Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-12-20

ed Miss Ray, well aware of the fact
that he would have been unaccount-
ably and infinitely happier had it been
she alone. "That is our profession.
But about the brevet. Surely you
| ought to be pleased. Captain in your
| first engagement"
"Oh. it's only a recommendation"
he answered. ''and may be as far away
as-any other engagement-ofm mine,
| that is" And in saying it poor Stuyve-
| SAINT realized it was an aSinine thing.
| So, alack! did she! An instant agone
she was biting her pretty red lips for
| letting the word escape her, but his
| faulty gave her all the advantage in
spite of herself. 1t was the play to
see nothing that called for reply in his
allusion. So there was none.
A carriage was coming up the
Luneta full tilt. and though still 600
yards away, she saw and knew it to
be Stuyvesant's returning. But he
saw nothing beyond her glowing face.
Mrs. Brent began to sing in the salon,
symptom SO unusual that it could
only mean that she contemplated
coming back and was giving warning.
Time was priceless, yet here he
stood trembling, irresolute. Would
nothing help him?
"You speak of Encouragement"
he Numbered blinded on. 81 wish
you'd tell me-about yours
''Mine? Oh-with the Red Cross,
you mean?''' And shame be to yon.
Maidie Ray, you knew-you well
knew-he didn't.
81 mean-to Mr.. Foster. Mrs
Brent has just told me-
''Mrs. Brent" interposed Miss Ray
in futter of amaze. That carriag e
is coming nearer every instant,
driving like mad, Brent on the back
seat and a whip-lashing demon son
the box. There will be no time for
love-tales once that burly warrior re-
turns to his own. Yet she is fencing,
parrying, holding him at bay, for his
heart is bubbling over with the tor
rent of its love and yearning and
pleading.
What are bullet-wounds and brevets
to this one supreme, sublime encoun-
ter? His heart was high,~ his voice
rang clear and exultant, his eyes
flashed joy and fire and defiance in
the face of a thousand deaths two
weeks ago. But here in the pres
ence of a slender girl he can do
naught but falter and Stammer and
i tremble.
Crack, crack, spatter, clatter, and
crash comes the little carriage and
team whirling into the San Luis. He
hears it now. He knows what it
means to him-Brent back and the
pent-up words still unspoken! 1t
nerves him to the test, it spurs hin,
to the leap, it drives the blood bound
ing through his veins, it sends him
darting round the table to her side
penning her, as it were, between him
and the big bamboo chair. And now
her heart too is all in a fiutter, for
the outer works are carried in his
impetuous dash, the assailant is at
the very citadel.
"Marioni'' he cried, "te1l me, was
; there-ten me there was no engage
ment! Tell me there is little hope
for me! Oh, you are blind if you c.
not see, if you have not seen al
along, that I've loved you ever sinct
; the first day I ever saw you. Tel
me-quick!"
Too late. Up comes Brent on the
run, and Marion springs past the
would-be OBTAINING arm. 'Where's
Mrs. R-?'' pants the warrior
''Hully, Stuyvie? was afraid you'i
got the news and gone out in a cao
Mira. want my belt and pistol"
"Where you going?" bursts in the
lady of the house-the spoons for
gotten.
'Out to San Pedro! It's only three
miles. Our fellows are going to drive
'em out of Guadalupe woods. Ready
Stuy? Of course you want to see It
ORWELL do you good, too. Come on.
Indeed, you don't stir a step, Col
Brent!-not step! What business
have you going into action? You di'
enough fighting 40 years ago."
Brent, deaf to her expostulation. i
rushing to the steps, buckling hi
belt on the run, but MIRA grabs tn
slack of the khaki coat and hold
him. Stuyvesant springs for his hat
1t has vanished. Marion, her hand
behind her, her lips parted, her hear
pounding hard, has darted to tn
broad door 20 the salon, and there
leaning against the framing, she con
fronts him.
At the rear of the salon Thisbe ha
: grappled Pyramus and is being pulle
to the head of the stairs; at the head
Beatrice, with undaunted front, con
e cealing a sinking heart, defies Benz
dick.
my hat, please" he demands, hi
e eyes lighting with hope and promis
OF victory.
"You have no right" she begins
"You are still patient" But now
with bowed head, she is struggling
!, for he has come close to her, SO clos
= = that his heart and hers might d
- | most meet in their wild leaping, s
9 close that in audacious search for tn
= missing headgear his hands ar
L reaching down behind the shrinking