The Taney County republican., 1919-10-09

are here, Captain Carlyle, for my sake;
I owe you service"
"And must l be content merely with
that thought2" l urged, far from
pleased. "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-
son why you should doubt that surely"
sit would be easier for me to under
stand, but for the memory of what l
ana bond slave"
"Your meaning Is that true friend.
ship has as a basis eQuallty?"
Does 1t not? Can real friendship
exist otherwise"
mo-" she acknowledged gravely.
"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 it 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
part Of man in a revolution; If guilty
of any crime, 1t was political one, in
no way sullying your honor. l have
every reason to believe You were false
ly 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
me now7"
"And you would actually have me
speak with you as of your own class
free man, worthy to claim your
friendship in lfe?"
"Yes," frankly, her face uplifted.
"Why should 1t 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 skill and courage will
bring us safely to land. am no long
er afraid, for I have learned to trust
you. You possess my entire conf.
denCe."
"But do you understand fullyT"
questioned anxlously. "All l have done
for you would have been done for any
other woman under the same cOndi-
tions Of danger. Such service to an
other would have been n duty, and no
more. But TO be with you, aiding and
protecting, has been a delight, a joy.
/ have served Dorothy Fairfax for her
own sake--nOt as l would any other"
"Did you not suppose l knew
Her glance flashed into mine through
the star-gleam, with Il sudden message
of revealment.
"You knew-that--that 1t was you
personally served"
"0f course | knew. A woman IS
never unaware of such things. Now,
( II ever, / must tell you the truth. l
know you care for me, and have cared
since first we met. An interest no less
fateful has led me TO seek your ac-
quaintance, and give you my aid. Sure
ly 1t is not unmaidenly for me TO con-
| fess this when we face the chance Of
death tOgether?'
"But," / stammered, III can scarcely
believe you realize your words. IL
{ love you Dorothy"
"And is It not also possible for me
to love?"
"You--y0u mean. you love meT
II love yOu--are you sorry?"
"SOrry! l 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 I am?
What my futureT
81 forget nothing" she said. proud
ly. at is because I know what you
are that my heart responds, Nor is
your future so clouded. You are to-
day q free man II we escape these
periIs, for whether Roger Fairfax be
alive, or dead, he will never seek you
again to hold in seryltude. If alive he
will join his efforts with mine to OBJ
tain a pardon because Of these serv-
ices, and we have influence in Eng
land. Yet, should such effort fail, you
are a sailor, and the seas Of the world
are free. It 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
In faith. would have that my gift tC
you, Geoffry. We are In peril still
great peril, but you VIII face it beside
me, knowing that whether we live Of