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Show THE VIOLA MS CHAPTER XXIII GWYN By GEORGE DAM1 McCUTCHEON She cannot give herself to you except at a cost to me. There can be nothing "I want yoa to know, Viola dear, between you until I stand before the before I go away," he said huskily, world and say there Is no reason why "that I can and will give you back the you should not be married to each name Gvvynne, and with my name I other. Do you wonder that she does give more love thun ever any man had not know her own heart?" "And I would not deserve her love for woman before Ijp all this world. I e to ask you to pay lay my hert at your feet. It Is yours and trust If 1 whether you choose to pick It up or that prlf, Carter," said he HOT." stendlly. . "Good-byShe slowly withdrew fcer hand. Kenneth," she said, after Neither of them heard the long, deep a moment, she held out her hand. "Will y:m take my hand Just this Blgh In the darkness beside them. "I don't know what to nay to you, once, boy?'' Ue did no hesitate. He grasped the Kenny," she murmured, R.;.nost hard, hand firmly In his. "We ccn never be friends. Rachel "There Is wiling for you to sny, Viola, ura'.Ms you love me. I am sorry Carter but, us God Is my witness. I If I have distressed you. I only wanted am no longer your enemy," he said. you to know before I go away thut 1 with filing. "Good-by.He was half-walove you." down to the gate "I I am glad you love me, Kenny. when she called to him: It makes me very happy. Rut It Is all "Walt, Kenneth. Moll has some bo strange, so unreal. I rnn't seem to thing for you." convince myself that it Is right for lie turned back and met Mull Hawkyou to love me or for me to love you. as she came swiftly toward him. It will all Some d'lj, perhaps, "Here's somethin' fer you to carry straighten Itself out In my mind and In your pocket, Mr. Gwynne," said the then I will know whether it Is love voice. girl In her hoarse, the kind of love you want or just o 'No harm c'n ever come to you as long dear, sweet affection that I feel for as you got this with you In your you." pocket er anywheres. Hit's a charm "I understand," he snld gravely. "It an old Injln chief give my pap when la too soon for you to know. A brothhe wuz with the tribe, lone before I er turned Into a lover, as If by mnglc, ivuz born. Pap lost It the day before and you are bewildered. I can only he wuz tooken up by the sheriff, er pray that the time will come when else he never would ha' had setch had your heart tells you that you love me luck. I found It day before yesterday as I want you to, and as I love you." when I wuz down to the cabin, seein' They spoke thus freely before the about movln' our hogs an' chickens an' girl's mother, for th.os were the days bosses over to Mis' Gwyn's barn. The when a man's courting was not done only reason the Injun give it to pap It is doubtful, how- wuz beca'se he wuz over a hundred surreptitiously. ever. If they remembered her pres- years old an' didn't want to warn off ence. death no longer. Hit's Just a little "There have been times " she be- round stone with somethin' fer nil the gun, n trace of eagerness In her voice, world like eyes an' nose an' mouth on "when something seemed to tell me one side of It Jest as if hit had been that that I ought to keep away from carved out, only hit wnzn't. Hit's Jest natural. Hit keeps off sickness an' you. I used to have the queerest sensations running all over " She did death an' bad luck, Mr. Gwynne. Tap not complete the sentence; instead, as knowed be wuz goin' to ketch the devil If in a sudden panic over the nearness lie minute he found out be lost It. of uumuideiily revelations, she some- I tole Miss Violy I wanted fer you to what breathlessly began all over have It with you while you wuz off again: "I guess It must" have been a figlitin' the Injuns, nn' she said she'd a warning, or something." love me to her dyln' day If I would give "They say there is such a thing as you the loan of It. Mebby you don't n ' magnetic current between human believe In charms on' signs nn' all beings," lie said. "It was that. Viola. setch stuff, but It can't hurt you to Mie You felt my love laying hold upon you, carry It an' an' bit's best to be safe side. I'lease keep It, Mr. Gwynne." touching you, caressing you." It was a round object no bigger "The oilier night, when you held me so close to you, I I couldn't think than a hickory nut. He had taken it from her hand and was running his of you as my brother." Out of the darkness spoke Rachel thumb over Its surface while she was Carter. speaking. He could feel the tiny nose "You lovf each other," ehe said. and the little Indentations that pro "There is uo use trying to explain or duced the effect of eyes. "Thank