Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-07
CHAPTER XIV


DOTH Philip and Jeanne were silent
ID for some moments after Gregson
had gone; their only movement was
the gentle stroklng of Philips hand
over the girls soft hair. Their hearts
were full, too full for SPEECH. And yet
he knew that upon his strength de-
pended everything now. The revela-
tions of Gregson, which virtually
ended the fight against him personally,
were but trivial in his thoughts COM
pared with the ordeal which was ahead
of Jeanne. Both Pierre and her father
were dead, and, with the exception
of Jeanne, no one but him knew Of
the secret that had died with them
He could feel against him the throb-
bing of the storm that was passing
in the girls heart, and in answer TO
1t he. said nothing in words, but held
her to him with a gentleness that
lifted her face, quiet and beautiful, SO
that her eyes looked steadily and ques.
tioningly into his own.
You love me-" she said, simply, and
yet with a calmness that sent a curl
Gus thrill through him.
Beyond all else in the world" he
replied.
She still looked at him. without
speaking, as though through his eyes
she was searching to the bottom of his
soul.
And you know" she whispered,
after a moment.
He drew her so close she could not
move, and crushed his face down
against her own.
"Jeanne-Jeanne-everything is as
it should be-" he said. II am glad
that you, We're found out in the SHOWS.
/ am glad that the woman in the pic
! &c., I..
nothing different than 1t is, for IL
things were different you wouldnot be
the Jeanne that I know. and 1 would
not love you SO. You have suffered,
sweetheart. And I, too. have had my
share of sorrow. God has brought us
together, and all is right in the end.
Jeanne-my sweet jeanne" y
Gregson had left the outer door
slightly ajar. A gust of wind opened
It wider. Through 1t there came now a
sound that interrupted the words on
Philips lips and sent a sudden quiver
through Jeanne. In an instant both
recognized the sound. 1t was the fir.
ing of rifles, the shots coming to them
family from far beyond the mountain
at the end Of the lake. Moved by the
same impulse, they ran to the door
hand in hand.
"It is Sachigo!" painted Jeanne. She
could hardly speak. She seemed to
struggle to get breath. II had for
gotten. They are lighting" ..
MacDougall strode up from his post
beside the door, where he had beer
waiting for the appearance Of Jeanne
"Firing-off there" he said. What
does II mean?"
I'VE must wait and see,", replied
Philip "Send two of your men tt
;nx, tn roinin
after / have taken Miss d'Arcamba
over to Cassidy's WIFE"
He moved away quickly witt
Jeanne. On a sudden rise of the wint
:. from the south the firing came to then
more distinctly. Then it died away
and ended in three or four intermittent
shots. For the space Of a dozen sec
onds a strange stiffness followed, ant
then over the mountain top, where
there was still a faint glow in thu
sky, there came the low, quavering
triumphal cry of the Crees: or!
born Of the forest itself. mournfu
almost like far-away burst of tongue
,, from a wolf pack on the hunt trail
And after that there was an unbrokei
silence.
at is over" breathed Philip.
He felt Jeanne's fingers tighter
about his own.
mo one will ever know" he con
/. tinued. Even MacDougall will no
> guess what has happened out there
!, tonight"
He stopped a dozen PAGES from Cas-
: sidy's cabin. The windows were aglov
and they could hear the laughter an
play Of Cassidy's two children withir
Gently he drew Jeanne to him.
; you will stay here tonight, dear,
he said. Tomorrow we will go I
2 Fort o. God"