Evening journal., 1899-10-21

ulu NOT Know we hau 10 cOnBl1tu-
late you, young fellow"
ofrT'
Very soon; you1l be invited"
"Who IS she q asked Gilbert inter-
ested.
"a Miss Sterling, whose nature veri-
fies her name; have known her since
she was a girl"
Rather anxious time for her when
you were wounded" suggested the
general.
'Oh, but l was not in much danger.
you know; now some fellows got so
cut up you would hardly recognize
them. There was poor Lawrelce-
Doth his listeners started)-- leg clean
gone, the other up to the knee. one
arm or. and scar across his face
and the plucky chap just smiled
through it ALL"
Father and son exchanged glances.
"He pulled through, thanks TO the
devoted nursing he got" continued
Laurie. unconscious Of the interest his
words aroused II never saw that
man down until yesterday, when he
collapsed as though shot"
hpw was thatt' asked Gilbert, in
a constrained voice.
"Well, you see, it was this way; he's
very reticent, still, we all knew he
was devoted to some girl at home,
though he never mentioned her name
or spoke about her; couldn't get him
into the slightest Irritation with any
one. When we came back together he
spoke for the first time TO me about
his affair. You see, Laurie 1 am such
q wreck, should l marry a girl when
81 10Th hu 20 -.
at best, I'm not n whole man; will
have but one sound arm and only part
Of one leg to offer her. BY George.
! felt for the poor devil when he talk
ed like that Well. / suggested TO try
her and see what she thought about IT..
Write and offer TO release her. He
caught at the idea. But | wouldn't
write as though pleading with her; 1
would not want TO be married ont Of
pity. but would just state the facts
and leave her free to decide said he.
And what do you think she'll write.
/ asked him. I think that she is too
faithful TO give me up he answered,
and 'pOn my word-scar or no scar
he looked so proud and handsome as
he spoke, / only wished his sweetheart
could have seen him."
And them asked Gilbert, as Laurie
paused in his narrative.
"On. then he wrote, alluding TO his
being a wreck, and referring TO the
account in the papers. and yesterday
her answer came; / was in his rooms
when he got her note-iuSt a short
one. but he turned white, and said
bitterly. She writes that my views
/ upon the subject Of our engagement
ending meets her own; she releases
I a.rfTnrfItr without tsafrt,t tI.urI-
/ ful TO be free from what might have
been a burden to her | tried to cheer
him up; he gave me one look such as
You see in a hunted beast as you shoot
it down. and. bv Jove. he keeled right
over. l was iR n fearful state, and
called his name. He came round pres
emily and begged me not to mention
the subject again"
Laurie. for Gods sake explain mat
ters a little more.' cried Gilbert, who
had risen from his chair in great ex
citement.
The major stared at his friend II
astonishment.
Eyes, sir" cried the general, equally
reused, 'you don't know how macl
depends upon what you have been tell
ing. Colonel Lawrence is engaged t.
my daughter Mona"
The devilr and the eyeglass drop
"And here's news Of his engagement
10 another woman
"I'o another wOmanF echoed Lauri,
evidently in hopeless amazement.
"The nurse who took care Of him
There is a fiarlng account OF It in 70
days Reporter"
ITS ali lie" cried Laurie, fumbl
ing for his eyeglass and almost drop
ping his lisp "They have mixed Oui
names up; il is Z that am engaged {,
the nurse. Miss Sterling whom / jus
mentioned; Lawrence has never look
ed at any other woman nor had
thought except Of his fiancee; / car
swear to that There's just one thins
to do. Where's the time tableY anC
the major was on his feet inspect
ing the mantelpiece.
what do you meanY asked Gilbert
Il mean to take q train to New Yorl
tonight. il there's one that win ge
me there"
Nonsense"
"lJo you think I am going TO SCI
Lawrence. who saved my life at tn
risk of his own, go through anothe
night Of despair"
AT o'clock next morning a thunder
ing rap at the door OF Colonel Law
rence's room brought n sleepy, half
dressed valet TO Major Laurie, wit
: demanded instant admittance.
Il hope, sir, there's no bad news,
said the valet respectfully. "but TN
colonel has been so III ever since yol
left yesterday and has not slept thi
night"
"Bad news? No, no. man-the bes
. your master has had this many a day
Hello. Lawrence; may / come I'm, oil
fellow" and Major Laurie walked in
to the adjoining bedroom. His frien
started up IN bed at his entrance, an
4 tried to ask a question, but Mona
a note was in his hand before he hal
+ time to frame the words. "She vii
, be here herself in a few hours" sal
+ Laurie. and dlscreetly turned towar
+ the window and pulled up the blind
s the warm sun filled the room wit
a brightness. and a happy light shon
Q in the colOnefs eyes as he read tn
r few hurried lines.
Laurie. Laurie" he cried, as hi
= friend seized his outstretched hand
y she's true to me. after all. Rea
that" He handed Mona's letter t
Laurie;
!. NV dorlino~ she wrote. "forgiv