The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1901-03-15

Then Cyathia, eyes fell. and she
stammcrcd something and came back
Into the house before he could answer.
He looked after her as If he would fol
low and tell her more, but Instead turn
ed and walked or rapidly.
As | was going ny stairs the next
morning | stopped on the landing to
rect, for | was spent with much watch
Ing the night before.
'Sistcr Cynthia" l heard the young
soldier say, II must ask you to write
another letter for me. | have waited,
hoping to gain strength myself, but
He stopped, and I noticed that his
voice was weaker.
yea, certainly" she said, and I
heard her getting the paper. IL am
ready" she added after "A pause. "Is
It to be to your mothcr?"
NO. he answered and grew silent.
There Is such n thing as pure love-"
he said presently. "a man can care
for a woman for herself. for the soul OF
her; he can work for her, suffer for
her, die for her, II need be. How can
this pure feeling be COMPOUNDED with
that foul thing lust? Don't you see
what | mean?"
"Yea.' she said softly.
"And l am not asking you to do
wrong to write to her for mc?"
NAY" she said, and her voice sound.
ed far away.
All. why did | not go In then? Why
did | sit there, n poor, weak. old wom.
n, ,..I tI.,.,. -..t 80. H.. l.
his beautiful love words, SO tender AMI
gentle and sad and brave. He forgot
her who wrote and spoke as though
he were face to face with the other
one: his voice grew full and round
again, and the tones of 1t made me
tremblc as l sat there on the steps.
When he came to close and say good
by, l could not bear it and stole softly
! back down stairs.
Cynthia came down presently. and
her lashes were still wet with tears.
The next morning was unnaturally
still, with bits Of tender blue sky be-
tween the fleecy mists. Soon n wind
blew up, drawing n wide. flmy cloud
across the sky-a gray, cold cloud
that. thickening, hung drearily above
the empty world, where the wind blus-
tered through ~leafless trees.
The young soldier was worse. His
breathing was slow and heavy, and
now and then a faint moan passed his
lips. Cynthia sat watching him with
the lines drawn tight ut her mouth and
her big eyes tense. l sent her out, but
soon saw her coming back across the
bleak meadows with her eyes bent to
the ground.
He grew restless and feverish through
the afternoon and talked in broken
scraps about his home and the days
when he was a boy. He fell asleep at
last, just as the gray day was slip
ping off over the hills. l went to my
| OWL room for awhile, and soon | heard
Brother Paul's familiar step. Cynthia
motioned him to a seat at the foot of
the bed, and presently l heard her
speaking in a low voice.
There was something he wanted to
tell you. Brother Paul." she said.
perhaps l ought to do 1t, for he may
talk Of 1t In his delirium." She paused.
"He cares for somebody-a woman"
was glad she didn't say love.
yes" said Brother Paul, with a sud-
den anxiety in his deep voice.
"He wanted you to know hat his
love was pure; that love can be pure"
81 know it already" he said, his voice
trembling.
you She stopped suddenly.
Yes" He paused and then was
about to speak when the young soldier
interrupted.
Louise" he said, his voice clear and
ringing again, "my dear Louise, l knew
you would come" His hand was out.
stretched, and Cynthia took it without
hesitation. Hurrying in, | could see
the peaceful look on his face as she
bent over him.
at hurts me to breathe, Louise" he
said presently. Lift me up, won't
your
Cynthia put her arm under him and
lifted him until his head rested on her
own bosom. Then he drew a long
breath and smiled.
II am going now, Louise" he said,
and, raising his arm, he brought her
head down until her lips touched his.
His breath came deep and peaceful,
and then Cynthia unclasped his arm
and laid him back on the pillow dead;
but a new light shone In her face. The
unknown something had come, and she
kpaU II i outsviIJa rpuriar. Journal