you, Moll," he said, sincerely acffunt fur your feelings. The day you came here, Kenneth Gwynne, I touched. "It's mighty good of you. I faw the handwriting on the wall. I will bring It back to you. never fear, knew that this would happen. It was and I hope that after It has served me us certain as the rising of the sun. It Ithfully for a little while It may do would have been as useless for me to the same for you till you, too, have attempt to stop the rising sun as to seen a hundred and don't want to live try to keep you two from falling In any longer. What was It Mlsg Viola love with each other. It was so writ- said to you?" "I guess I hadn't ought to said fhst?" ten long ago." "Hut, mother, I am not sure how she mumbled. "Anyhow. 1 nln't go!n' Mr. ran you say that I am In love with to say It over again. Gooi-hy- , him when I don't know It myself?" Gwynne and t.ake good keer o' yourself." cried Viola. With that she hurried bnck to the "When you came, Kenneth, I knew that my days were numbered," went house, and he. after a glance np at window which he on the older woman, leaning forward the second-storIn her chair. "The truth would have knew to be Viola's, bent his steps to come out. A force I could not stand homeward. His saddlebags were already packed, up against had entered the field. For want of a better word we will call It his pistols cleaned and oiled; the rifle lie had borrowed from Fate. It Is useless to fight Fate. If I had never told you two the truth the tavern keeper was In prime order Ziichurlnh hud about yourselves, you would have for the expedition. found it out anyway. You would have gotten out his oldest clothes, his fbl-- k found It out In the touch of your riding boots, a llnsy shirt nnd the hands. In the leap of the blood. In Hie rough but serviceable buckskin cap strange, mysterious desire of the flesh thut old Mr. I'rice had hobbled over over which the soul ling no control. to the office to give him after the first You began loving him. Viola without day of drill with the sententious reknowing It that night at liilneas mark that a "plug hat was a petty You " Strikerthing to perude around In but It wasn't "How can you say such a thing, a very bandy sort of a but lo be mother?" cried Viola hotly. "I was In buried In." Kenneth's lamp burned far Into the love with Harry Iapelle at that " "You were never In love with night. Not once but many times he took up from the table a short, Barry," broke In her mother calmly. Us condocument and "I think i ougnt lo know when l am In love and when I am not. I am go tents, which were entirety In his own ing In the house. It is not for you or cramped, scholastic hand save for the anybody else to say I am In love with names of two witnesses a( the end. It was his Inst will and testament, drawn Kenny. Good night, Kenny." he remind"I came to ay good-by,up that very day. MIndn Carter was named therein as his sole legatee ed her. She paused with her hand on the "Minda Carter, at present known as latch. He heard the little catch In Viola Gwyn, the daughter of Owen and Knrhet Carter." Ills father had. her breath. Then she turned impul slvely and came buck to him. "1 will to all Intents and purposes, cut her off miss you. Kenny I will mls ynu ter without a penny, nn Injustice which would be righted (n case of his own Kenneth Gwynne." rlbly. Gooil-hy- . "Good by, Minda Curler," be said death. It was near midnight when he blew M'lftly. and ngiiln raised her hand to Ms Hps. "My little Mindii grown tip mil the light and threw hlmclf fully to be the most beautiful queen In all dressed upon the Ited. Sleep would not come. At lust. In ilepcratlon. he the world." Klie turned and fled swiftly Into the got up and stole guiltily, out Into the yard. Presently bouse. They beard her go racing up the stniis then a ibur open and slam lie was standing at the fence separat ing the two yards, bis elbows on the shut ngnln. "Hie would be very happy tonight. top rail, his gloomy, lovelorn gaze Kenneth. If it were not for one thing. was steadfastly fixed t'pon Viola's 4 ftacbel. "I atill aland In the war. darkened window. Continued. 