Page:The traitor; a story of the fall of the invisible empire (IA traitorstoryoffa00dixo).pdf/282

 "How sweet to hear you talk this beautiful nonsense!"

"I mean it," she hurried on earnestly. "We must leave to-night, I don't know what they may do to you. Something terrible—maybe—I can't think of it! Something may happen to separate us. I want to feel your hand clasping mine like this forever!"

He answered by crushing the little hand in his.

"You won't go back and let them arrest you, will you, John?" she pleaded, a sob catching her voice.

He was silent and a smile played about his mouth.

"Answer me, John dear! You must do as I say because life is too sweet and beautiful to lose it! You will leave if I go with you—won't you? My whim you said should be your law. This is my whim, my heart's desire. Get the horses now, and we'll make them fly as far from Independence to-night as their heels can carry us! You'll do this because I ask it—won't you, darling?"

The little head began to droop, the voice broke, and she lay sobbing in his arms.

He held her close for a moment.

"You know this is impossible, dear!"—he said tenderly.

"Yes, I know!" she sobbed.

"My business is to save others now."