The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-02-03


shine, was rapturous bird-song made
into woman, a flower downright,
carol, an embodiment of earth's re-
joicing. She welcomed Elliott with
smile that made him wonder, with
ready vanity, if he had not been mis-
taken in the rebuff she had once adj
ministered. If he had pressed her
more hardily-did she really love Lar
renee? All, if he could only drive the
man out Of CorydoR! The black beast
of his jealous hatred rode on his back
and he went straight to his purpose:
81 have sad news for you, Toinette."
The smile faded from her face and
she looked at him with a slow alarm
growing in her eyes.
at is very hard for me to tell you.
It is about laurence,
"Davidw The name was wrung
from her like gasp.
81 cannot believe the truth myself.
You remember that told you once
that l suspected Laurence of being In
league with the Englishman, Cranmer?
have learned the certain truth since
then-Cranmer has fled and Larrence
is left to finish his work-the work OF
spy!"
"Who says this?"
"Captain Bullitt at Louisville told
me. 1t will be common talk in another
! day. I do not know what to do. l
have not slept all night. Only one
thing has been clear to me-my love
for you"
"What part has that in this?" she
asked proudly.
Everything. 1t is because l love
Won that have come to you now. +
you-told ME once that I could not
hone ever to win you. tried to turn
Won against the man feared. But
I know now that my love for you is
stronger than mere desire. want
you to be happy, even though ! suffer
And 80 have come to tell you first OF
oil. No one here knows that Laurence
is In England's service. Let 1t Dc
known, and his life Is forfeited.
have come to give you the greatest
gift that is In my power. l give yot
the life of this man. Warn him, anc
there is vet time for him to escape
I shall be happy If you are happy
Only remember that I loved you, Toi
nette"
The hating sentences seemed t.
come from the depths Of his soul. Ill
finished and stood before her humbly
, his head bowed.
"God bless you" she said yer,
softly.
She spilled the precious ointment o
her innocent faith in his words upol
the dross of his heart. He raised hi
head and thanked her mutely, Will
his pulses leaped with exultation. Sh
had believed him! But would sh
warnb Laurence? He scarcely dared t
hope as he whispered:
eff you will warn him q
midnight my mare will be at his dool
ready to ride"
But the girl answered In voice tina
seemed to come from beyond tn
grave. so full of souls agony 1t was
"There will be no need
shall give him up. Oh. DAVE
David. Davidl"
He turned to hide this mockin
smile that lighted up his face.
The girls face had grown pale
the white rose she held in her ham
But she forced herself to go on-ul
hesitatingly, but in voice from whie
all life had fled, so weighted with u
utterable anguish it was:
"You had better inform JUDI
Boone at once"
"You don't understand, Toinette.
shall not raise a finger against La
renee. He shall never say am
sponsible for his exposure. You alol
in Corydon know his secret. 1t is f
you to decide"
go" she said quietly, Il will do u
duty"
"Haye done mine, Toinette?
you forgive me-"
eyes, you have done WELL" she q
swered mechanically.
II may see you again? Oh. T.
ed nette. let me still hopei"
IN II cannot answer now. but-
throat seemed to choke her and S
was unable to finish. But through t
; young doctors mind there flashed t
an belief that he wonld yet make her b
cd She would forget Larrence-only
as time heal the wound! He raised B
Is as hand to his lips, flung himself up
a the red mare and was gone.
to
ne To Toinette the next minutes We
I'd an unreal procession in which a 6
ar named Antoinette O'Bannon moy
lot strangely upon her task, dry-ey
af steady-voiced. She saw this girl
is: down the lane to the tavern, VIII
in Ike Blackford sat deep in book
,sd law; heard her ask him to go with
.rk to David's store; saw him bow W
ted unquestioning courtesy; saw tn
lae cross the courthouse square and en-
me the little storeroom, just then EN-
Nv. of customers; saw David adval