RED OLOUD, NEBRASKA, CHIEF
QutftQI
Interview with the president. It wns
refused. He went to his lodgings nnd
spent the remainder of the day nnd
half the night drafting and redrafting
n concise statement of his argument
against Vundorvyn's contract. This ho
addressed to the president and
stamped for mailing. He wrote noth
ing with regard to his own case,
CHAPTER XXIV Continued.
13
He, In tr-.i, was so Intent upon ma
neuvering to have himself spoken to
uv iimt must L'cnlnl of hosts, the
vyn nnd Marie. At sight of Hardy tho
young man stopped short, hut, meet
ing tho president's cordial smile, camo
forward with easy assurance. Mnrle
did not look nt Hardy, as she fol
lowed. The president nddrcssed Vnndervyn :
"Captain Hardy has declined to ask
for clemency. I have decided to sum
When, near morning, he at last fell tain the findings of the court-martial.
president, that he failed to see Marie
until she spoke to him. The first sight
of her hewlldercd him. and his how
did not altogether hide the effects of
the delicious shock given him hy her
dazzling heauty. Hut he (illicitly re
covered his self-possession when he
mnv tlmt she was with Vnndervyn.
That young man, though more boyish
ly handsome than ever, hore hlnmclf
with rather a sullen air. He met Har
dy's clear gaze with a forced smile.
Tho smile became still more forced
when the girl transferred her hand
from his arm to Hardy's.
"Only a very few minutes," Hho
soothed tho disappointed lover.
"Whatever you say I" he deferred to
tier caprice, and he drew hack to speuk
to n sharp-eyed man near mo presi
Cent. Uardy was gazing Into the wonder
ful blue-black eyes of his companion.
They were as Inscrutable as when ho
bad lust looked Into their depths. He
tried to speak calmly, but his voice
hook.
"Do you know that you are by fur
tie most beautiful woman here?"
fcer long lashes drooped and roso
Ciun to disclose the same luscrutable
Wok.
So I have neen told several times
already I wished a few moments
...i.i !... T ..ili.lit flumlr vim for
wuii ju, nun. """ i --- jistriite
vrnir iri.ni.roHltv. It has given mo the , miMsiruii.,
great opportunity of my trip abroad
nnd this visit In Washington."
"Very good of you to offer. How
ever, I believe I have enough left to
lust me through. And In any event, I
could not Impose on your generosity.
The money would be used against him
which, you see. would hardly do."
"Then you refuse any loan?"
"It was most kind of you to maku
the oiler."
"Won Quixote de la Manehal" she
murmured.
"Tilting at machine windmills I" he
replied.
Though there was no trace of bitter
ness or satire In his wit, her chin lift
ed to the angle of offended pride.
"That Is sufficient, Captain Hardy.
May I ask you to take mo back to
him?"
Vnndervyn was waiting for her nenr
the president. As they approached
him, she gave Hardy a look of half
relentment. "You must understand,
Captain, that I must do as my heart
dictates, though I conress thnt loony
lug Is far from agreeable to me. I
have already met his excellency, and
he has been so kind as to promise mo
u hearing."
"I cannot wish you success," ho re
plied. She gave him a quizzical glance nud
turned nwuy with Vnndervyn.
Standing In tho eager, Jostling
crowd that waited for u word or even
a nod from the president, he fully ap
preciated the ease with which, In the
midst of so great u crush, sho man
aged to obtain several moments' con
versation upart with tho nation's chief
"I am saving all the reports of your
u'lal triumphs," he t
(nude me very happy
She was still besldo tho president
when tho shurp-eyed man to whom
Vnndervyn hud spoken cnine nrouuu
"I am saving a. me ren n" , M bpM,e llur(ly ulld mUru,red n few
social triumpns,- ne sum. xm-j ' i ,,,irila ,,, ,.,a ... t,lir(iv looked him
..., .. i ......... ... ...- - : . .
