Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1898-05-29

life. He just frittered away his time on books and music like q girl, and lived on the money he'd inherited till it was nearly gone. When the war broke out he never offered to enlist, though my mothers brother went and gave up his life-and be was only boy I'll never marry such a man as my mother married, Owen-not even if love him as dearly as ske loved my father. 0hi why is it that we can't help loving men that we despise?"
 And the storm broke in a rain of tears.
 Owen sprang to his feet. There was glare of madness in his eyes, but pas sion outflamed it; his face was still tense, almost distorted, but it was strained in bolder lines; the tremor was gone from both voice and limbs.
 My God!" le cried, you don't know what you are saying, Gertrude. Butone thing is true-I am not worthy of the name of man nor the love of woman, and before I look in your face again I'll win my victory or die-death is bet ter than this"
 He trusted himself no further, but fled across the fields; while Gertrude, bewildered and choked with sobs, went back alone, and hiding that "fayre bubbering face" of hers in both her 1 hands, even as her lover had hidden his writhing anguish, fitted through the halls like d wrath of an April day, and took refuge in her chamber. The next morning she hastened to the little schoolhouse-the prime cause of all her trouble; but the pupils were play ing idly about the yard and presently 1 dispersed, for no teacher came.
 And Owen-behind a bolted door, in the solitude of his empty garret, he was fighting the grimmest of all battles for i self-mastery, in torment which none but those who have been inmates of a madhouse can adequately understand
 Some months later he was standing before the examining officer of a naval recruiting station. He had told his whole story frankly, except what per tained to Gertrude. The physician was deeply interested, but doubtful.
 For Gods sake, doctor, give me a fighting chance" pleaded the candi- date.
 With cowboy suddenness the doctor thrust the muzzle of pistol in his face and pulled the trigger. The young man started as if at the jolt of an electric shock; his face was like clay, his hair was fairly on end, cold sweat was on his limbs-but he had the doctor by the throat, and was wrenching the weapon from his grasp.
 Hold on!' cried the eNperimenter. That's enough; it wasn't loaded. You'll do, I guess; anyhow, I'll give you your chance. You startle easily, and you can't help it, for your nerves are ill bad way; but you startle into an atti- tude of fight, not flight. There's some pretty fair heredity behind you, my lad, or you wouldn't do that in your present condition. I'll pass you; heroic treat ment is best, and the strict discipline will do you good-though Uncle Sam's navy is no lunatic asylum. There's girl back of this somewhere, isn't there?"
 It was Decoration day, and the girl" was laying flowers on her uncle's grave in Salem, when Owen appeared before her. l shall not attempt to describe the interview. It began with a cry of joy, and was much less stormy than the last; though again Gertrude displayed herself as goddess of showers. Quiet ly, though not without strong effort, the young sailor-teacher of babes no longer-told her the whole sad story of his blighted life and his partial vic tory.
 II believe the worst is oyer," he con cluded. Your awful cruelty, Gertrude, reused and saved me. l am sure 1 shall win.''
 As they parted she plucked a blossom from a wreath and gave it to him. Then she snatched it away and flung it on the ground.
 Ut is from a grave,' she cried, "It may be an omen. You shall not have it."
 But he caught it Up and pressed it to his lips.
 Omen or not" he said, .'it is mine and l shall keep it. l am not afraid of flower from brave mans grave"
 Not easy to endure was the long sus- pense that followed the first news of the fight at Manila. To Gertrude it was like an ordea! of expiation. Atlast came full reports of splendid and al most bloodless victory, and her heart was lifted in thanksgiving. Still, she has been anxiously awaiting letter. IL has but just arrived. In it her lover says;
 T have had hard and bitter strug gle, darling. The worst was crossing the great waste of waters-you will un- derstand, dear betrothed. But have won; I have gained a bigger victory than Dewey's, and for dearer prize. I have put myself to the supreme test.
 "While the fight was at it's hottest cne of my comrades-a young officer was wounded and fell overheard. I