The Benson signal., 1917-03-03
CHAPTER TX.
Sacrifice.

O'BannOn's door.
TOinette, in the early morning sun
shine, was rapturOus bird-song made
into woman, flower dew-bright, a
carol, an embodiment of earth's re-
joicing. She welcomed Elliott with a
smile that made him wonder, with a
ready vanity, if he had not been mis-
taken in the rebuff she had once ad-
ministered. If he had pressed her
more hardily-did she really love Lar
renee? All, if he could only drive the
man out of Corydon! The black beast
of his jealous hatred rode on his back
and he went straight to his purpose ::
"I 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.
"It is very hard for me to tell you.
1t is about Laurence"
"David!' The name was wrung
from her like gasp.
81 cannot believe the truth myself.
You remember that I told you once
that I suspected Laurence of being in
league with the Englishman, Cranmer? {?
I have learned the certain truth since
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. 1
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. It is because I love
you that have come to you now. I
you-told me once that I could not
hope ever to win you. tried to turn
you against the man I feared. But
stronger than mere desire. I want
you to be happy, even though 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.
|
gift that is in my power. I give you
the life of this man. Warn him, and
there is yet time for him to escape.
I 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 voice that
seemed to come from beyond the
grave. so full of a souls agony it was
"There Will be no need I
shall give him up. Oh, David.
David. David!"
He turned to hide tbs 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 a finger against Lar
renee. He shall never say l am re-
| spOnsible for his exposure. You alone
in Corydon know his secret. 1t is for
you to decide"
&C.," she said quietly, II will do my
duty"
Have 1 done mine, Toinette? Do
you forgive me?"
eyes, you have done WE'LL" she an
swered mechanically.
81 may see you again? Oh, Toi-
nette, let me still hOpe!"
II 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.
y Il
To Toiaette the next minutes were
an unreal procession in which a 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