The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1900-08-02

the deck.
Both liner and transport turned back
without Stanley Armstrong. Doric and
Scdgwick sailed unhecdcd. for the
highest surgical authority of the de-
partmcnt of California had rcmanded
him to quarters nt the Palace and for
hidden his return to duty with an un-
healed wound. lie was sitting up again.
somewha, pallid and not too strong, bu;
with every promise. said the "medico,"
OF complete recovery within two
months. But not month would Arm
strong wait. The Puebla was To start
within the week. and he had made up
his mind. Go" said he. IL must
They had been sitting about him. the
night this opinion was announced. in
the pnrlor of the suite OF rooms the
Primes had taken. Billy Gray had gone
with his father To the club Shatto had
been hanging about in the aConies Of an
Englishman's first love. Gov disap-
pearcd n moment and came back with
tickets for the Columbia. bidding Mil
dred get her hat and gloves al once. and
whispering to Shafto that he had seat
for him. AS the little mantel clock
struck eight Amy Lawrence. lifting up
| her eyes from the book she was trying
hard to believe she meant to read. saw
that Armstrong was rising from his
easy chair. and. springing TO his side,
laying her white hand ou his arm. she
faltered: ''oh. please! You know the
stipulation was that you were not To
stir"
Hut then her heart began TO hutter
uncontrollably. The blood went surg
ing to her brows. for all of n sudden.
as through impulse irresistible. her
hand was seized in his--in both Of his. in
fact-and the deep voice that had
pleaded at her behest for the cause of
| Billy Gray was now. in impetuous flow
of words that fell upon her ears like
some strain of thrilling music. pleading
at last his own. Ever since that day in
the radiant sunshine of the park she
had learned TO look up to him as a tower
of strength. a man of mark among his
fellows, n man tn he honored and
obeycd. Ever since that night nj the
Palace. when she saw his glowing eyes
fixed intcntly upon her. and knew that
he was following her every move. she
had begun 10 realize the depth of his
interest in her. Ever since that day
when the China slipped from her moor
ings, with Wi,chic Garrison singing
him out for lavish farewell favors. she
had wondered why IL so ANNOYED and
stung her. Ever since the day she read
the list of killed and wounded in the
first fierce battling with the "insur-
rectos" she knew il was the sight of
his name. not Eilly Gray's, that made
her for the moment faint and dizzy and
taught her the need Of greater sclf-cor-
troll. Ever since that moonlit night up
on the Mnrsdcns' lanai. when her heart
leapcd nj the sudden sound Cf his voice.
she had realized what his coming meant
! TO her. and ever since that breezy day
| upon the broad Pacific. with the sailors
song of Land. no! ringing from the
bows. ard he. her wounded soldier. had
sprung to shield her from the crash Of
Shafto's haplcss stumble. and the deck
was stained with the precious blood
from that soldiers rcoprncd wound.
shed for her-for who so rcyercd him
she had lorycd To hear him say the
| words that alone could unlock the gntes
of maidenly reserve ard let her tell him
tell him with glad and grateful heart
iha, the love he bore her was answered
by her own. lowering over him only
one minute, her lips half parted, her
eyes still! ysiled. her heart ,hrobbing
loud and fast, with sudden movement
she threw herself upon her knees n, the
side of the low chair. and her burning
face. ever 50 lightly, was buried in the
dark blue sleeve above that blessed
wound.
|