But he was commanding me
to complete my own folly. "Colonel Meriwether," said I to him, finally,
"if it would do her any good I would give up my life for her. But her
father can neither tell me how nor when my marriage ceremony runs; nor
can he tell me when to leave the side of the woman who is my wife. I am
subject to the orders of no man in the world."
"You refuse to do what you have planned to do? Sir, that shows you as
you are. You proposed to--to live with her here, but not be bound to her
elsewhere!"
"It is not true!" I said to him in somber anger. "I proposed to put
before her the fact of my own weakness, of my own self-deception, which
also was deception of her. I propose to do that now."
"If you did, she would refuse to look at you again."
"I know it, but it must be done. I must take my chances."
"And your chances mean this alternative--either that my girl's
reputation shall be ruined all over the country--all through the Army,
where she is known and loved--or else that her heart must be broken.
This is what it means, Mr. Cowles. This is what you have brought to my
family."
"Yes," I said to him, slowly, "this is what I have brought."
"Then which do you choose, sir?" he demanded of me.
Pages:
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308