The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1917-01-20

WOULDN'T part Win II. Butk, tneTe
was a bullet left in one Of Poggin's
guns, and that bullet was the same
kind as the one cut out Of you. by
gumi Boy, 1t d have killed you If
1t d stayed there"
at would indeed, uncle" replied
Duane, and the old. haunting. sombcr
mood returned.
But Duane was not often Mt the
mercy of childish old hero-worshiping
Uncle jim. Miss Longstreth was the
only person who seemed to divine
Duane's gloomy mood, and when she
was with him she warded off all sug-
gestiOn.
One afternoon while she was there
at the west window, a message came
for him. They read 1t together.
You have saved the ranger service to
MacNelly.
Ray knelt beside him at the window,
and he believed she meant to speak
then of the thing they had Stunned.
Her face was still white. but sweeter
now, warm with rich life beneath the
marble; and her dark eyes were still
intent. still haunted by shadows, but
no longer tragic.
"Tm glad for MacNelly's sake as
well as the state's." said Duane.
She made no reply to that and
seemed to be thinking deeply. Duane
shrank a little.
1.-The pain--is 1t any worse today?"
she asked, instantly.
"No; it's the same. It will always
he the same. I'm full Of lead, you
know. But don't mind little pain"
'"Then-it's the old mOOd-the
fear?" she whispered. TEL me-"
"Yes. 1t haunts me. I'll be well
soon--able to go out. Then that
that hell will come backl"
mo. nor she said with emotion.
"Some drunken cowboy, some fool
with gun. will hunt me out In every
town, wherever l GO" he went on.
miserably. "Buck Duanel To kill
Buck Duanel"
"Hushl Don't speak so. Listen.
You remember that day In Val Verde,
when came to you-pleaded with you
not to meet Poggin? Oh, that was n
terrible hour for me. But 1t showed
me the truth saw the struggle be-
tween your passion to kill and your
love for me. could have saved you
then had I known what know now.
Now I understand thnt-that thing
which hnunts you. But you'll never
have to kill another man, thank God T.
Like drowning man he would have
grnsped at straws, but he could not
voice his passionate query.
She put tender arms round his neck.
Because you'll have me with you nj
ways" she replied. Because always
l shall be between you aud that
that terrible thing"
It seemed with the spoken thought
absolute assurance of her power came
to her. Duane realized instantly that
he was in the arms of n stronger
woman than she who had pleaded with
him that fatal day.
"We'll-we'll be married and leave
Texas" she said. softly. with the red
blood rising rich and dark In her
cheeks.
"Ray"
"Yes we will. though you're laggard
In asking me. sir"
"But. dear-suppose." he replied
huskily. suppose there might be-bt
children-a boy. A boy with hi,
fathers blood!"
81 pray God there will be. d.
not fear what you fear. But even So
he'll be half my blood"
i Dunno felt the storm rise and breal
in him. And his terror was that o
Joy quelling fear. The shining glor.
. of love In this woman's eyes made hin
weak rs n child. How could sh
love him--hOw could she SO bravel,
face future with him? Yet she hel,
, him In her arms. twining her hand
: round his neck, and pressing clos
| to him. ner faith and love and beaut
! these she meant to throw between
: him and oil that terrible past. The
, were her power. and she meant I
, use them all. He dared not think O
accepting her sacrifice.
"But Ray = you dear. noble girl :
I'm poor. ! have nothing. And In
q cripple"
"Oh. you'll be well some day." sh
replied. "And listen. ! have money
} Ny mother left me well on. All sh
: had was her fathers Do you undel
, standf Wen take Uncle Jim an
your mother. Wen 60 to Louisiana--
, to my old home It's far from herr
} There's plantation to work. Ther
are horses and cattle-a great cyprsa
!. forest to cut. Oh, you'll have much 3