The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-02-17
CAPTAIN Stanton, v, C.

| Won distinction in IL, perhaps no one rad
so much cause to congratulate himself
as Captain Stanton.
Yet, truth to tell, he was not happy.
and under the apparent circumstances
| this was strange.
! You do not know how proud am Of
you, cuthbert." said the girl, sitting in
an easy attitude before the fire. She
said it calmly. not enthusiastically, as
some women would have done, but then
Edith Trevanyon was not as other wo-
! men.
People make too much Of these
things" answered the Captain. They are
! performed in the heat of the moment and
are not so heroic as is believed. was
absolutely astounded when I found that
I had been recommended for the Cross. "
! ''WilI you think me very unkind when
I say that was astonished to near that
| you had got it?
mo You are not the first to express
surprise
Il have always looked upon you as such
| a lazy individual, Cuthbert. To find you
at the right moment is astonishing.
| Still, it is rather pleasant to know that
1 am going to marry hero"
They had been alone in the room. now
others entered, and their tete-a-tete
ended.
On le1 wing his fianeee Captain Stanton
walked back to his chambers, his brow
puckered with thoughts.
ITS got to be done, and I'm hanged
| if I wouldn't rather face those yelling
| devils a dozen times than do it.
He sat down at his writing table, lit a
cigar, and took up his pen. His sword
! had been ready enough a few weeks ago,
his pen just now seemed somewhat use
| Las IL c1r;h led q favxrE Y1nG
on several sheets of note-paper only to
| tear each sheet up in turn.
| He became very conscious Of the fact
| that he was not hero, more conscious
! of it than when he had made the state
ment to Edith Trevanyon.
II can't writer ne exclaimed, throwing
| down the pen 1T would be too cruel,
too vfllainous'-then ne smiled contempt
uously-"and I wearer Of the Victoria
| Cross"
He tore up the last sheet he had writ
ten upon and rang the bell
"Only nine o'clock. I'll go tonight.
Parker, just call me a cab'
| Yes. sir
He opened drawer and took out his
check book.
Money will heal most wounds, buth
| this one
He paused and mechanically slipped the
! book into his pocket, Then with NUT
tered oath-indeed, was it an oath or a
prayer?-he went out.
The hanson ratified along Piccadilly,
| and down Sloane street to Chelsea.
The Journey was too soon accomplish
ed. At the corner of a street Captain
Stanton got out and dismissed the cab.
He walked slowly, even passed his des-
tination once, twice, then in a half kind
of desperation assembled the half-dozen
steps which led to the front door, and
let himself in with latch key.
There was the sound of an opening door
and then a little cry of joy as girlish
| figure. clad in white, ran down the stairs
to welcome him.
'Ohi 1t is a week, Cutheert-a long,
long week since saw you"
my dear little woman, 1 told you 1t
would be at least a week before you saw
me again.
II know, but I didn't think you meant
! it-Quite."
She was a pretty woman. She took his
hand and led him into her sitting room
She pushed the easiest chair near the fire
/ for him, put a case of cigars, which ne
| had left when he was last there, on the
| table by his side, and then seated her
! self on footstool and nestled her head
| against his knee.
| Il suppose your friends have been say
| ing al sorts of nice things to you" she
| said. making you eat more dinners than
| Won want, and drink more than is good
| for you, perhaps"
| And he remembered the check-book and
| what he had come that night to say, and
| hated himself.
| 81 wonder if you will understand, Cuth-
bert" she said, slowly, rising from the
stool and seating herself on the arm Of
| his chair You do love me?''
! Eyes"
'.More than any other woman in the
! world?"
Yes" He meant it.
"Cuthbert, don't want to be like other
women who
She paused and little sob came strug-
| Cling out.
Tell me the trouble, darling
| 81 heard two men talking today. 1
went into the bank and"
What did the blackguards say?' he
! asked, angrily.
| He had guessed her secret before It was
uttered.
! mo, Cuthbert. they were not neces-
/ you can guess how"
| Stanton bit his lip.
1--WE can give them the lie" he said.
| The woman looked at him.
| Howl
| You are not as other women, Bertha,
and by heaven you shall never be-"
"Culbert, 1 have asked you nothing"
Haven't you, little one?" he said,
drawing her closer to him. Perhaps not,
! but you have taught me something. Ber-
| tina, lok at me. What do you see?'
| 7 lore oh "a
"And a hero, and godnoess knows what,
| eh?"
mol Just the one man in the world
| 1 love"
Tel me always that. Bertha. and I
| shall be satisfied. There viii be plenty
| in the world TO speak III OF me. Better
! that should tell you l am not hero,
| child, but a selfish man, unworthy Of the
great love Of true woman such as you
/ are. But I am not wholly had, Bertha
no, 1 have some good in me, and, If 1
/ can, I'll live to be good man. Little
| one. you must help me
Only tell me how, Cuthbert-"
Eve have begun in a wrong fashion,
little one I cannot blush as YOU are
/ doing. but I feel something of what you
! do what you did when these two men
spoke Bertha, viii You be my wife?7
DO you mean it-really, truly?'
! Al do"
! Not for PHYS sake-for love's?'
For loves"
j There was a long silence.
I'VE viii go away for time" he said,
/ presently.
/ "Cuthbert. you really love me2"
/ LAS my He Some day ! viii show you
+ how true my love IL
/ a few nights later Captain Stanton sat
at his writing table He had finished
I letter which had given him considerable
difficulty in writing. and had just ad-