15 w-- toll-wor- n " y - low-pitch- d - legal-lookin- g d " TIMES-NEW- S, He did not know how long he had been standing there when his ear caught the sound of a gently-closin- g door.. A moment later a dim, shadowy figure appeared at the corner of the house, stood motionless for a few seconds and then came directly toward him. He rubbed his eyes. "Viola 1" he whispered. "Oh, Kenny," she faltered, and her voice was low and soft like the sigh"I I am so ing of the wind. ashamed. What will you think of me for coming out here like this?" The god of Love gave hlra wings. He was over the fence, she was in his arms, and lie was straining the warm, pliant body close to his bursting breast. His lips were on hers. He felt her stiffen and then relax in swift surrender. Her heart, stilled at first, began to beat tumuituously against his breast; her free arm stole about his neck nnd tightened as the urge of a sweet, 'Overwhelming passion swept over her. At last she released herself from his embrace and stood with bowed head, her hands pressed to her eyes. "I didn't mean to - do it I didn't mean to do this," she was murmuring. "You love me you love me," he whispered, his voice trembling with Joy. He drew her hands down from her eyes nnd held them tight in his own. "Say yoa do, Viola speak the words." "It must be love." she sighed. "What else could make me feel as I do now as I did when you were holding me, nnd kissing me? Oh oh yes, I do I know it now. I love you, Kenny. love you with all my soul." She was In his arms again. "But," she panted a little later, "I swear I didn't know it when I came out here, Kenny I swear I didn't." "Oh yes, you did," he cried triumphantly. "You've know It all the time, only you didn't understand." Then "I wonder," she mused. quickly, shyly: "I ha J no Idea it could come like this that it would be like this. I feel so queer. My knees are all trembly It's the strangest feeling. I Now you must let me go, Kenny. must not stay out here with you. It Is terribly late. I " "I can't let you go yet, dearest. Come! We will sit for a little while on the steps. Don't leave me yet, Viola. It Is all so wonderful, so unbelievable. And to think I was looking up at your window only a few minutes ago, wishing that you would It fly down to me. Good heavens! can't be a dream, can it? AH this Is real. Isn't It?" She laughed softly. "It can't be a dream with me, because I haven't even been In bed. I've been sitting up there In my window for hours, looking over at your house. When your light went . ' "iN ttx jtrV s1 NEPHI, UTAH After a while, she spoke, and there was a note of despair In her voice: "What Is to become of us,. Kenny? What are we to do?" "No .power on earth can take you away from me now, Minda," le said. "Ah that's It," she said miserably. "You call me Minda and si ill you wonder why I ask what we are to do." "You mean about " "We can be nothing more to each other than we are now. There is someone else we must think of. I I forgot her for a little while, Kenny I was so happy that I forgot her." "Were ever two souls so tried as ours," he groaned, and again silence fell between them. Kneeling at the window from which Viola had peered so short a time before, looking down upon the figures under the tree, was Rachel Carter. She could hear their low voices, and her ears, made sharp by pain, caught the rapturous and the forlorn passages breathed upon the still air. She arose stiffly and drew back Into the darkness, out of the dim, starlit path, and standing there with her head high, her arms outspread, she made her solemn vow of "I have no right to stand between them and happiness. They have done no wrong. They do not deserve to be punished. My mind Is made up. Tomorrow I shall speak. God has brought them together. It is nor for me to keep them apart. Aye, tomorrow I shall speak." Then Rachel Carter, at peace with herself, went back to her bed across the hall and was soon asleep,: a smile upon her lips, the creases wiped from between her eyes as If by some magic soothing bund. CHAPTER XXIV The Ending. At crack-o-diiKenneth rode out of his stableyard on Brandy Boy, and went cantering away, followed on foot by the excited Zachariah, bound for tlie parade ground where the "soly diers" were to concentrate. The rider turned In his saddle to wave' farewell to the little group huddled at Rachel's gate three tall women who waved back to him. Rounding the bend, he sent a swift glance over his shoulder. There was but one figure at the gate now; she blew a kiss to him. Nearly three hundred horsemen moved out of Lafayette that forenoon amidst the greatest excitement and enthusiasm. Most of them swam their horses across the river, too eager to wait for the snail-likferry to transport them to the opposite bank. They were fearfully and wonderfully armed and equipped for the expedition. Guns of all descriptions and ages; pistols, axes, knives and diligently scoured swords; pots and pans nnd kettles; blankets, knapsacks and parcels of varying sizes; In all a strange nnd motley assortment that would have caused a troop of regulars to die of laughter. Hut the valiant spirit was there. Even the provident nnd gentlemen who strapped cumbersome and in some cases voluptuous umbrellas (because of their extraneous contents) across their backs alongside the guns, were no more timorous than their swnshbuckling neighbors who