The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1919-12-25

hIitu Will u miuBiiuS vi "ohucAhiehl
and pain.
"Why, Of course. We thought 1t
best not to go until after we could see
the lawyer. j could not believe my
father had neglected to set those two
free-he-he loved them both. Della
and Rene had gone down 10 the Land
ing that night to see IL he had re-
turned. We were both of us afraid to
leave Rene alone-she was so despon-
dent, so unstrung. 1t was dark and L
was all alone In the house. Then these
men came. They did not know me
and ! did not know them, but l was
sure what they came for. l was ter
ribly frightened, without an idea what
to do-only l refused to talk. All l
could do was TO pray that the others
might be warned and not return. They
searched the house and then left this
man Tim to guard me. He told me he
was a deputy sheriff from st. Louis,
and-and | encouraged him to explain
all he knew about the case. Then l
made up my mind what to dol would
pretend to be Rene. and let them carry
me off instead Of her."
"But did you not realize the danger
to y~ourself?"
mo, / suppose l didn't, or, rather, ]
did not care. All | thought about was
how to save her. These were law Off
GERS; they would take me to st. Louis
before n court. Then l could make
myself known and would be set free.
They couldn't do anything else, could
they? There was no law by which l
could be held, but-but, don't you see?
The delay might give Rene time to es-
cape. That was not wrong, a it?'
"Wrong! 1t was one of the bravest
things l ever heard of. And l know
the rest-your encounter with Kirby
in the library. 1 overheard all of that
through the open window, and how
you learned from him that certain
legal papers would have to be served
on Eloise Eeaucaire before any of the
slaves could be touched, or removed
from the estate. That knowledge only
brought you new courage TO play out
your part. But why did you trust me
enough to go with me? And. after
trusting me so fully, why did you re-
fuse to tell me who you really were?"
Her eyes fell before mine, and her
cheeks were flushed.
"You think that strange? l did trust
you, Lieutenant Knox, and 1 trusted
YOU more completely the longer we
were together. But-but l did not
wholly understand. You were endeay-
oring to rescue Rene from slavery. l
could not conceive what interest you
might feel If / should confess myself
Eloise. You we're strange to me; we
were there alone with the negro, and
and somehow ii seemed a protection
TO me to claim a drop of black blood.
Twice / thought to tell you--the words
were on my lips-but something
stopped them. Possibly, just a little, 1
was afraid of YOU"
"Then-but not now?">
mo, not now-not ever a little you
have proven yourself all l ever hoped
you would be. / am gIad-so glad-to
say to you now, l am Eloise Beau"
She stopped suddenly. the word
half uttered, the smile fading from her
lips. "My God" she burst forth.
Put / am not! / am not: Why, /
never felt the horror of it all before-I
am not Eloise Beaucaire!
A moment / stood motlonless, SEEM
ing to hold my breath, my eyes open,
struck silent by the intense bitterness
OF that cry. Then the reaction came,
the knowledge that / must turn her
thoughts elsewhere.
do not say that, or even think It."
I urged. scarcely able to restrain my
self from grasping her in my arms.
Even If 1t shall prove true-legally
true-some way Of escape will be
found. The others are safe, and you
are going to need all your courage.
Pledge me to forget, to ignore this
thing. ] need YOU"
Her hands fell nerveless aud her
questioning eyes sought my face.
"You are right. Lieutenant Knox"
she said frankly. II owe my loyalty
now TO you. l shall not yield again to
despair; you may trust me-my
friend"
TIE day was not ended when we
finally retraced our way across the
narrow dixie to the mainland, pre-
pared to resume our journey. The
passage was slow and dangerous, and
we made Il on foot, leading the horses.
The woods were already beginning TO
darken as we forded the north branch
OF the creek and came forth through n
fringe Of forest trees into q country
of rolling hills and narrow valleys.
The two girls were already mounted.
and Tim and l were busily tightening
the straps for a nights ride. when,
from behind us. back in the direction
Of the peninsula we had just quilted.
there sounded the sharp report of q
rifle. we Strengthened up, startled. and
our eyeS met. There could be but one
conclusion--our rkrsuers had found
the trail.
CHAPTER XIV.
MH