Again the girl's lashes drooped.
"That Is good of you It Is quite nec
essary for me to become the ragt If
I an) to force a recognition from Reg
trie's relatives. He says that, fortu-
tiately, his llancee has become interest
ed In another man who Is qu'to us eli
gible as himself."
Hardy's eyes contracted, yet he did
not falter:
"Since It will bring you happiness, I
wish him good fortune."
"You do?" The question was al
most an exclamation. Hut the girl nt
once regained her quiet composure.
"I do not understand. If you wish him
good fortune, why then do you seek
to prevent him from receiving his
compensation as uttoruey for tho
tribe?"
"I said good fortune," replied Har
dy. "Any money paid him on that
contract would ho tulnied."
Mario arched her black eyebrows.
"Is It not true that he will get through
u much linger appropriation than oth
erwise would have been mude?"
"Tho lands aro fully worth the
amount agreed upon," stated Hardy.
"The tribe should receive all tho ap
propriation. Honest lobbying would
enrry the bill through at a cost of a
few hundred dollars. These supposed
friends of the tribe want millions."
"Do you wish to deprive me of the
share that I would receive through
him?"
ys of every dishonest dollar,
Bald Hardy, his mouth stern, though
his eyes besought her to forgive his
harshness. "You lmvo enough al
ready." "Aro you certain?" she rejoined.
"You may have heard that mines often
pinch out or run into valueless ore
You can guess why Here and I have
told no one, least of all Reggie."
Hardy remained unshaken. "If he
Is worthy of you, that will mako no
difference to him."
"Rut myself? I am already used to
luxury," pleaded the girl.
"Down In your heart you know the
values In life that aro real," ho said.
"You do not wish for woulth gulned
through fraud."
"1 have not admitted that there Is
any fraud In tho contract."
"Perhaps It Is as well," ho remarked.
"You should not doubt your future
husband."
She Hashed him an odd, quizzical
look. "No, I cannot doubt my future
luidiiiinii now. Cuntnln Hurdy. I must
believe In him If-1 am to ho happy,
must I not?"
"Yes," agreed Hardy.
Sho uttered a gay llttlo trill of
laughter.
"That Is so good of you to say It,
Captain! It makes mo feel that I
reully must do something for you in
return. May I not oiler you u utiio
loan of, suy, three or four thousand
dollars? 1 understand that, for some
utrange reason or unreuson you
have refused your pay as captain."
"Mi resignation has not been with
drawn, and I am engaged In a private
enterprise. I cannot draw pay as an
officer In tho service," explained
Hardy.
"Few would be so quixotic," sho ar
gued. "Most would make the excuse
that an attempt to frustrate what they
considered a wrong to others Is not to
bo considered a private enterprise."
"I must beg to differ with you, Miss
Dupont."
"Then let It puss. Rut the llttlo
loan?"
In the eye, bowed, nnd quietly started
to move away. Tho man followed him
until he had left the White House.
CHAPTER XXV.
Condemned.
The court-martial begun its session
at nine In the morning, and the trial
of Hardy was over before three In the
afternoon. Vnndervyn testllled to tho
suppression by the accused of the ex
istence of the developed mine and of
Redbear'a misconduct.
Hardy's statements In explanation
of his actions wero as brief as they
were cold and dry. Acting as n civil
officer, he had considered tho question
of withholding any mention of the
mine as u matter within his discretion.
When Interrogated whether he had not
taken advantage of this suppression
to enter the contest and win the mine
for himself, his bald admission of the
fact, unaccompanied by any explana
tion or his motives, was received by
his officer Judges with marked gravity.
