The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1902-09-10
FAINT
HEART"
BY William Macleod Ralne
Copgif0hi, 1901, bp W. NJ. Raine

bit. He walked as erect as ever, but
his uniform coat hung loose about him
like sack and his step lacked the
buoyant spring that used to distinguish
his approach, He took her pink little
palm in his tanned yellow hand with
great sigh OF relief.
ITS good TO get back TO Gods coun-
try again" he told her after the first
greetings We're past.
Il suppose you did miss good many
things down there. 1t must have been
awful, IL the newspaper accounts are
true"
He shrugged his thin shoulders.
1T wasn't exactly picnic; but, then,
men don't so to war for fun-at least
they are not liable to find II IL they
do"
"And what did you miss most2"
fash OF his old audaclty leaped to
his eye. "a little girl in New York.
There were other things | wanted
iced drinks. something to eat that was
green, place 10 sleep In where the
water wasn't more than six inches
deep-but II was the girl wanted to
see most"
She gave him her most suave smile.
Il didn't lnow you had any sisters"
Il haven't. This was another mans
sister"
"Ohr
There did not seem to be anything
further 10 say along that line, so far
as she was concerned Presently she
asked:
HAS the regiment been ordered
homer"
Yes; we're all here what's left of
us" Then h added. II came homo
TO tell this girl love her"
"Yes?" she asked with polite inter-
est. did you have the regiment or
dered home Jlst for that? Isn't It
taking good deal of troubler
Not too much. That's what I'm here
for-to take trouble. IL can only gain
nay ond.''
She murmured something about hop
ing she would be able TO congratulate
him soon.
His big eyes covered her steadily
"Do you really hope SOP
war. I'm just dying to know all about
how 1t feels TO be In battle"
There's nothing much to tell" he
answered. somehow feeling bnfiied
without quite knowing why. ITS
awfully hot and dusty. and once In
while some poor fellow gets knocked
over. There isn't anything much to
see. One gets a throat like a limekiln;
no trouble at all TO raise n thirst.
That's about all But there's something
else I'd rather talk about"
ooh, yes the charges against the
government about the feeding and care
of the soldiers" she acquiesced hastily.
Hang the charges I'm not worry
ing about them Mt all. It's this girl
want to talk about"
"Oh, that girl again"
Yes; I'm interested In her."
"Is she niceP
81 think So"
and good lookingi"
well. her looks make hit with
me-"
Doubtless she would be gratified to
know it."
"I'm not so sure about that" he an
swered, looking ut her swiftly. I'm
point OF fact. she knows ii already, only
she pretends not to. can't seem TO
find out where stand with her. When
1 get ready to tell her, she laughs at
me with the grayest face imaginable
One can't grow sentimental when
girl Is making game OF one. you know"
mo, l suppose not" she assented de-
murely.
He took grip on himself and decid-
ed that the time had come to storm
this fortress. to which the run up San
Juan hill appeared a mere bagatelle
There was once a young fellow at
the Point" he began nervously. Nat
urally he thought himself In love, but
the curious thing is that he was In
love- Fact Is he didn't know any more
about girls than you do about the
native jargon OF the Hlndoo. He
never had been with them. But once
well, the sister of q classmate came
visiting at the Point, and after that
she was the only woman In the world
that counted"
She settled herself more comfortably
In the chair and smiled dazzllngly at
him. Never a maiden more uncon-'
scious Of his Interior meaning.
How charmingly romantic! Do go
On. l hope there will be immense diff
culties IN the way-another lover. OBJ
durate parent. heartrendlng separation,
mutual VOWS of undying fealty."
mo; there wasn't any obdurate par
ent. So far as ! could find out her ia
Their hadn't any objections to my--to
this young fellow-marrying his daugh-
ter. There were separations enough.
He had to play hide and seek with
the Apaches I'm Arizona for year or
two, but never discovered that her
heart was rent"
Perhaps 1t was loaned or even given
away" she dubbed.
He paid no attention to this sally,
though he appreciated 1t.
'There was another lover" he con-
tinued, eyes full on hers. HE was
man Of a good deal Of force, had made
his own way In the world and was on
the road to wealth. He could give her
all the things that this lieutenant
couldn't give her. the Injuries she had
been used to all her life"
"Oh, see. He could feed her on
bonbons." This most innocently.
"He could provide for her as she
ought to be provided for"