Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1919-10-24

A-u"tOu
She started. Surely this robber
could not know her.
"Who are yOu?" she demanded in as
firm tones as she could muster.
lie turned the light on his own face.
She almost screamed. but she man
aged to stiiie it, SO that the sound that
came from her throat was more like 4
gasp or Il groan.
Chester Straight! she said weakly.
"YOu-yOu of all men! TO think tina.
yOu-thut you-"
The situation was too much for her.
The intense fear she had experienced,
coupled with the revelation that tue
man who stood before her was the one
she had once promised to marry, over
came her. Inez I.awton. for the first
time In her life. knew what 1t was to
faint.
Chester Straight had attended COL
lege with her, and while they had not
fallen in love at first sight 1T had not
taken them long to become seriously
fond of each other. On the day they
were graduated they became engaged.
and 1nez went to her own home to
teach music and wait for him to make
name for himself, and some worldly
wealth to go with it. A year later
Chester wrote her that the proposed
marriage could never be. because he
had contracted tuberculosis SO he re-
leased her from her obligation.
Don't expect to hear from me
a 90 In hn
memory Of you from my mind" He in
sisted that she keep the ring, and she
did.
! That was the last letter she ever
received from him, but she wore the
token OF their engagement, deciding
never to marry, so long as she could
not have the one man she cared for.
Two years after the last word from
leicester, 1nez went with her parents
on tour OF the west, which brought
them to the little resort in the foot
hills of the Rockies.
When IneZ regained consciousness
she was lying on her buck, u wet hand
kerchief pressed against her forehead.
When the nausea that accompanies a
faint had passed she began 10 take in
terest in her surroundings and discov-
cred that her head was pill0wed in
CheSters lap. They were Oh the shore
OF q small lake, ON which the moon
light was dancing.
Don't move.' cautioned that harsh
voice. You'll soon feel better"
Horrors! Remain passive with her
n Inn ,rl. ,,.,.,
struggled to her feet, where she sway
ed giddily but gradually regaining
strength.
Here he answered, and took some
thing from his pocket. j.NIind if |
smoke" And he began filling the Ere
Volver' with tobacco. Il dropped my
real gun in the lake willie coming
overland just when it seemed 1 need
ed it most
He rose to his feet, suggesting, "If
you feel better now we'd better hike
to the hotel"
His audacity was actually startling,
was her thought; but she could not
permit him to place himself in such
danger. He had once been her sweet
heart-had continued to be, though
gone from her life, until now-weli
she still felt, but-no. she must not
think Of 1t! In love with burglar?
Horrible! And then, he must have de-
ceived her by that talk of tuberculosis,
just as an excuse to get rid of her.
he certainly looked husky enough;
still, she could not be instrumental
In letting the law get it's hands on him.
I'm not afraid to go alone" she
told him. ITS just little way along
the Shore"
She started away, but after taking u
few steps looked back. He had turned
from her and was looking full across
the lake, standing as motionless us a
statue.
"Good-goOd night" she called soft
ly.
He turned like a flash and caught
up with her.
when can see you again?" he said
In that harsh voice. "When? l must
see you again"
She shook her head, then caught
herself. What hurt would it do?
All right" she agreed. "TOmorrow
night, right here, at o."
She walked rapidly toward the no.
tel. When the light of the hostelry
flashed into view through the woods
she stopped, stepped close to the wal
ter and took Il ring from her left hand.
She extended it over the water. hest
tated, sighed, and replaced it Oh her
finger and hurried on.
At the appointed hour the ncXt
night she went to the rendezvous and
found Chester waiting.
Hello" he said, and his voice was
not as husky as OH the previous night.
He saw that she noticed the differ
ence, and explained:
Been taking cough medicine. NV