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Sir　Charles　fingered　the　dinner　cloth　nervously；　and　when　he
spoke；　fixed　his　eyes　anxiously　upon　Miss　Cameron。

〃Do　you　know；〃　he　said；　〃I　have　been　thinking　of　doing　that　very
thing；　of　resigning　my　post　here　and　going　back；　entering
Parliament；　and　all　the　rest　of　it。〃

His　declaration　met　with　a　unanimous　chorus　of　delight。　　Miss
Cameron　nodded　her　head　with　eager　approval。

〃Yes；　if　I　were　a　man；　that　is　where　I　should　wish　to　be；〃　she
said；　〃at　the　heart　of　it。　　Why；　whatever　you　say　in　the　House　of
Commons　is　heard　all　over　the　world　the　next　morning。〃

Sir　Charles　felt　the　blood　tingle　in　his　pulses。　　He　had　not　been
so　stirred　in　years。　　Her　words　ran　to　his　head　like　wine。

Mr。　Collier　raised　his　glass。

〃Here's　to　our　next　meeting；〃　he　said；　〃on　the　terrace　of　the
House　of　Commons。〃

But　Miss　Cameron　interrupted。　　〃No；　to　the　Colonial　Secretary；〃
she　amended。

〃Oh　yes；〃　they　assented；　rising；　and　so　drank　his　health；　smiling
down　upon　him　with　kind；　friendly　glances　and　good…will。

〃To　the　Colonial　Secretary；〃　they　said。　　Sir　Charles　clasped　the
arms　of　his　chair　tightly　with　his　hands；　his　eyes　were　half
closed；　and　his　lips　pressed　into　a　grim；　confident　smile。　　He
felt　that　a　single　word　from　her　would　make　all　that　they
suggested　possible。　　If　she　cared　for　such　things；　they　were
hers；　he　had　them　to　give；　they　were　ready　lying　at　her　feet。　　He
knew　that　the　power　had　always　been　with　him；　lying　dormant　in
his　heart　and　brain。　　It　had　only　waited　for　the　touch　of　the
Princess　to　wake　it　into　life。

The　American　visitors　were　to　sail　for　the　mainland　the　next　day；
but　he　had　come　to　know　them　so　well　in　the　brief　period　of
their　visit　that　he　felt　he　dared　speak　to　her　that　same　night。　
At　least　he　could　give　her　some　word　that　would　keep　him　in　her
mind　until　they　met　again　in　London；　or　until　she　had　considered
her　answer。　　He　could　not　expect　her　to　answer　at　once。　　She
could　take　much　time。　　What　else　had　he　to　do　now　but　to　wait　for
her　answer？　　It　was　now　all　that　made　life。

Collier　and　his　wife　had　left　the　veranda　and　had　crossed　the
lawn　towards　the　water's　edge。　　The　moonlight　fell　full　upon　them
with　all　the　splendor　of　the　tropics；　and　lit　the　night　with　a
brilliant；　dazzling　radiance。　　From　where　Miss　Cameron　sat　on　the
veranda　in　the　shadow；　Sir　Charles　could　see　only　the　white
outline　of　her　figure　and　the　indolent　movement　of　her　fan。　
Collier　had　left　his　wife　and　was　returning　slowly　towards　the
step。　　Sir　Charles　felt　that　if　he　meant　to　speak　he　must　speak
now；　and　quickly。　　He　rose　and　placed　himself　beside　her　in　the
shadow；　and　the　girl　turned　her　head　inquiringly　and　looked　up　at
him。

But　on　the　instant　the　hush　of　the　night　was　broken　by　a
sharp　challenge；　and　the　sound　of　men's　voices　raised　in　anger；
there　was　the　noise　of　a　struggle　on　the　gravel；　and　from　the
corner　of　the　house　the　two　sentries　came　running；　dragging
between　them　a　slight　figure　that　fought　and　wrestled　to　be　free。

Sir　Charles　exclaimed　with　indignant　impatience；　and　turning；
strode　quickly　to　the　head　of　the　steps。

〃What　does　this　mean？〃　he　demanded。　　〃What　are　you　doing　with
that　man？　　Why　did　you　bring　him　here？〃

As　the　soldiers　straightened　to　attention；　their　prisoner　ceased
to　struggle；　and　stood　with　his　head　bent　on　his　chest。　　His
sombrero　was　pulled　down　low　across　his　forehead。

〃He　was　crawling　through　the　bushes；　Sir　Charles；〃　the　soldier
panted；　〃watching　that　gentleman；　sir；〃he　nodded　over　his
shoulder　towards　Collier。　　〃I　challenged；　and　he　jumped　to　run；
and　we　collared　him。　　He　resisted；　Sir　Charles。〃

The　mind　of　the　Governor　was　concerned　with　other　matters　than
trespassers。

〃Well；　take　him　to　the　barracks；　then；〃　he　said。　　〃Report　to
me　in　the　morning。　　That　will　do。〃

