The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-07-11
IIIETIEIIIEEtfFE
Copyright By A. O. McClurg b Co.
CHAPTER xxv--continued.

49,
She turned her head, and ] felt her
eyes searching the dim outline of my
face questioningly.
"Of course / did everything l knew"
she replied. why should l not? You
are here, Captain Carlyle, for my sake
{ owe you service"
"And must l be content merely with
hat ~thought?" I urged, far from
pleased. '"This would mean that your
snly interest In me arises from graft
rude"
"And friendship" her voice as conf
Dental as my own. "There is no rea-
ION why you should doubt that surely"
ut would be easier for me to under
stand, but for the memory Of what /
ana bond slave"
Your meaning is that true friend
ship has as a basis equality?"
docs Il not? Can real friendship
exist otherwiseT
"No," she acknowledged gravely.
HAnd the fact that such friendship
does exist between us evidences my
faith In you. 1 have never felt this
social distinction, Captain Carlyle,
have given II 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 a position OF command, won
by your own efforts. You bore the
part Of a man In q revolution II guilty
Of any crime, 1t was n political one, In
no way sullying your honor. l, have
avery reason to believe you were false
ly 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 nowf"
"And you would actually have me
speak with you as of your own class
a free man, worthy to claim your
friendship In nfe?"
"Yes," frankly, her face uplifted.
why should 1t 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. l
feel that your skill and courage will
bring US safely to land. / am no long
er afraid, for I have learned to trust
you. You possess my entire conf
dence."
"But do you understand fullyT I
questioned anxiously. "All / have done
Cor you would have been done for any
other woman under the same condi-
lions 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. a Joy.
[ have served Dorothy Fairfax for her
own sake--not as I would any other"
"Did you not suppose I knew?"
Her glance flashed into mine through
the star-gleam. with a sudden message
Of revealment.
"You knew-that-that 1t was you
personally I served?"
"Of course / knew. A woman Is
never unaware OF such things. Now,
Il ever, I 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 &C
luaintance, and give you my aid. Sure
" 1t Is not unmaidenly for me to con-
Tess this when we face the chance of
death togetherT
But" I stammered,s "T can scarcely
believe you realize your words. IL
love you Dorothy"
"And IL It not also possible for me
10 lover"
"You-you mean, you love mel"
81 love you-are you sorry?"
Sorry! I am mad with the 10y OF
Il; yet stricken dumb. Dorothy Fair,
Tax. I have never even dared dream OF
uch q message from your lips. Dear,
dear girl, do you forget who I am
What my future"
II forget nothing" she said, proud
". ut Is because I know what you
are that my heart responds. Nor Is
FOUR future so clouded. You are to.
day q free man II we escape these
perils, for whether Roger Fairfax be
alive, or dead, he will never seek you
again to hold In servitude. II alive he
will join his efforts with mine to oh.
tain a pardon because Of these serv.
Ices, and we have influence In Eng.
land. Yet, should such effort fail, you
are a sailor, and the seas Of the world
are free. 1t Is not necessary that your
vessel fly the English dag"
you give me hope-a wonderful
hope"
"And courage" her hands firmly
slasping mine. Courage to fight on
ln faith. ! would have that my gift to
vcu. Geoffry. We IN In peril still
great peril. but you will face II beside
ne. knowing that whether we live or
1is We are together. I Am not afraid
any moro"
-
CHAPTER xxvi.