scorned the temjiest even as they scoffed at the bloodthirsty redskins. Four heavily laden wagons brought up the rear. Kenneth Gwynne rode beside the who Hillings, "Judge" ubiquitous cheerfully and persuasively sought to swap" horses with him when not oth erwise employed In discoursing upon the vast Inefficiency of certain specifically named officers who rode In all their plump glory at or near the head of the column. He was particularly out of sympathy with a lieutenant. "Why." snld he, "if the cnptnln was to say 'halt' suddenly that feller'd lose his mind tryln' to think what to do. No more head on him than a grass hopper. And him up there glvln orders to lot of bright fellers like you an' me as' the rest of us! By gosh. I'd like to be hldia' around where I could see the look on the Indian's face that sculps him. The minute he got through scrnpln" a little hide nn hair off of the top o that feller's head he'd be able to see clear down to the back of bis Adam's apple." Historians have recorded the experiences and achievements of this gallant troop of horse. It Is not the Intention of the. present chronicler to digress. Nine or ten days after they rode out from Lafayette, the majority of the Company rode back again and were received with acclnlm. As a matter of fact. Black Hawk was at no time near the Indiana bor der. His operation were" confined to northwestern Illinois., Kenneth Gwynne did not go back to Lnfayette with the main body of troops; he decided to Join Captain McGeorge and lilt undaunted tittle band of adventurers. He would have been amazed, even shocked, could he have known alt that transpired In Lafrytte on the day fol lowing his departure. He was not to know for many a day. as It was nearly three weeks after the return of the main body of troops that McGeorge nnd his little band rode wearily down through the Grand I'ralrle and entered the town, their approach being heralded by a scout sent on In advance. Kenneth searched eagerly among the crowd on the river bank, seeking the face that had bnunted til m throughout alt the Irksome days and nights; he looked for the beloved one to whom his thoughts had sped each night for communion at ie foot of the blosed elm. She wet niwhere to be seen. He was bitterly disappointed. As soon as possible he escaped from bis comrade tad hurtled borne. e d "What Will You Think of Me for Com ing Out Here Like This?" I was terribly lonely, l es, and I wns a little put out with you for going to bed. Then I saw you cop- - and lean on the fence. I knew you were looking up at my window and I was sure that ynu could see me in spite of the You never moved Just darkness. stood there with your elbows on the fence, staring up at me. It made me very lincomfortabe, lecause I was In my nightgown. So I made up my mind to get ln;o bed nnd pull the coverlet up over my head. Hut 1 didn't do It. I put n my dress everything rhoes out, and stockings and all and then I went back to see If you were still there. There you were. You hadn't moved. So I sat down again and After awhile I I watched you. well, I Just couldn't help creeping downstairs and coming out to to say You good by to you aguln. Kenny. looked so lonesome." "I was lonesome," he said "terribly lonesome." She led him to a crudely constructed bench at the foot of towering elm whose lower branches swept the nf the roof. "Let us sit here, Kenny dear." she said. "It Is where I shall come nnd sit every night while yon nre gone away. It will be the trystlng place for our thoughts." "Hint's wonderful. Viola," he snld, Impressed. "The tryoflng place for our thoughts." Aye, and that It shall be. Kvery night, no mntfer where my body mny go or what jerll Ii may be In. 1 shall be here beside ynu in my fore-corn- thilKht." She rested against Mm, In the crook of his strong right arm. her head ngnlttst Ms shoulder, and they both fell silent and pensive under the spell of a wondrous enchantment. There he learned from Rachel Carter to react with grave consequences upon herself that Viola had gone away, the very people you would er be- Your daughter will not the er Ignominy of feefaff of he'njf your daughter, la " on the day after the ahem t; wynne will find his po,You troops rode away, Rachel Carter ap- fact. peared at the office of her lawyer, An- sition here very greatly affected by drew Hot man. There, In the course of "I quite understand all that, An-- , the next hour, she calmly, unreservedly bared the whole story of her life drew, I am not thinking of the presto the astonished and incredulous gen- ent so much as I am considering the futura The past, so far as we all are tleman. She did not consult with her daugh concerned, is easily disposed of, but ter before taking this irrevocable step. these two young people have a long She put It beyand her daughter's power life nhead of them. It is not my Idea to shake the resolution she had made that they shall spend It here In this on the eve of Kenneth's departure ; town or even In this state. "You mean you will urge them to she knew that Viola would cry out leave sore was Lafayette forever?" she the sacrifice and against "Certainly." ly afraid of her own strength in the "But if I know Viola and I think presence of her daughter's anguish. 