The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1917-01-11

from her ike gasp.
II cannot believe the truth myself
You remember that I told you once
that 1 suspected Laurence of being in
league with the Englishman, Cranmer!
then-Cranmer has fled and Laurence
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.
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 / love
you that have come to you now. L
you-told me once that I could not
hope ever to win you. 1 tried to turn
you against the man feared. But
I know now that my love for you is
stronger than mere desire. l want
you to be happy, even though l suffer.
And so have come to tell you first OF
all. No one here knows that Laurence
is in England's service. Let it be
known, and his life is forfeited.
have come to give you the greatest
gift that is in my power. give you
the life of this man. Warn him, and
there is yet time for him to escape.
1 shall be happy if you are happy.
Only remember that I loved you, Toi-
nette!''
The halting sentences seemed to
come from the depths of his soul. He
finished and stood before her humbly,
his head bowed.
"God bless you," she said very
softly.
She spilled the precious ointment of
her innocent faith in his words upon
the drosS of his heart. He raised his
head and thanked her mutely, while
his pulses leaped with exultation. She
had believed him! But would she
warn Laurence? He scarcely dared to
hope as he whispered:
eff you will warn him at
midnight my mare will be at his door,
ready to ride"
But the girl answered in a voice that
seemed to come from beyond the
grave. so full of souls agony it was
"There will be no need ]
shall give him up. Oh, David,
David. David!"
He turned to hide the knocking
smile that lighted up his face.
The girls face had grown pale as
the white rose she held in her hand.
But she forced herself to go on-un-
hesitatingly, but in voice from which
all life had fled, so weighted with un-
utterable anguish it was:
''You had better inform Judge
Boone at once"
'You don't understand, TOinette.
shall not raise finger against Lar
renee. He shall never say am re-
spOnsible for his exposure. You alone
in Corydon know his secret. 1t is for
you to decide"
60" she said quietly, II will do my
duty"
"Have I done mine, Toinette? Do
you forgive me?"
eyes, you have done WELL" she an
swered mechanically.
81 may see you again? Oh, Toi-
nette, let me still HOPPER
81 cannot answer now. But" her
throat seemed to choke her and she
was unable to finish. But through the
young doctors mind there flashed the
belief that he would yet make her his.
She would forget Larrence-only let
time heal the wound! He raised her
,hand to his lips, flung himself upon
the red mare and was gone.
4
To Toinette the next minutes were
an unreal procession in which girl
named Antoinette O'Bannon moved
strangely upon her task, dry-eyed,
steady-voiced. She saw this girl go
down the lane to the tavern, where
Ike Blackford sat deep in a book of
law; heard her ask him to go with her
to David's store; saw him bow with
unquestioning courtesy; saw them
cross the courthouse square and enter
the little stOreroom. just then empty
of customers; saw David advance
toward them gravely, with the proud
dignity he had worn since the day she
had refused his love. She heard a
voice speaking-waS it her own?
ST have brought Mr.. Blackford to
be O witness between u.s."
The two young men looked at the
girl in silent wonder. She swept on
in the cold torrent OF her resolution,
checking their unspoken question
with uplifted hard:
ave have known you but little
while, Mr.. Laurence. You have made
your home among US; we have taken
tended to become an American; we
have trusted you. befriended you, be-
lieved in you. And you have repaid
US! The coiled snake from which you
saved me was less vile! Oh, do not
forget what you did! 1t is that which
makes what you have done all the
more terrible. / owe you my life. You
might have had it, if you had chosen
But you have chosen instead the lives
of all these people in the wilderness
these settlers, these men who have
never harmed you. these women, these
little children. To betray them, who
have only loved you, who have been
YOUR friends! To give them into the
hands of England and to the knives
Of the Indians!"
Her voice broke. At her first words
Rlankfnrd's face had taken on an eX.