The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1919-02-01


the traditions OF ins caste and race;
but he could not meet II calmly. He
had deliberately flung everything
Iway; he had let Kellerman goad
aim to madness: he was going to
die without even the soldiers salts
faction OF duty honorably done. And
he could not compose himself,
Suddenly he heard the outer gate of
the prison click then came the sound
Of voices. footsteps, woman's swi1h-
ing skirts; Eleanor and Colonel How
ard stood at the barred entrance with
the guard.
Mark rose from his bed and stood
staring at them; he could hardly be-
lieve them real. Tho guard unlocked
he door Of the cell. Eleanor shrank
pack against the corner of the ma
sonry, her kerchlef to her lip. her face
.hniky white. Suddenly she started
forward. The Colonel whispered a
word, she brushed him aside as II she
had not heard him. Her arms sought
Marks neck and found It. She pressed
her lips to his.
captain Mark! Dear Captain
Mark! !" she sobbed.
aAnd. holding her closely to him. and
forgetting Howard's presence and ev-
erything else, Mark found his peace.
Colonel Howard was trying to calm
her. TO assuage her frantic grief. At
last he persuaded her to sit down. He
took Mark by the arm as II he were a
child, and placed him beside her.
''Mark. my dear boy-Mark. heard
OF II only five minutes ago." he said.
II had 10 spend the night here, and
Eleanor had got leave to meet me. I've
just learned the outlines of II. I'm
trying 10 get the General. Yes, yes.
know he refused this morning, but he
didn't know. I'm only going to ask for
n respite TN can see him personally.
II will come out all right Now tell
me, Mark. what happened? How did
Kcllerman meet you? Why did you
strike him? / don't ask about the
charge of cownrdice, because that
isn't worth speaking about. I'll settle
that with the General haven't for
gotten Santiago. But about that blow,
Marls--how did IL all happenh Tell
me exactly. so that l."
1t was unlike the old Colonel Ia
gabble so fast. Perhaps he was afraid
OF breaking down.
"Can tell the General. Now begin.
Mark. Tell me from the beginning"
But Mark did not open his lips. And
before Colonel Howard could resume
Eleanor had sprung up and faced
Mark eagerly.
'Now. Captain Mark, listen! II
you've never listened TO me before,
listen now r. she cried. ~ know you
aren't going TO tell the Colonel. It's
like you, Captain Mark. You're stub
born. You have n stupid, wicked
streak of stubbornness In you that al
ways makes you pretend things, and
always prevents you from letting the
world see what n dear, good, splendid
man you are. know you through and
through, though you've never known
did. You've ruined your life by
your silly silences. You seem to like
to be misunderstood. You like things
to go wrong with you, 50, that You can
suffer undeservlngly. But IL isn't he
roical of you Captain Mark. It's stub
born ana wrong, and, where others
nre concerned. it's criminal. Where
others are concerned-others VINO love
you, Captain Mnrkw
She spoke with intense passion, hut,
when she ended, she put her arms
quietly about his neck. "rell the Colo
mel, Captain, Mark, because of me-"
she said.
''There's nothing To tell, my dear"
said Mark, CROPPING for the words that
would not come. II struck him be-
cause ha-"
(To be continued)