The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1919-07-19
CHAPTER xxv-Continued.
I,,,r,,IlII,IIlIIIIHIIIIIilIllIiiIlIil
Gonyright by A. C. McClurs ) 70

eyes Stult hih5
face questioningly.
"Of course | did everything ! knew"
she replied. "Why should l not? You
are here, Captain Carlyle, for my sake;
/ owe you service
"And must be content merely Win
+bat thought?" l urged. far from
nleased. This would mean that your
only interest In me arises from graft
tude.'
"And friendship" her voice as conf
dential as my own. There is no rea-
son why you should doubt that surely.
ut 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 equalityT'
Does it 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 1T 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 q position Of command, wen
by your own efforts. You bore the
mart of a man in a revolution; if guilty
of any crime, it was political one, In
no way sullying your honor. l 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
me nowY'
"And you would actually have me
speak with you as Of your own class
a free man, worthy to claim your
friendship In life?"
"Yes," frankly, her face uplifted.
'Why should it 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 l have learned to trust
you. You possess my entire conf
dence."
"But do you understand fully" I
questioned anxiously. "All have done
for you would have been done for any
other woman under the same condi-
tons of danger Such service to an
other would have been a duty, and no
more. But to be with you, aiding and
protecting, has been a delight, JOY.
have served Dorothy Fairfax for her
own sake-not as l would any other"
did you not suppose / knew"
Her glance flashed into mine through
the star-geam, with sudden message
OF revealment.
You knew-that-that 1t was you
personally served?"
"Of course / knew. A woman is
never unaware of such things. Now,
II 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
" It Is not unmaidenly for me to con-
Tess this when we face the chance of
death together?"
But" / stammered, Il can scarcely
believe You realize your words. IL
lore you Dorothy"
And is 1t not also possible for me
to love?"
-You-you mean, you love me?"
love you-are You sorry?"
Sorry! l am mad with the Joy of
~; yet stricken dumb. Dorothy Fa4-
iax, have never even dared dream of
sucn message from your lips. Dear,
Gear girl, do you forget who I am?
what my future?"
forget nothing" she said, proud
Y. 1T Is because l know what YOU
sfe That my heart responds. Nor is
your future so clouded. You are to-
uay free man II we escape these
pefils, for whether Roger Fairfax be
s'se, or dead. he will never seek you
vain to hold in servitude. II alive he
VII join his efforts with mine to OBJ
uih q pardon because OF these serv-
80, and we have influence in Eng
ma Yet. should such effort fail, you
aEe sailor, and the seas of the world
~ nee. 1t is not necessary that your
va eel ny the English flag"
xou give me hope-a wonderful
Aape..
ana courage" her hands firmly