Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1917-02-23

| He turned and faced the presidents
aide with the clear, unf1inching gaze
| of brave man about to be shot. The
aide saluted with punctiliOus formal
| ity. Hardy responded with equal for.
mality. The aide presented an official
document, saluted, and withdrew from
the room.
For long moment Hardy stood with
| the decree of his fate slowly crumpling
in his hand. His eyes were fixed on
vacancy. Doubtless he was seeing the
years of soldierly comradeship and
duty that now lay in the past and the
vision of the career to which he was
to have given the utmost Of his pow
ers. He had always loved his profess
SOn--and now
The woman whose skirt he had seen
was in front of him before he became
| aware of her presence. He found HIM
self looking into the cool, half-mocking
face of Marie.
Are YOU afraid to read your SEN
tcnce?" she tainted. Had it not been
for YOU, he would have had the mine
and million from his contract and
me. The president conferred with Sen
atOr Clemmer an hour ago. The treaty
appropriation bill will be passed with
q clause that no commission is to be
paid for the services of any tribal
agent or representative. He has lost
everything. And now am waiting
to see you read that paper
Hardy drew himself up, opened the
envelope, took out the document and
reat.
As Aiafic saw the look of blank in
crc(ltliity Hat came into his face, her
eyes Ht.,.i9d under the lowering veil of
their :@n@ l,;shes. lie stared up st her,
but Nas TO GaGpl to perceive the
change III i,r expression.
"actiuitte1 = I:onorably Oh all
charges" he m(:gnured. con all
charges Honorable mention recon.
lae'. led--Approvel--the President"
Marie smiled with cool condescen-
sion.
Merely a question of doing justice
to you, Captain Hardy. When a man
has done his duty, however harshly,
1t is the duty Of others tD see that he
receives just compensation i take
credit for having helped to bring this
about"
"You?" he exclaimed. "Of course,
though, if you really did not love
him
That does not follow. You must
know / did love him. But to find that
l had for rival another breed girl
one not half so beautiful as II could
not endure the thought. You have
seen the proof that there is good deal
of my mothers red grandfather in my
blood. No, | had to give him up, and
have decided to marry another man."
Another" echoed Hardy.
"Will you not congratulate me-"
she asked.
He rallied. 81 congratulate him.
After what has happened, / feel conf
dent that you must have chosen some
one more worthy of YOU
'IIe isl" declared the girl her glo-
riOuS eyes melting with tenderness.
Gle is far more worthy of me than
am of him -
With an effort she recovered her cool
composure.
"3ut now, before going, I wish to
take this opportunity to discharge in
q way the obligation that, as member
OF the tribe, l owe to you for your
services. / shall therefore return the
mine to YOU"
She held out a document He
stepped back.
"No, Miss Dupont" he said. 81 cam
not accept it.
"Y0u must. l took it from you.
Though l have used the income from
II not altogether for personal gratifi-
cation, you must realize that my pride
will not permit me to keep it any
longer. Let me add that it has not
pinched out, as you may have inferred
from what I said ut the ball. 1t is
bonanza"
Il regret that cannot accept il" he
replied. "a captains pay is quite suf-
hcient for a-bachelOr."
Marie gave MN knocking glance.
REALLY now, Captain Hardy, you do
not expect me to believe you will long
remain unmarried"
He tried his best to conceal how her
frivolity tortured him. you may not
believe it, Miss Dupont. Yet it is
true"
ut is not" she contradicted. "When
we were abroad, Pere and l went to
Monte Carlo. | fancy the gambling
spirit infected me. Let us settle the
ownership of the mine with wager.
If you do not marry this year, l agree
to keep it, But if you marry within
that time, you will accept it back from
NE on your wedding day."
ut is not fair for me to bet on a GER
tainty; but if you insist, agree to the
wager" said Hardy.
''Then be prepared to take the mine
a week from today" she bantered.
He tore his gaze away from the
lovely face whose gay smile appeared
SO heartleSsly hooking.
L 41Nt