Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1919-09-17
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHiIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Cnavr4ght nv A q AcClurp A Co,
CHAPTER xxv-continued.

CHAPTER %XV-continued.
II
She turned her head, and felt her
eyes searching the dim outline of my
face questiOningly
''Of course / did everything knew"
she replied. "Why should not? You
are here. Captain Carlyle, for my sake;
| owe you service"
-And must be content merely with
that thought?" l urged. far from
plensed This would mean that your
only interest In me arises from graft
tude"
"And friendship" her voice as conf
DENTAL as my own. "There is no rea-
sob why you should doubt that surely
1T would be easier for me to under
stand, but for the memory of what l
am--a bond slave"
''Your meaning is that true friend
chip has as basis equality?
"Does II not2 Can real friendship
exist otherwiseT'
''No" she acknowledged grnvely.
-And the fact that such friendship
does exist between us evidences my
faith In you. have never felt this
social distinction, Captain Carlyle,
have given II no thought. This may
seem strange TO you, yet is most nat
ural. You bear an honorable name,
and belong to a family of gentlemen.
You held a position of command, won
by your own efforts. You bore the
no t Of In 10 lexy
of any crime, II was n political one, In
no way sullying your honor. have
every reason to believe you were false
~ accused and convicted. Consequent
ly that conviction does not exist be-
tween us; you are not my uncle's serv-
ant. but my friend--you understand
the nOw?"
And YOU would actually have me
speak with you as of your own class
free man, worthy to claim your
friendship in life?"
YES" frankly. her face upllfted
''Why should II be otherwise? No man
could have done more, or proved him
self more stanch and true We are in
danger yet. but such peril Is nothing
compared with what have escaped.
feel that your skin and courage will
airing US safely to land. am no long
or afraid, for have learned to trust
you. You possess. my entire conf.
deuce"
! ~But do you understand fullyT
questioned anxlously. "All | have done
for you would have been done for any
other woman under the same condl-
tons of danger. Such service to an
other would have been duty, and no
more. But to be with you, aiding and
protecting. has been a delight, IA joy
| have served Dorothy Fairfax for her
own sake-not as | would any other"
\ did you not suppose l knew7"
Her glance flashed into mine through
'the star-gleam. with a sudden message
,of revealment.
4 s'You knew-that--that IL was you
personally servedf
"Of course l knew A woman is
never unaware of such things. Now,
IL ever, | must tell you the truth.
know you care for me, and have cared
since first we met. An interest no less
Hateful has led me to seek your ac-
quaintance. and give you my aid. Sure
ly IL Is not unmaldenly for me to con.
fess this when we face the chance of
death together?"
But" stammered. II can scarcely
believe you realize your words. IL
love you Dorothy"
"And is 1t not also possible for me
to lover"
"You--you mean. you love me7"
Il love you--are you sorry2"
Sorry | am mad with the Joy of
It; yet stricken dumb. Dorothy Fair
fax, have never even dared dream of
such a message from your lips. Dear,
dear girl, do you forget who l am?
What my futuref'
II forget nothing" she said. proud
iy. at is because l know what you
are that my heart responds. Nor is
your future so clouded. You are to-
day free man If we escape these
perils for whether Roger Fairfax be
alive. or dead. he win never seek you
again to hold In servitude. If alive he
will join his efforts with mine to oh
tain pardon because of these serv-
fees, and we have influence in Eng.
land. Yet. should such effort fall, you
are sailor. and the seas of the world
are free. 1t is not necessary that your
vessel fly the English flag"
You give me hope--a wonderful
hope"
And courage" her hands firmly
clasping mine. Courage to fight on
I'm faith. l would have that my gift &c
you, Geoffry. We are In peril stll
great peril but you will face it besid,
me, knowing that whether we live OF
die we are together. / am not afralt
any more"