The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1925-03-04

stability; she Ionged with all her
heart to lean within the arms out
stretched toward her; she knew that,
IL she had given Lancaster life, he
could give her the strength of life I;
he was Of her own people, and all that
was chIvalric and dear in the land
she had loved seemed embodied in
him. And before her she saw the
closing hospital walls Of some far dis
tant city: she must exile herself from
everything that she had known.
You little stubborn thing, Joan!"
said Lancaster tenderly. But l shall
go on loving you"
Il shall love you, John"
Il shall hear from you sometimes?"
Yes. And l shall remain in Avon
mouth until your battle is won. But
there will be no battle. They know
that they are beaten. You will never
be weak again."
NO." said Lancaster "But, o Joan,
II you had said yes to me 1t would
have been so easy"
With the maternal feeling that is
part of every woman's love for the
man she loves, she stopped and kissed
his forehead.
You must try to sleep now" she
said. Il shall leave the revolver
with you, and you shall lock your
door"
Il am not afraid of them" he an
swered. "They can do nothing, Joan.
Keep 1t to assure you Of your own
safety"
That seemed the better way. There
was nothing that the pair could do
to Lancaster. If they aimed at any
)ne 1t would be she. She saw that,
md she went out without speaking to
lancaster again. In the hall she
'reathed more freely. 1t WAS ended
low, and she knew that she had done
he right thing. the only possible
hing. But Lancaster had not sur
Missed the terrific woman's battle
which she had fought during those
asst few minutes.
She stood In the hall for few mo-
lents In uncertainty. She did not
lean to sleep, but to lie awake with
er door open, resting, and listening
Or any movements In the house. But,
nough her brain was awake, she was
lore tired than she had ever been
! her life. She could hardly drag
er limbs upstairs, and again she had
nat sense of walking on air. Under
lie little burning lamp she stopped
gain to gather strength to go to her
pom. The ticking Of the clock in I
lie hall below was the only sound In
lie house. She strained her ears to
itch the sound of voices from Myers
'om, but she could hear nothing. q
ct the men could not be asleep. h
hey must be planning together. t
The silence In the ramshackle old 1
Hiding was CHASTITY one. 1t seemed d
hide innumerable thoughts, as If ,
ose of all who had ever lived within Il
! walls survived. breaking upon her Al
ain In Invisible waves. She felt en- IL
eshed In web, as the dreamer who a
ruggles to wake into free life from II
e horrors Of nightmare. The wind a
d gone down, and the raindrops h
pped rhythmically from the caves.
Joan had an intense inclination to ly
to run back into Lancas- IN
IS room, cry to him to help her. to az
her fight beside him as long as pl
" lived. And the silence which III
s becoming more terrific every mo- DC
mt, was Enthusiastically malevolent. tn
She reached her room and tried to pr
Ike away her fears. She went to Al
window and leaned out. The night G.
5 clearing, and delicious air blew ~
from the hills. Not light was to
seen in Millville or Lancaster And
wept again, heartbroken. 1t was tb,
ended, that peace which had begun ~,
lnclose her, and all her hopes, and IN,
that love within was bound up so 70,
mately with the idea of home. IN,
(TO BE CONTINUED.) h.,