfuiiy.
"Stephen!"
He looked her steadily in the plying.
sorrowful eyes.
II have not come for sympathy.
Gabrielle. l am glad it's over and
done with. With one thing I should be
content"
What do you ask Of mer'
TO accept my name and that which
the French state will give my wife In
payment for the services l have done
her. 1t is all have to give. Gabrielle.
Accept it-no. don't shrink from me
like that. I am a dying man-remem-
Der that. ask nothing for myself but
poor formality; it may be few days
"a few weeks at most. and then-and
you will be free"
II am free now" she answered
swiftly. "But II yielded to you I
should never be free again. loved
you and accepted dishonor for your
sake. I ceased to love you and re-
gained my honor the same hour re-
fused your name. That was my atone
ment to myself. To accept your offer
would be to wrong myself-and you
too deeply"
He made movement Of desperate
appeal. But she did not answer him.
The door had opened and Preston.
with white stern face. stood on the
threshold.
Corporal Goetz is here" he said.
Miss Smith-will you conner
And Lowe saw how she turned from
him. not with Indifference. but with
the absolute oblivion of a mind whose
whole force has swept suddenly In one
deep channel. He followed her to the
open door and stood there, silent and
forgotten. watching her.
Corporal Goetz bowed as she en-
tered. He looked at her narrowly, a
little curiously.
II heard your name." he said In bis
careful French. II have a message for
you-from my comrade."
From Richard FarquharT
II know him as Richard Nameless.
He gave me the message out there In
the desert-a simple sentence that
have retained word for word. Tell
her. he said that truth was more beau
tiful than the mirage"
There was brief silence. She
stood in the full red glow Of the eve
ming as it poured In through the win
! dow. and Stephen saw her face. It
seemed to him inspired. almost beau
tiful-a miracle of great happiness.
And the sentence?" 1t was Pres
ton who spoke. and for all his self.
restraint his voice had lost its steadi.
ness.
ITO be shot at daybreak."
1T is Observation-Disclosures" Pres.
| ton muttered.
She turned to him then as though
| waking from dream. The brief mo-
ment of serene triumphant happiness
| had passed. She was face to face with
life again. and the strength and beauty
| were alight with the old fiery resolu-
| ton.
"It is impossible" she said. But
we have one hope before all others