'I shall put It all In the paper," she I do she will refuse to desert you, said, regarding the distressed, perspir- As for Gwynne, he strikes me as a ing face of the lawyer with a grim, fellow who would not turn tall under almost taunting smile, as if she actu- fire." "In any case, Andrew, It will be for ally relished his consternation. "What I want you to do, first off, Andrew, Is them to decide. . Kenneth had already to prepare some sort of affidavit, set- established himself as a lawyer back' ting forth the facts, which I will sign in the old home town. I shall urge and swear to. It needn't be a long him to return to that place with Viola document. The shorter the better, as soon as they are married. His mother was a Blythe. There is no just so It makes everything clear." blot upon the name of Blythe. My "But, my dear Mrs. Gwyn. this this may dispossess you of every daughter was born there. Her father highly rething," remonstrated the agitated man was an honest, of law. "The fact that you were never spected man. His name and his memthe wife of Robert ' ory are untarnished. No man can say 'Your memory needs refreshing," aught against the half of Kenneth that: she interrupted. "If you will consult Is Blythe, nor the half of Viola that Is Robert Gwyn's will you will discover Carter. I should like the daughter of that he leaves half of his estate, et Owen Carter to go bnck and live cetera, to 'my beloved and faithful among his people as the wife of the companion and helpmate, Rachel, who, son of Laura Blythe, and to honorably with me, has assumed the name of bear the name that was denied me by' Gwyn for the rest of her life In view a Gwynne.' He looked at her shrewdly for a: of certain circumstances which render the change in the spelling of my name moment and then, as the full slgnlfKl advisable, notwithstanding the fact cance of her njan grew upon him,' that in signing this, my last will and revealing In a flash the motive behind' testament, I recognize the necessity It, he exclaimed : of affixing my true and legal name." 'Well, by gosh, you certainly have' You and I know the sentence by done an almighty lot of calculating." 'And why shouldn't I? She Is my heart, Andrew." 'Of course, if the will reads as you child. Is It likely that I would give say er ahem ! But It has Just oc- myself the worst of everything withcurred to me, Mrs. Gwyn, that you are out seeing to It that she gets the best going a little farther than Is really of everything? No, my friend ; you necessary In the matter. May I sug- must not underrate my intelligence. I gest that you are not er obliged to will speak' plainly to you but In conreveal the fact that you were never fidence. This Is between you and me. married to him? That, It seems to me. There Is no love lost between Ken-- j Is quite unnecessary. If, as you say. neth Gwynne and me. He hates moj your object is merely to set matters and always will, no matter how hardi straight so that your daughter and he may try to overcome it. In a dif-- j Mr. Gwynne may be free to marry, be- ferent way I hate him. We must notl ing in no sense related either by blood be where we can see each other. I or by law such as would have been am sorely afraid that the tender love' the case if you had married Ken- he now has for Viola would fall to out-- , neth's father, why, it seems to me you last the hatred he feels toward me.; can avoid a great deal of unpleasant I leave you to imagine what that would notoriety by er leaving out that par- mean to her. He has It In his power; to give her a place among his people.! ticular admission." 'No," she said, firmly. "Thank you He can force them to honor and refor your kind advice but. If you will spect her, and her children will be reflect, it is out of the question. You their children. Do yon see? Need more?" forget what you have just said. For 4You need say nothing more. I un a lawyer, my dear friend, you are surderstand what you want. Mrs. Gwyn prisingly simple today." 