The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1919-06-26
"No,~ she said firmly, taking his

, hands again and laying her WI with
: IN them as before. Then he accepte,
, them as il they were a sacred trust
folding his r%everently about them.
L am not talking of gratitude" sh'
said, and her voice was tense will
feeling. you raved my life and
know what you are, and what you hav,
done for me. Nothing can ave chang,
that, not even what you have done il
the past land nobdy can " make
me feel differently about you.
know you, trust you-I-loye-you:'
Her voice was low and sweet as she
said this n she did not lift her eyes
The young man felt her fingers trem
Bile within his own strong grasp, and
ne looked down wonderingly at the
slender wrists and thrilled with holy
awe at her words. 1t humbled him
shamed him. with a pain that was a
solemn JOY, to hear her. And he had
nothing to say. What gracious infu.
ence had been at work in his behalf
that miracle so great should have been
wrought In a pure girls heart for him;
an outlaw-a careless, selfish, wild
man who had hitherto lived as he
pleased, for himself, caring for no.
body, nobody caring for him. He had
held his head high and gone his indie
pendent way. He hal held the creed
that the whole world vas against him.
and his chief aim in life should be to
circumvent and annoy that world.
Nothing good and holy had ever come
into his life before. knowledge he
had, and a certain amount of worldly
wisdom learned in a hard school, and
well learned; but love, care, tender
ness, trust, had never been given to
MIN even in his babyhood. No won
der he was COMPOUNDED at the sudden
treasure thrust upon him.
I am only a very young girl"
jeans voice went on. II know you
are right that l must not do anything
to distress my father and mother.
They love me very much and love
them. You and can go our separate
ways if we must, but nobody can hin.
der me from trusting you. 1t ia
right l should. I owe it to you fo1
what you have done for me-and nv
love l could not help giving you
know you are going to be right and
true forever; 1 know you will not do
those things any more that have made
people think you were not good
know you will always be just what I
kyou are now, won't you?"
HIS voice was low and solemn, and
his eyes held depths of sincerity as he
lifted them to her pleading ones and
answered:
II promise you"
And promise you that I will trust
you always" she said, and thus their
covenant was made.
For a long moment they sat with
;lasplng hands, unaware of the beauty
II the evening, aware only of their own
Wo strtled, suffering spirits, that had
ound and lost each other and learned
he consequences of sin. They did not
to need words for each knew
what was in the others heart. Il
He raised her at last to his feet and
lending low, whispered:
II thank you"
He stood a moment ~hesitating, then
ave her hands one quick pressure
gain and turned away.
Il was going to ask something" ha
aid, but guess that isn't square,"
And she stood %pondering what It
hight have been.
Silently he helped her on the pony
without words they rode away into
he moonlight.
There we're tears in the girls eyes
7hen she lifted them at last and
sked:
"And won't I e you at all? Won't
GU ever come to the house?"
There was a sound almost of tears
4 the mans voice as he answered:
II am afraid not"
After that they talked softly in tones
hat people use when they are about. !
go apart on a long journey and may |
OF ever meet again. Monosyllables,i
ali finished sentences, Of which each
new the beginning or ending without !
he words. Large understanding, |
uick pain, wistfulness, longing, a !
uestion now and then-this was their |
They came at last to the brow of a |
i'll where below them at a gentle
lope Hawk Valley lay, it's lights
winkling among the velvety shadows
I the night. In the clear moonlight It |
eemed SO near, so sudden, as it lay
lst below them that Jean caught her |
reath in a cry that was almost a sob. !
he knew without being told that the
arting OF the ways had come. BY
ommon consent they checked their
orses and made them stand side by
ide. Holt put out his hand and laid
! IN hers.
"Don't!" he said hnskily. II won't
isappoint you. No matter what my.
ody tells you, always remember that.
won't disappoint you! You needn't
hink I've forgotten or changed. I