The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1902-09-18
"FAIN
HEART"
BY William Macleod Raine


line Sdck anu MS step lacked the
buoyant spring that used to distinguish
his approach. He took her pink little
palm in his tanned yellow hand with
a great sigh of relief.
ITS good to get back to Gods coun-
try again." he told her after the first
greetings were past
II suppose you did miss a good many
things down there. 1t must have been
awful, If the newspaper accounts are
true"
He shrugged his thin shoulders.
ut wasn't exactly picnic; but, then.
men don't go to war for fun-at least
they are not liable to find it If they
do"
"And what did you miss most?"
A flash of his old audacity leaped to
his eye. "a little girl in New York
There were other things l wanted
iced drinks, something to eat that was
green, a place to sleep In where the
water wasn't more than six inches
deep-but 1t was the girl l wanted to
see most"
She gave him her most suave smile.
II haven't. This was another mans
sister"
"Ohp
There did not seem to be anything
further to say along that line, so far
as she was concerned. Presently she
asked:
Has the regiment been ordered
home?"
Yes; we're all here-what's left of
u.s." Then he added, Il came home
to tell this girl l love her"
"YesY she asked with polite inter-
est. did you have the regiment or
dered home just for that? Isn't it
taking good deal of troubleY'
Not too much. That's what I'm here
for-to take trouble if l can only gain
my end"
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"
"Of course. But do tell me about the
war. I'm just dying to know all about
how it feels to be in battle"
There's nothing much to tell" he
answered, somehow feeling baffled
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 throat like a limekiln;
no trouble at all to raise a 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 at all. It's this girl |
want to talk about"
"Oh, that girl again"
YES; I'm interested in her"
"Is she niceY
II think so
And good lookingf
well. her looks make hit with
me-"
Doubtless she would be gratifed to
know it."
I'm not so sure about that" he an
swered, looking at her swiftly. in
point OF fact, she knows it already, only
she pretends not to. can't seem to
find out where stand with her. When
get ready to tell her, she laughs at
me with the gravest face imaginable.
One can't grow sentimental when a
girl is making game of one, you know"
mo. | suppose not" she assented de-
murely.
He took n grip on himself and decd-
Cd ho hn 10 cfD
this fortress. to which the run up San
Juan hill appeared a mere bagatellc.
There was once 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 Hindoo. He
never had been with them. But once
well. the sister of a classmate came
visiting ut 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 dazzlingly at
him Never maiden more uncOn-
scious of his Interior meaning.
How charmingly romantic! DO go
on. | hope there will be immense ditIi
cutes IN the way-another lover. oh
durate parent, helrtrending 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 in Arizona for a year or
two, but never discovered that her
heart was rent"
Perhaps it was loaned or even given
away" she dubbed.
He paid no attention to this sally.
though he appreciated it,
There was another lover" be con.
tinued.' eyes full on hers. He was
man of good deal of force, had made
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