'I see I see," mumbled the Inwyer, and I must say that you are in a sense justified. What is to become of mopping his brow. "Of course er you are quite right. You are a very young Gwynne's property here in this woman. Quite so. I county?" "I think I can be trusted to look would have thought of It In another moment or two. You can't leave out after it satisfactorily," she said quithat part of It without er nullifying etly; "perhaps even better than be could do for himself. I am a farm the whole object and intent of your er ahem ! I was about to say con- woman." "I thought maybe you had some no fession, but that Is a nasty word. In other words, unless you acknowledge tion of buying him out." "He would not sell to me. His farm that you and Robert were never law Is being properly handled by the pres fully married, the er " "Exactly," she broke. In crisply. ent tenant. His lots here In town That Is the gist of the matter. So cannot run away. The time will come ciety does not countenance marriage when they will be very valuable, or I between stepbrother and stepsister. am no prophetess. There Is nothing So we will tell the whole truth or to keep him here, Andrew, and his Interests and my daughter's will be as nothing at all." As she was leaving the office, he carefully looked after as my own." "We will be sorry to lose htm aa a snld to her, with deep feeling: "I suppose you realize the consequences, citizen." "If you are ready, we will step over Mrs. Gwyn? It means ostracism for you. You will not have a friend In to the Free Press office," she said, this town not a person who will without a sign that she bad heard hi speak to you, aside from the store- remark. They crossed the square and turned keepers who will value your custom nnd" he bowed deeply your humble up the first street to the left. This will be a terrible shoes o yonr servant." "I fully appreciate what It means," daughter," said the lawyer, breaking a she responded wearily. "It means that long silence. "She will survive It," replied Rachel If I continue to hold my head tip or sententtously. dare to look my neighbor In the face I Gwyn shall be called brazen as well as cor- ' He laid his hand on her arm. "Will from me?" rupt." she went on after a moment, a you accept a bit of advice sardonic little twist at the corner of They stopped. "I am not above lisher mouth. "Well, so be It. 1 have tening to it," she replied. "My advice Is to postpone this acthought of nil ttiat. Have no fear for I have never been tion until yoa are sure of one thing.1 me, my friend. "And what may that be?" afraid of the dark so why shou'd I "Kenneth Gwynne's safe return fear Hie light?" "You're a mighty fine woman, Ra- from this foray agntnst the Indians. He may not come back alive." chel Gwyn," cried the lawyer, warn "He will come hack alive," said she. iy. She frowned as she held out her In a cool, matter-of-fac- t tone. "It la hnnd. "None of that. If you please." b onlalned. I know. Come, we ara she remarked tersely. "Will you have wasting time. I have much to do bethe paper ready for tne to sign this tween now and nightfall. Bright and afternoon?" early tomorrow morning my daughter "I will submit It to you light : fter and I are leaving town." dinner." "leaving town?" he crlod, aston"You mny expect me here at two ished. "I am taking her ont In the couno'clock. We will then step over to the Free Press and allow Mr Semans to try to the farm. If I can prevent ft she shall never put foot In this town copy the document for his paper." 8h allowed herself a faint smile. "I dare again. Vou know Phineis Striker? say he can make room for It, even If An honest, loyal man, with a wife aa little from bis good as gold. When Kenneth Owyflna he has to subtract account of the stirring events of yes marches back to town again he will find me here to greet him. I will tell terday." "Your story will make a great sen- him where to find Viola. Ont at sation." derlnred the lawyer, wiping Striker's farm, my friend, she will be his brow once more. "He enn't afford wailing for him to come and cMm his own." to er leave It out." A smile he did not understand and At two o'clock she was In his office aguin. He read the carefully prepared never was to tmders.'and played about her lips as she continued dryly, for document to her. "This is like signing your own death such wns the manner of tills amazing warrant, Rachel Swn," he snld pain woman : "He will even find that htr wedding fully, as she affixed Iter signature and gown Is quite as much to his fancy aa helil up her hand to be sworn. "No. I am signing a pardon for two It was the tiny he met her." ITU KND.l guiltless people who are suffering for the sins nf others." The Work of SceuUng. "That reminds tne," he begnn, purs Perhaps the most valuable of the ing bis lips. "I iiave been reflecting during your absence. Its It occurred things taught the acouta to tflsclyUaa. Scuttle TUutt to jou that tliU act of yours Is certain never to return to Lafayette aguin. friend? m-ca- g . God-fearin- level-beade- - d ' |
