The Rice belt journal., 1916-04-14

CO"an's mcn?"
! had no other thought, Miss No.
reen."
Then your proposal was merely
made in the hope of thus protecting
me from insult?
mat was my sole thought at the
time" ! replied soberly. 1T was a
desperate chance, yet the only one ap-
parentIy left US. That is what |
wanted to say, to explain" | went on
hastily, before she could interrupt 81
realize the serious mistake made. and
now embarrassing 1t 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
ize that ! have no right"
You may call me Noreen," she said
Simply. We have been friends, and
tnink 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
wife was the only excuse | could urge
for such disloyalty."
And now you are sorry?"
"l-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 1t 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 1t, and we have
gone away together. There is only
one straight path left for us now
across the mountains to old Virginia. d"
II know-and them"
You must trust my honor, my dis.
cretion. We are friends, you say, and
| 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 conide."
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 1t best. II 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
volyed by the war; the impossibiity
Of your venturing to return to Green
Briar until the conflict is over"
She was silent long while, her eyes
cast down. her breathing notIceabIy
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
would remove all doubt from your
mind"
"Yes-I suppose SO; you-you make
It very clear And that would have
to be done 10 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"
Not 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.
81 believe ! will lie down." she said
finally. rs that the place you have
chosen. beyond those trees!
Yes; let me help you up; the bIan'
kets are both yours. shall not need
any"
stood and watched her move across
through the mingled shade and sun,
until her slender form finally disap.
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. ] was left alone.
CHAPTER XIII.