The　prisoner　wheeled　eagerly；　without　further　show　of　resistance；
and　the　soldiers　closed　in　on　him　on　either　side。　　But　as　the
three　men　moved　away　together；　their　faces；　which　had　been　in
shadow；　were　now　turned　towards　Mr。　Collier；　who　was　advancing
leisurely；　and　with　silent　footsteps；　across　the　grass。　　He　met
them　face　to　face；　and　as　he　did　so　the　prisoner　sprang　back　and
threw　out　his　arms　in　front　of　him；　with　the　gesture　of　a　man　who
entreats　silence。　　Mr。　Collier　halted　as　though　struck　to　stone；
and　the　two　men　confronted　each　other　without　moving。

〃Good　God！〃　Mr。　Collier　whispered。

He　turned　stiffly　and　slowly；　as　though　in　a　trance；　and　beckoned
to　his　wife；　who　had　followed　him。

〃Alice！〃　he　called。　　He　stepped　backwards　towards　her；　and　taking
her　hand　in　one　of　his；　drew　her　towards　the　prisoner。　　〃Here　he
is！〃　he　said。

They　heard　her　cry　〃Henry！〃　with　the　fierceness　of　a　call　for
help；　and　saw　her　rush　forward　and　stumble　into　the　arms　of
the　prisoner；　and　their　two　heads　were　bent　close　together。

Collier　ran　up　the　steps　and　explained　breathlessly。

〃And　now；〃　he　gasped；　in　conclusion；　〃what's　to　be　done？　　What's
he　arrested　for？　　Is　it　bailable？　　What？〃

〃Good　heavens！〃　exclaimed　Sir　Charles；　miserably。　　〃It　is　my
fault　entirely。　　I　assure　you　I　had　no　idea。　　How　could　I？　　But　I
should　have　known；　I　should　have　guessed　it。〃　　He　dismissed　the
sentries　with　a　gesture。　　〃That　will　do；〃　he　said。　　〃Return　to
your　posts。〃

Mr。　Collier　laughed　with　relief。

〃Then　it　is　not　serious？〃　he　asked。

〃Hehe　had　no　money；　that　was　all；〃　exclaimed　Sir　Charles。　
〃Serious？　　Certainly　not。　　Upon　my　word；　I'm　sorry〃

The　young　man　had　released　himself　from　his　sister's　embrace；　and
was　coming　towards　them；　and　Sir　Charles；　eager　to　redeem
himself；　advanced　hurriedly　to　greet　him。　　But　the　young　man　did
not　see　him；　he　was　looking　past　him　up　the　steps　to　where　Miss
Cameron　stood　in　the　shadow。

Sir　Charles　hesitated　and　drew　back。　　The　young　man　stopped　at
the　foot　of　the　steps；　and　stood　with　his　head　raised；　staring　up
at　the　white　figure　of　the　girl；　who　came　slowly　forward。

It　was　forced　upon　Sir　Charles　that　in　spite　of　the　fact　that　the
young　man　before　them　had　but　just　then　been　rescued　from　arrest；
that　in　spite　of　his　mean　garments　and　ragged　sandals；　something
about　himthe　glamour　that　surrounds　the　prodigal；　or　possibly
the　moonlightgave　him　an　air　of　great　dignity　and　distinction。

As　Miss　Cameron　descended　the　stairs；　Sir　Charles　recognized　for
the　first　time　that　the　young　man　was　remarkably　handsome；　and　he
resented　it。　　It　hurt　him；　as　did　also　the　prodigal's　youth　and
his　assured　bearing。　　He　felt　a　sudden　sinking　fear；　a　weakening
of　all　his　vital　forces；　and　he　drew　in　his　breath　slowly　and
deeply。　　But　no　one　noticed　him；　they　were　looking　at　the　tall
figure　of　the　prodigal；　standing　with　his　hat　at　his　hip　and　his
head　thrown　back；　holding　the　girl　with　his　eyes。

Collier　touched　Sir　Charles　on　the　arm；　and　nodded　his　head
towards　the　library。　　〃Come；〃　he　whispered；　〃let　us　old　people
leave　them　together。　　They've　a　good　deal　to　say。〃　　Sir　Charles
obeyed　in　silence；　and　crossing　the　library　to　the　great　oak
chair；　seated　himself　and　leaned　wearily　on　the　table　before　him。　
He　picked　up　one　of　the　goose　quills　and　began　separating　it　into
little　pieces。　　Mr。　Collier　was　pacing　up　and　down；　biting
excitedly　on　the　end　of　his　cigar。　　〃Well；　this　has
certainly　been　a　great　night；〃　he　said。　　〃And　it　is　all　due　to
you；　Sir　Charlesall　due　to　you。　　Yes；　they　have　you　to　thank
for　it。〃