The other charges were far more
serious, and ho opposed them with
vigor. He denied emphatically any In
tention to desert or to remain perma
nently absent from his proper duties
without leave, and showed the tele-
m a i ii is
iff i esR r'
mSrm
!T jl r-nwi
4 l:::::::idw
1 -o
"I Could Not Impose on Your Gene
roslty."
arum from u high official in tho war
department that led him to hellevo his
resignation und application for leavo
of absence would be at once favorably
acted upou by his commanding officer
at Vancouver barracks. This, In somo
circumstances, might have been con
sidered sufficient excuso for his con
duct. Rut his refusal to explain his
reason for taking advantage of his se
cret knowledgo of tho mine perceptibly
Influenced tho members of the court
to doubt tho statement of his purposo
In coming to Washlugtou.
Though tho court-martial ndjourned
without rendering Its findings, he left
tho courtroom ten years older In up
asleep, he was so near exhaustion that
ho did not waken until lute. Tho Hour
set for the reconvening of the court
martial had already come. He sprang
Into his uniform with a celerity that
might have reminded a fellow officer
of reveille In cadet barracks at West
Point.
The worn soles of his highly pol
ished shoes beat a tattoo on the cur
petlcss old stairs by which he descend
ed to the street. He did not turn to
go In for a belated breakfast at the
meager table or his landlady, no
hastened along tho few feet of narrow
hall to the street door. As he drew
It open, another man In uniform
stepped Into tho doorway nnd con
fronted him. The other officer saluted.
Hardy responded mechanically. For
all his cool look, he was astonished.
The man before him was the presi
dent's military aide.
"Captain Floyd Hardy?"
"At your service."
"You should now he In nttendunco
upou the court-murtlal," stated the
aide with cold severity.
"I shall explain to the court," re
plied Hardy. "If not delayed, I shall
be only u few "
"You will como with me," interrupt
ed the nlde, still more severely. "Your
conduct has been brought to tho at
tention of the president. It Is to ho
seen, sir, whether you will continue to
refuse to answer the Inquiries of your
superiors."
Hardy went white, hut his Jaw set
linn with grim resolution. He stepped
out beside the aide, and crossed the
sidewalk to the waiting motor. As
they were whirled awny over tho sleety
asphalt, the nlde sat with more than
mllltury stiffness, his head and body
half averted from his companion us If
to nvold contamination. Hurdy sat
as stiffly ut the other extremo of the
sent.
Tho ride was short Tho car made
n sudden turn, and curved uround to
the executive offices of the president.
Ilnrdv looked nt his companion, per
plexed. The face of the uldo showed
only tho stern watchfulness or ono
who has a reputedly dangerous pris
oner under arrest. At the entrance he
stepped behind, ns If apprehensive thnt
Hardy might attempt to escape. A
doorkeeper conducted them along n
corridor Into a smnll waiting room.
llH missed Into the room beyond, but
reappeared in n few moments nnd
signed to Hardy to enter.
Hardy stepped Into the room, and
tho door was closed behind him. Tho
aide nnd the doorkeeper had remained
outside. Hardy looked around with a
frown of perplexity. Across tho room
n man sat writing at a businesslike
desk. There wus no ono else pres
ent. The man turned In his swivel chair
and abruptly made a beckoning ges
ture. Hardy's hand went up In salute
as he stepped forward. Ho was In tho
presence of the commander In chief of
the army and navy.
Tho president looked him up and
down with n severe glance.
"You are Captain Floyd Hardy?"
"Yes, sir."
"The sumo who suppressed tne luto
Insurrection In the Sulus?"
"I happened to bo In command at
tho time, sir."
"After that you obtained n detail,
your conduct In discharge of which
has resulted In your trlul by court
ninrtliil on serious charges. I have be
fore me the findings of the court. Tho
circumstances are exceptional. Re.-,
cause of your record and of certain
statements thnt have been presented
to me, I have neen pcrsuuucu io kij
you an opportunity to explain your
conduct."
Hardy saluted. "Permit me, sir, to
llrst present for your consideration a
matter relating to the Interests of tho
tribe which"
"Stop I" ordered tho president.
