Part 27 (1/2)
”I want to take it to Captain McTavish, but I want you to write so on it first You will pardon me if I ask if that was not a letter of farewell?”
”It was”
”Have you a pencil with you?”
”Not here, but there is one in the cabin, aet it?” Then she bit her lip with vexation Instead of do this interview, as she had intended, she was sub herself to the plans of the half-breed
”I one”
After a ht Jean handed it to hie of the woods A certain curiosity to see thisto its conclusion stirred within her Now that Donald had escaped the shadow of death that had been hovering over him, her spirits rose buoyantly, and she was anxious to further anything that concerned hiuis what he wished her to do
”Write him a note of farewell,” cae he will ever receive from you”
Instantly her color fled; fear filled her eyes
”What do youto kill hi to leave the country forever”
”Did he tell you so?” she asked
”No But I want you to tell hi that will save hiets a safe-conduct to the edge of the district If you don't do this, I can't answer for what'll happen to him”
”Then you will kill hiuis! What's your object in this? You have a motive, and I demand to knohat it is”
For an instant, the passion of the man leaped to his lips, and trembled there in hot words But he crushed it down resolutely He was too wise to ruin his plans now Later, in a year, in two years, five years perhaps, when the memory of McTavish had dimmed, he would speak But, now, he must not betray himself
”I sha'n't kill hi is further from my mind But I won't be responsible for what happens to hi his life--to send him out of the country If he stays, he'll eventually be captured, and what nearly happened to-day will happen then You wish him to live, don't you?
”Yes, yes,” she muttered, between dry lips ”Whatever happens to est Make it a command, not an entreaty
He'll obey you, and his life will be saved”
For a few moments, Jean paused, irresolute, and then, with difficulty, started the es McTavish had sent to her There was no struggle now against the inevitable; that had been endured before This wasa different final chapter to their roive hih life without her and without honor were an e that upon her words his very existence depended, sheto those instincts in him that could not resist her desire For perhaps ten uis
”I must read it,” he said, and, at her nod of acquiescence, puzzled out the words that emotion and her aard position had made unsteady and misshapen Then, he nodded his head with satisfaction, and tucked the letter away
”Seguis,” said the girl, when he prepared to go, ”what is yourthis? You haven't answered my question”