"I know how very unworthy of you
I am. Yet I hope I am not so un
worthy as that first day at the coulee,
when I scorned you, and you, with
your skill and courage and moderation,
saved us without harming those whose
attack he had wantonly brought upon
us. I was a coquettea coquette in
fatuated with the kind of man with
whom a coquette deserves to be infat
uated. But I was not altogether friv*
olous. I soon perceived your Immeas
urable superiority over him. Only m*
head could not overcome the fascina
tion that had bound my heart My
soul sought to free Itself from the
spellI struggled and prayed Yet
not until there at the mine, when yon
showed yourself the bravest, the moat
generous"
She flung out her arms to him In
piteous appeal. "Captain! My cap
tain 1 Sny that you do not think me
altogether what hethought me!"
Hardy drew her hands together, and
bent to kiss them with reverent pas
sion.
"Dearest" he replied, "you forget
that other day In the couleethat day
when yon thought me dying. I gase*t
up Into your eyes, and I saw the look
of my mother."
(THE END.)
IP
i.