"Others are waiting for Interviews. I
can give you only ten minutes. If you
expend them on this other matter, you
will have no further opportunity to
state your own case."
"Tho evidence heforo tho court-martial
covered the facts, sir. If thoso
facts sustain tho charges against me,
Mien I am guilty, and desire no clem
ency. That Is nil I have to say on my
own case, sir. With regard to tho mut
ter which I desire to present"
"Sit downl" ordered the president.
Vmi tmvo nine minutes. Ro brief."
Hardy seated himself and proceeded
to present his argument against tho
Vnndervyn contract. Ho spoke delib
erately, hut with a conciseness that
covered what he had to say fully and
clearly, In words as forceful as they
were few. Tho president listened at
tentively, but with no change In his ex
pression. At tho end of eight mlnutej
Hurdy stopped.
Tho president showed a trnco of sur
prise. "Is that all you havo to say?
There Is still a minute."
"Thnt Is all, sir," replied Hardy, rls-
ing.
In tho face of all this, he has hud the
temerity to miike n charge of fruud
against your Indian contract."
Vnndervyn nodded: "Captain Hardy
Is too skilled u strategist not to realize
that the best way to shield himself !
to raise the cry of 'stop thief I' against
others. Docs he allege that the signa
tures to my contract are forged?"
"Tho signatures are genuine. They
wero obtained by fraud," bluntly
charged Hardy.
"My word Is ns good or perhaps
somewhat better than that of a cash
iered officer," rejoined Vnndervyn.
"You deny the charge," the president
stated rather than Inquired.
"Most emphatically," plensantly
agreetl Vnndervyn. He looked signifi
cantly from Hardy to Marie. "As a sol-
tf 0771 . AU r
! 7" 7ATS
V 1111
"My Word's as Good or Better Than a
Cashiered Officer's."
The president touched a call button,
penranco than when ho entered. The but raised his finger. "One moment.
regretful, commiserating glance of tho
most friendly of his Judges seemed
plainly to Indlcuto what would bo the
findings. Tho thought of voluntarily
resigning from the sorvlco hud been
hard. To be cashiered was almost unendurable.
Yet he walked out with his hack
What If I should confront you witu
witnesses?"
"As I have stated, sir, my only re
quest Is that nil tho witnesses In tho
caso bo exumlned."
"Thero aro somo nlrendy at hand.
ou shall seo what they lmvo to suy
about your charges."
Tho aide appeared and Immediately dorvyn.
dler until recently the gallant cap
tain probably believes In tho saying
that all Is fair in wur and love."
Marie lowered her eyes. The presi
dent looked thoughtful. "Of course,
Mr. Vundervyn, there can be uo ques
tion, when It Is u matter of your word
nulnst his. Yet were there any other
witnesses than yourselves and the In
dluns?" "Your excellency evidently has not
seen the contract," said Vnndervyn. "It
Is duly witnessed by Charlie Redbear,
the official Interpreter, und by his sis
ter."
"Ah, tho Interpreter, you say? This
matter may be rumored in the house
und even In the somite. It will bo
well for you to send for tho man."
Vnndervyn shrugged. "Can't do It,
even to oblige you, Mr. President. Tho
fellow hns gone to the place where
cold storage Is unknown. My undo
told you nbout the affair. The fellow
was drunk ; he aimed his 'gun' ut me.
I supposed It loaded, and shot him In
self-defense. Hardy was present. He
can't deny what I say, without for
swearing himself."
Ilnrdy met the president's look of
Inquiry, und bowed In confirmation of
the statement. The president aguln
looked thoughtful. "That leaves the
mun's sister us the only witness to tho
contract. It would be well if she could
be produced."
The uldo left the room. Vnndervyn
again shrugged. "Search has been
mnde for her, Mr. President. All that
could bo learned from her Indian rela
tives was that she had been very sick
nnd had gone away. Of course that
meant to the happy hunting grounds.
Thero wns no other pluco that she
could huvu gone."
