The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1916-04-14
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A LALF or CIVIL STRIFE 7.
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| NO, the one is ALL You really be
| lieved those who attacked US were
! Cowan's men?"
81 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" l went on
hastily, before she could interrupt 81
realize the serious mistake made, and
how embarrassing 1t 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
l 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 | 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?"
to keep my head from touching her
own, where it rested en- the grass, sit
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
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 I hardly think any
IN whom l could confide."
Then we will find a way for you to
Join my mother; she is in North Caro-
ina, out of the track of armies. You
will consent to go to herr"
IF you think it best. Il have
lever met your mother; perhaps"
You will be just as welcome; |
will write her every detail, and she |
will be rejoiced to shelter you. The !
,nly trouble is the necessary delay in
'olved by the war; The impossibility
# your venturing to return to Green
3riar until the conflict is over"
She was silent a long while, her eyes
asst down, her breathing noticeably
apid | waited, not knowing what
lse to add, and was about to propose
er lying down, when she spoke sud-
emily:
You mean our-our separation"
Certainly. That can be easily ar
anged as soo1 as the courts are again
/ session Possibly the ceremony was
OF even legal without witnesses, but.
nder the circumstances, it had better
e dissolved in court. Such action
ould remove all doubt from your
lind"
"Yes-I suppose so; you-you make
very clear. And that would have
, be done in Green riar?-the-th
,tion for divorce?"
"At Lewisburg; not necessarily, of
PURSE. but supposed you would rath-
: have the facts made known there,
that your friends can realize all the
,nditions-the cause, | mean. Pos
bly, you may not need to do this"
mot need! Why?"
"A soldier never knows what an J
her minute means; am soldier"
She did not look at me, or move.
though thought the hand resting on
e grass trembled.
81 believe | will lie down. she said
lally. rs that the place you have
osen. beyond those trees?"
yes; let me help you up: the blan- >
is are both yours. / shall not need :
y" =
stood and watched her move across =
rough the mingled shade and sun, =
til her slender form finally disap- .
AIRED behind the screen of under y
owth. Once she had glanced about. .
using as though some thought had -
Cured suddenly, but she did not :.
sak. / was left alone. o.