The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-06-07
When His Ship Came In.

For five minutes or more they had no.
spoken; the girl because she was Walt
ing for the youth. the youth because
words failed him. 1t was a moon-lit au-
tumn night and the stars twinkled ex-
asperatingly. he thought, as though in
naockery. Like the eyes of Clara Moore.
the girl beside him On the rustic bench,
they seemed 10 cast a spell and tie his
tongue. It was the old, old story;
faltering youth, who knew his heart and
dared not speak his love; girl who
anxiously waited for him to declare him
self, yet more in spirit of coquetry than
in love. The youth had gagged his feel
ings, the girl had only begun to measure
hers.
They had know each other for year,
only since he came fresh from college
to practice law in the city. a youth OF
glittering dreams which cold reality soon
dimmec. He had found the way hard
one, struggle for existence in the whirl
OF city life with only pluck for his CAPT
tai. But determination had counted, AID
that day he had scored his first real
success. A cHentage that promised sub
stantiaI remuneration had CHANGED to
come his way, and he had called on
Clara Moore to ask her to share his for
tune.
AS Carroll Morrison, man with only a
1QbQEEy lie EaQ AOES0 AAGA LIZ WA ~
suggest that she leave a comfortable
home for marriage but as Carroll Morri-
son. attorney at law and manager OF
the property and rentals of Davis Smith.
who was about 20 leave on a protraeted
visit TO Europe, he felt that he had
something TO offer beside himself. 1t
was a rich mans fancy, this choosing
a callow youth TO handle his affairs, but
in a busy life devoted to accommodating
a great fortune David Smith seldom had
erred, and Of the two he was perhaps
the happier for the bargain.
The girl impatiently twi-led a flower
between her fingers, then flung it TO the
ground.
Don't you think" she asked, that
we'd better go inside? It is chilly here,
and, beside. l don't like the way the
ocean sounds. The beating Of teh SURF
always makes me uneasy, and tonight
more so than ever"
LAS you say" responded the youth.
and as they arose to go he found the
courage that he lacked
Are you sure" he asked, that it is
the beating of the surf you hear?
There's another beating-may tell
you?"
She nodded, half haughtiy. he
thought; he went on:
ne ocean Is over SOUuET anu there
has been no storm-at least at sea- The
storm has been here, beside you, and
the beating-
He hesitated. And the beatlng?" she
repeated.
was the beating of a heart. The sea
pounds the sand to wear away its an
ger, the heart the breast when LIES
best emotions are stirred by its storm"
He clasDed her hand and she made no
effort to withdraw it.
"You mean?" she asked.
THAT 1 love you; that I want you for
my wife!'
The girl drew back and her hand slip
ped from his.
at must after all have been the surf
that l heard" she said. I'VE will not
talk of love, at least not now. Some
time, when your ship comes in, 1 will
listen TO more of your poetry. Love.
like the other luxuries. is for those who
can afford it. And we've haven't the
price,
A CHEEKY laugh showed the girls hu-
NOR, but to the youth her merfiment
only deepened the cut. He had not told
her of his good fortune; he had reserved
it as surprise. She might have loved
him for his prospects, but refused 10
love him for himself.
You are good" ne said, simply, "to
speak 20 plainly. We understand each
other now No more of love, as you
say, till-till my ship comes in. Good
by"
He turned and walked rapidly away
down the vine-skirted path, and the girl
stood watching him till he was lost to
sight His words, "good-by,' were ring
ing in her ears. and she wondered If he
meant good night
The next day brought a sad enighten-
ment. An evening paper announced that
David Smith had postponed indefinitely
his trip to Europe, as Carroll Morrison,
a young attorney he had engaged to
take charge of his affairs, had disap-
peared.
In the military hospital at San Fran
cisco the surgeons and nurses were bust
ling about, making ready for a new lot
of arrivals from the Philippines The
transport Thomas had arrived the even
ing before. and had just passed quaran-
tine with cargo of suffering men. The
surgeon in charge was stumbling around
giving orders to nurses and men, now
and then swearing softly TO himself and
berating the enemy across the water
This way, Nurse Moore" he said
"See that the cot htere is drawn closer
to the window. little sunshine went
hurt dying man"
Then, 10 himself, he added:
"A fine girl, that. and the wonder Is
why she's here. From the East, she
says, and evidently Of good people.
Wearing her life away by day and nisht
poor thing Case Of love, maybe, bur IT
all comes in war. The men get the bull
lets, the women the stings.'
III,
after the nurse had pulled the cot
around TIL a sunbeam reached across the
pillow. He won't need a cot long. poor
chap. The cot't for Captain Carroll, one
of the best soldiers Of q brave lot, they
tell me. He was strong enough when
they left Manila to fight against coming
back, but during the voyage the old fe-
yer returned. and he's been raving ever
since, declaring he must live till his ship
got in. A fighting demon. they say,
who arose from the ranks, but the fever
mas Slapped his life away. Don't stare
like that, Here come the wagons now"
one By one the weakened heroes were
carried TO their cots, Captain Carroll
among them. Nurse Moore. beside tha
cot, stood erect. looking vacantly ahead.
A surgeon stopped and felt the officers
pulse, then bent his head and sounded
the heart
You'd better look to the living" he
said. turning 10 the woman This man
is dead
The nurse turned. peered for an instant
into the drawn face. and sank 70 tha
foor. Overwork. the surgeons said. but
doctors. after ali are only mem How
could they know? How could they IN
derstsnd2
his ship har come in. but only that Ais
soul might 80 out--TrI5uns.
Trick Of = Tean Tan.
I, wss deliberately planned and exc
rutcE 81 Go hlood