Tho nlde returned to tho room lead
ing a tall young woman who was
,ir,.sspil in n Parisian tailored suit
that Vundervyn hud last seen on
Mnrle. She was gloved and heavily
veiled, and she entered the room with
perceptible timidity. Marie went to
tako her arm In a reassuring clnsp and
rnlso tho veil. At uo tlmo slnco their
coming to Washington had Vnndervyn
been given so much as a slimpso
Miss Dupont's reputed Hindu maid.
This undoubtedly was tho woman, and
ho looked at her with shurp curiosity
ns Mario raised tho veil. Mario step
ped aside and gavo him a full view of
tho girl's face.
"Olnual" ho exclaimed.
"Yes. Is It not a happy surprise?"
said Marie.
Sho smiled at tho shrinking girl,
and drew her ubout to tho president.
"My dear, this Is the great White Fa
ther of all Indians und of our tribe
ho Is our father your excellency, this
is Mrs. Reginald Vundervyn." '
Tho blow was given with merciless
force. As Vandervyn gnpeu ui uiunu,
her eyes Unmcd with a sudden up
leaplug of flerco exultuuce.
Ho gasped and choked out: "You
you l All theso mouths this you
Indian I"
"Yes, Indian to you, even as sho
was Indian to you I" cried tho girl.
"Vou hnvo been so euger to marry a
'breed girl hero Is one, already your
wlfnl"
"It's a lie a black lie I" denied Van
dervyn. "I never married her I"
"You took her by tribal custom, and
you told her that you wero taking her
legnlly according to tho common law."
"Sho cannot Drove I lived with her
openly as her husband," rejoined Vuu-
you wish him to acknowledge you ns
his wife?"
"No, no, slrl" she disclaimed. "I
don't want him any more."
"I nm plensed to hear you say that,"
replied tho president. Ho turned to
Vandervyn. "I understand this witness
Is prepared to testify that tho signa
tures to your contract were obtained
on the false representation that It was
a second copy of tho minutes of tho
tribal council."
"It's n lie!" hoarsely replied the
young man. "Hardy knows nothing
about It. There's only her word
against mine."
"We can send for the Indian wit
nesses, If necessary. Another matter
ut the Inquest you testified under
oath Mint a certain Indian killed Agent
Xogen, and that you ami Itedbeur then
killed the murderer. When you shot
Ucdbeur, you rode off, certain that he
was dead. He lived long enough to
confess himself the murderer of Agent
Xogen. Why did you perjure yourself
ut the Inquest?"
"You can't prove It," defiantly chal
lenged Vandervyn. "I stand by my
testimony. This squaw and Hardy
have hatched up the He between them.
Even If! Itedbeur mnde such a confes
sion, It Is only hearsay and not legul
evidence."
"Your friend Redhenr seems to hnve
enjoyed shooting at agents," remarked
tho president. "He also confessed to
having made the two attempts on tho
life of Captain Hardy. In view of your
perjured testimony nt the Xogen In
quest, one Is led to Infer n not Im
probable connection between those ut-
tenints nnd your enmity to Captain
Ilnrdy. Rut the point at present Is
whether you still Insist upon the val
idity of your contract. Do you wish
uu official Investigation that will take
the evidence of the Indian witnesses?"
A cold sweat was gathering on Van
dervyn's forehead. He looked nt Marie.
Sho turned from him, nfruld that he
might misconstrue tho womanly soft
ness into which her Qerco resentment
had melted. He wheeled about, nnd left
the room, sullen, unrepentant, defiant.
"A very great, pity," commented the
president. "Young und clever, hand
some, well educated, good social stand
ingyet all wasted I Courage misdi
rected; no sense of shame; unmoral,
rather than immoral. He win nue
hard to still harder fulls than this
one. or else to whut the world calls
success. Rut I am too busy n man to
morullze. If you will pardon me,
ladles, there is to be a cubinet meet
ing."
