Page:The traitor; a story of the fall of the invisible empire (IA traitorstoryoffa00dixo).pdf/284

 "I love you—I love you!" she softly repeated.

"But tell me how you came to know it to-day?" he urged.

"It's a secret—one I fear that will give me many an hour of anguish. I'll tell you, dear—but not now."

"I'll share it with you when you'll let me."

"Not this one, John. I need to bear it alone to keep me humble, and sweeten with suffering and fear the bitter, selfish impulses that fight within me. Oh, I want to be good and tender and beautiful and true now!"

"How full of strange moods you've been to-night!" he exclaimed.

"Have I dear?"

She caught his hand and pressed it tenderly.

The lights of the town flashed in view from the hill.

They galloped boldly down the main street and into the lawn. As they passed the cabin at the gate, Isaac's face appeared a moment at the door.

"I didn't know old Isaac had returned?" John remarked.

"Nor did I," she replied; "he must have come with those troops."

A tremor caught her voice as she recalled that Ackerman was in communication with Isaac, and