The diamond drill., 1919-06-07

tawny beast who led them, Cept
toward me and put his head down BY
mine. whimper1ns The rest roaDed
ceaselessly about the fire. answering
the VOLTS challenge with deep. wolf
| like baying.
I drew my pistols from the pockets
Of my fur coat. II was pleasant to
handle them. They gave me assur-
ance. We were two fugitives In q land
where every mans hand might be
against us, but at least had the
means TO guard my own.
Jacqueline glided out OF the tent
and knelt beside me. putting her arms
about the dogs neck and her head
upon Its furry coat. The dogs loved
her and she seemed always to under
stand their needs
paul. there Is something wrong
with them" she said, her hand stil ca
ressing the name OF the great beast.
who looked at her with pathetic eyes.
"What is wrong with them. Jacque-
liner" asked.
She raised her head and looked sad
ly at me. 1T Is I. Paul." she an
swered.
You Jacqueliner
"Yes, II is Ii' she cried with sud-
den, passionate yehemence. 1T Is
who am wrong and have brought
trouble on you. Paul. ! do not even
know how you came into my life. nor
who am, nor anything that happened
to me at any time before you brought
me TO Quebec. except that my home
is there" She pointed northward.
"Who am II Jacqueline. you say. The
name means nothing TO me. / am
woman withoutNa past or future.
shadow that falls across your life,
Paul. And could perhaps remember.
but I know know-that ] must
never remember"
I took her hand In mine. Dear
JacQueline," answered, at is best TO
forget these things until the time
comes TO remember them. 1t win
come, Jaequeline. Let us be happy
till then. Do You not remember any
thing about your home. JacQuelinef"
She clapped her hands 70 her head
and gave little terrified cry.
T--think-so," she murmured. But
/ dare not remember, Paul"
II have dreamed OF things" she
went on In agitated. rapid tones. "and
then I have. seemed TO remember ev-
erything. But when wake have for
gotten. and II Is because i know that
must forget. Paul, dream Of dead
man. and men who hate and are fol-
lowing us. Was there-ever-a dead
man. Paul7- she asked, shuddering.
placed one arm around her.
"Jacqueline, there never was any
dead man." ! said. 1T is not true.
Some day win tell you everything
some day" j caught her in my arms
II love you. Jacquelinei" ! cried.
-And you-you"
She thrust her hands out and turned
her face away. There was an awful
fear upon II. "Paul," she cried, '.there
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
II have known that" she went on
in torrent Of wild words. II have
known that always, and II Is the most
terrible part OF all !"
~ iulu u uuktE vi ntI nDSs
There is nobody, Jacqueline." said
again. trying TO control my trembling
voice. 'There was never anybody but
me, and there shall never be. For to-
morrow we shall turn back toward St
Boniface again. and we shall take the
boat for Quebec-and from there
shall take you 10 a land where there
shall be no more grief, neither"
But very sweetly she raised her head
and spoke 70 me.
paul, dear, IL there never was any
one-if II Is nothing but a dream
| Here she looked at me with doubtful
scrutiny In her eyes, and then has
tened 10 makes amends for doubling
me. "Of course. Paul, II there had
been you could not have known. But
though ! know my heart is free--if
there was nobody-why. let us 20 for
ward 10 my fathers home. because
there will be no cause there TO sepa-
rate us. my dear. So let us 20 on"
Eyes. let US go on" muttered duly.
She leaned back against my shoul-
der and held out her hands 10 the fire.
light. She had taken of her left glove
and now again saw the wedding ring
J upon her finger.
raised her in my arms and carried
her inside the tent. She did not
waken but only stirred and murmured
my name drowsIly.