He bowed to them, nnd then con
fronted Hardy. "Sir, I warned you
Mint If you did not speuk in your own
defense, you would have no other op
portunity. I shall not reverse my ap
proval of the findings of the court-
martial."
the
Ilnrdv had stood nn amazed nnd
dutnfounded spectntor to the rejection
and disgrace of his rival. Rut through
out It all Marie had never onco looked
at him. If her scornful casting off of
Vnndervyn had roused any hopes for
himself, they must have been dashed
when she led Olnnn away without fa
voring him with so much as a glance
nf romimltlon. Thero wns a slight
stoop in his shoulders as he saluted
the president.
"If the sentence approved ly your
excellency does not muke association
with mo scandalous," he said, "I beg
leave to express my thanks for the
Intimation that you will invalidate tho
fraudulent contract."
Without replying, tho president
abruptly fnced about to his desk.
Ilnrdv again saluted, nnd marched
from the room us if on dress purudc.
CHAPTER XXVI.
but was l7Tsed to perceive
change In i"i expression.
"Acquitted honorably on nil
charges 1" he murmured. "On all
charges I Honorable mention recom
mended Approved tho President."
Marie smiled with cool condescen
sion. "Merely n question of doing justice
to you, Captain Hardy. When it mau
hns done his duty, however harshly,
It Is the duty of others to see that ho
receives just compensation. I take
credit for having helped to bring this
about."
"You?" he exclntmcd. "Of course,
though, If you really did not lovo
him"
"That does not follow. You must
know I did lovo him. Rut to find that
I had for rival another 'breed girl
one not half so beautiful as I I could
not endure the thought. You hnvo
seen the proof that there Is a good deal
of my mother's red grandfather In my
blood. No, I had to give him up, nnd
I havo decided to marry another man."
"Another I" echoed Hardy.
"Will you not congratulnto Jie?"
she asked.
He rallied. "I congratulate him.
.After what has happened, I feel confi
dent that you must hnvo chosen some
one more worthy of you."
"He Is!" declared the girl, her glo
rious eyes melting with tenderness.
"He Is far more worthy of mo than 1
am of him!"
With nn effort she recovered her cool
composure.
"Rut now. before going, I wish to
tako this opportunity to discharge in
a way the obligation that, ns a member
of the tribe, I owe to you for your
services. I shall therefore return tha
mine to you."
She held out a document H
stepped back.
"Xo, Miss Dupont," he said. "I can
not ticcept it."
"You must. I took It from you.
Though I hnve used the income from
It not altogether for personal gratifi
cation, you must realize that my pride
will not permit me to keep it uny
longer. Let me add thut it hns not
pinched out, as you may huve Inferred
from what I said at the ball. It Is a
bonnnzn."
"I regret that I cannot accept it, ne
replied. "A captain's pay Is qulto suf
ficient for a bacluv'or."
Mnrle gave him a mocking glance.
"Really now, Captain Hurdy, you do
not expect me to believe you will long
remain unmarried?"
He tried his best to conceal how her
frivolity tortured him. "You mny not
believe It, Miss Dupont Yet It la
true."
"It Is not," she contradicted. "When
we were ubroad, Pore and I went to
Monte Carlo. I funcy the gambling
snlrlt Infected me. Let us settle the
straight and his head well up. He Tho nlde nppeureu ami lmmeniniciy ueryu. , ,,,,, nt ,i,n shrink-.
The Sentence.
In tho anteroom tho doorkeeper
waved Hardy to a door on the right.
It led him Into n stenographers' room.
He saw the flounce of a woman's skirt
behind a revolving bookcase near the
far end of the room, nnd paused.
Someone stepped Into the room after
him. and touched him uuthorltutlvely
on the .shoulder.
"Ono moment. Captain nardy
your sentence."