〃They？　〃　said　Sir　Charles。　　He　knew　that　it　had　to　come。　　He
wanted　the　man　to　strike　quickly。

〃They？　　YesFlorence　Cameron　and　Henry；〃　Mr。　Collier　answered。　
〃Henry　went　away　because　she　wouldn't　marry　him。　　She　didn't　care
for　him　then；　but　afterwards　she　cared。　　Now　they're　reunited；
and　so　they're　happy；　and　my　wife　is　more　than　happy；　and　I　won't
have　to　bother　any　more；　and　it's　all　right；　and　all　through
you。〃

〃I　am　glad；〃　said　Sir　Charles。　　There　was　a　long　pause；　which　the
men；　each　deep　in　his　own　thoughts；　did　not　notice。

〃You　will　be　leaving　now；　I　suppose？〃　Sir　Charles　asked。　　He　was
looking　down；　examining　the　broken　pen　in　his　hand。

Mr。　Collier　stopped　in　his　walk　and　considered。　　〃Yes；　I　suppose
they　will　want　to　get　back；〃　he　said。　　〃I　shall　be　sorry　myself。　
And　you？　　What　will　you　do？〃

Sir　Charles　started　slightly。　　He　had　not　yet　thought　what　he
would　do。　　His　eyes　wandered　over　the　neglected　work；　which　had
accumulated　on　the　desk　before　him。　　Only　an　hour　before　he　had
thought　of　it　as　petty　and　little；　as　something　unworthy　of　his
energy。　　Since　that　time　what　change　had　taken　place　in　him？

For　him　everything　had　changed；　he　answered；　but　in　him　there　had
been　no　change；　and　if　this　thing　which　the　girl　had　brought　into
his　life　had　meant　the　best　in　life；　it　must　always　mean　that。　
She　had　been　an　inspiration；　she　must　remain　his　spring　of
action。　　Was　he　a　slave；　he　asked　himself；　that　he　should　rebel？　
Was　he　a　boy；　that　he　could　turn　his　love　to　aught　but　the
best　account？　　He　must　remember　her　not　as　the　woman　who　had
crushed　his　spirit；　but　as　she　who　had　helped　him；　who　had　lifted
him　up　to　something　better　and　finer。　　He　would　make　sacrifice　in
her　name；　it　would　be　in　her　name　that　he　would　rise　to　high
places　and　accomplish　much　good。

She　would　not　know　this；　but　he　would　know。

He　rose　and　brushed　the　papers　away　from　him　with　an　impatient
sweep　of　the　hand。

〃I　shall　follow　out　the　plan　of　which　I　spoke　at　dinner；〃　he
answered。　　〃I　shall　resign　here；　and　return　home　and　enter
Parliament。〃

Mr。　Collier　laughed　admiringly。　　〃I　love　the　way　you　English　take
your　share　of　public　life；〃　he　said；　〃the　way　you　spend
yourselves　for　your　country；　and　give　your　brains；　your　lives；
everything　you　haveall　for　the　empire。〃

Through　the　open　window　Sir　Charles　saw　Miss　Cameron　half　hidden
by　the　vines　of　the　veranda。　　The　moonlight　falling　about
her　transformed　her　into　a　figure　which　was　ideal；　mysterious；
and　elusive；　like　a　woman　in　a　dream。　　He　shook　his　head　wearily。

〃For　the　empire？〃　he　asked。



THE　LAST　RIDE　TOGETHER

A　SKETCH　CONTAINING　THREE　POINTS　OF　VIEW

What　the　Poet　Laureate　wrote。

　　　　〃There　are　girls　in　the　Gold　Reef　City
　　　　　　　　There　are　mothers　and　children　too！
　　　　And　they　cry　'Hurry　up　for　pity！'
　　　　　　　　So　what　can　a　brave　man　do？

　　　　〃I　suppose　we　were　wrong；　were　mad　men；
　　　　　　　　Still　I　think　at　the　Judgment　Day；
　　　　When　God　sifts　the　good　from　the　bad　men；
　　　　　　　　There'll　be　something　more　to　say。〃

What　more　the　Lord　Chief　Justice　found　to　say。


〃In　this　case　we　know　the　immediate　consequence　of　your　crime。　
It　has　been　the　loss　of　human　life；　it　has　been　the
disturbance　of　public　peace；　it　has　been　the　creation　of　a
certain　sense　of　distrust　of　public　professions　and　of　public
faith。　。　。　。　　The　sentence　of　this　Court　therefore　is　that；　as　to
you；　Leander　Starr　Jameson；　you　be　confined　for　a　period　of
fifteen　months　without　hard　labor；　that　you；　Sir　John　Willoughby；
have　ten　months'　imprisonment；　and　that　you；　etc。；　etc。〃

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　London　Times；　July　29th。

　　　　　　　　What　the　Hon。　〃Reggie〃　Blake　thought　about　it。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃H。　M。　HOLLOWAY　PRISON；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃July　28th。

〃I