He turned nnd faced the president's
aide with the clear, unlllnchlng gaze
of a brave man about to bo shot, ine
aldo saluted with punctilious formnl
Ity. Hardy responded with equal for
mulltv. Tho aldo presented an official
document, saluted, and withdrew from
the room.
For a long moment nnrdy stood with
tho decree of his fate slowly crumpling
In his hand. His eyes were llxed ou
vacancy. Doubtless ho wns seeing the
years or soiuieny comniui-aiuti
duty that now lay in tho past nud the
vision of the career to which ho was
to have given tho utmost of his pow
ers. Ho had always loved his profes
sion und now
Tho woman whoso skirt ho hnd seen
was In front of him beforo ho became
aware of her presence. Uo found him
self looking into tho cool, half-mocking
fuco of Murle.
"Aro you afraid to rend your sen
tence?" sho taunted. "Had It not been
for you, ho would havo had the mlno
und n million from his contract and
me. The president conferred with ben
ntor Clemmer nn hour ngo. The treuty
appropriation bill will bo passed wiui
n clause that no commission Is to bo
pnld for tho services of any tribal
agent or representative. Ho has lost
everything. And now I nm waiting
to seo you read that paper."
Ilnrdv drew himself up, opened tho
envelope, took out tho document and
read.
As Mnrlo snw tho look of blank In
credulity that camo into his face, her
eyes flashed under tho lowering veil of
their long lushes. Uo stnred up at her,
ownership of the mine with a wager.
If you do not marry this year, I agree
to keep It. Rut If you marry wlthli
thut time, you will accept It back from
me on your wedding day."
"It Is not fair for me to bet on a cor
talnty; but If you insist, I ugrce to thi
wager," suld Hurdy.
"Then be prepared to tnke the mini
n week from today," she bantered.
He tore his gaze away from the
lovely face whose gay smile nppcared
so heartlessly mocking.
"You cannot realize how this"
She handed him unothcr sealed en
velope. "Here Is the order detailing you xo
special service with the general staff
for the winter. You will then be re
quired to return to the reservation and
carry out all the plans recommended
by you for the civilizing of the tribe.
Your mare Is In the same stable as the
thoroughbred that I have bought to
use as her riding mate."
The changed tono In the girl's voice
compelled Hardy to look up. In her
radiant eyes he saw a look that could
not be mistaken. Tho smllo that had
seemed so mocking was now tenderly
teasing.
"Marie vou " he stammered. "Are
you certain It Is love not a passing
feeling of pity?"
"Pity! For you?" sho cried. "Do
you tlilnk I could dnre pity you? a
man llko you 1 I could not hnve been
so presumptuous even hnd Uiosa
treacherous conspirators succeeded hi
crushing you. Do you think it wns
pity that made me live a lie all this
time that forced mo to flout you and
accept his detestablo attentions?"
Her voice sunk to a note of deep
humility.
"I know how very unworthy of you
I urn. Yet I hopo I am not so un
worthy ns thut llrst duy ut tho coulee,
when I scorned you, nnd you, with
your skill and couruge and moderation,
saved us without harming those whoso
attack he hud wuntonly brought upon
us. I wus n coquette a coquette In
fatuated with tho kind of man with
whom a coquetto deserves to be Infat
uated. Rut I was not altogether friv
olous. I soon perceived your Immeas
urable superiority over him. Only my
head could not overcome the fascina
tion that had bound my heart My
soul sought to free Itself from tho
sptll I struggled und prayed Yet
not until thero at the mine, when you
showed yourself tho bruvest. the most
geuerous "
Sho flung out her arms to him In
piteous appeal. "Captuln! My cap
tnln ! Sny thnt you do not think me
altogether what he thought mo!"
Hardy drew her hands together, nnd
bent to kiss them wlUi reverent pas
sion. "Dearest," ho replied, "you forgot
that other day In tho coulee that day
when you thought mo dying. I gazed
up Into your eyes, and I saw tho look,
of my moUier."
(TUE END.)
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