Warren sheaf., 1902-12-11

+ 3 1 +. z
with you tonight, and If you re-
sponded, as / wished. to take with
me the shield and buckler Of my
chosen ones love and promises
but"-he sighed heavily-a long,
hopeless sigh.
1T is just as we'll, perhaps. You
would scarcely love me out of sight
and be true to me when you have
fouted and triHed with me by your
side and at your feet all these years.
Yes, ever since you were little, shy
princess of a girl, with long, black
braids, hanging below your waist
a little girl with shy, proud ways
and dear, deep eyes, and great,
awkward lad-Oh, Margaret. how
long I have loved you and how well!
Too we'll! Too WE'LL" -"
"Have loved?"
But truly the end had come and
John Muir felt physical illness
born of the long strain upon nerve
and brain, soul and heart, overcome
him and he knew he could endure no
more.
"Good-by'-and not needing the
slight cry that broke from the girls
lips, the leaning after him of her
whole body, he was down the steps
and gone with but the sound of his
firm, young football on the air as
trace of him.
"Yes, we do need new nurses, butt
the surgeons glance swept the
girls face and figure, then went
back again and rested upon the up
ward gaze of two deep, dark eyes.
swell, yes-at first glance I
thought you little unfit; but
"Ah, try me! Try mel" Her voice
was tense with stress of feeling and
her lips trembled, but steady pur-
pose and grave determination shone
from her whole face and gave mean
ing even to the posture her young
body assumed.
"Yes, you'll do. Come, now. You'll
have to get a good hold on your
self, miss, for you're likely to see
well, I won't daunt your spirit, but
things are not in very good shape in
this camp hospital of ours. But" he
continued, threading his way ahead
of her, through tents and groups of
soldiers, "but-God knows we do the
very best we can"
She made no answer; stepping
lightly and as though on sacred
ground, fair and gracious sight for
the hungry eyes turned to-her-ward,
she quietly followed him.
There was good stuff in Margaret's
makeup, or she could never have
withstood the storm of opposition
that had met her determination to
be an army nurse, a member of
that grand corps of Red Cross work.
ers.
But that it had been withstood
was proven by her presence in the
camp, and her heart beat high with
hope and honest purpose. "God
willing, she should yet prove but
her thoughts were broken in upon
delirious man-and she started as
though from blow and clutched a
moment at the surgeons arm, who
turned and said somewhat roughly.
yet tenderly:
''What! What! You go down like
that at the first sound?" But she
turned up to him face so deadly
white, so drained of life's current,
that with a tender, manly impulse
he threw his arm about her and
drew her, as he might have drawn
his own daughter close to his side
and just held her there firmly. H.
"That is John Muir's voice and
love him. Take me to him For
Gods sal1e,y take me to him. I am
strong. I shall not faint Take me
to him."
So impressed was the surgeon by
the girls voice, by her manner, that
without one word he turned and,
holding her hand as he might that
of a little child, led her through the
Tapping doorway, down the narrow
aisle, where on either side the ghast-
ly figures were outlined beneath the
slight coverings, and halted beside a
cot near the other opening.
Grace and strength met in the
slight figure that bent above the pitt
full figure, quiet enough now that the
delirium had passed; love, deathless,
absorbing and sufficient for her souls
sore need, shone from the eyes that
dwelt upon the mans pale, pinched
face-love that had sought and found
and was utterly satisfied. ...
Tt was enough that John lay here
beneath her eyes, in touch of her
hand. Gone the long, soul-devouring
nights; the empty, torturing days.
Though Death himself stood upon the
other side of that lowly couch, it was
enough. John should know and feel
her love ere that icy hand should
lead him hence.
Tears stood in the kind eyes of
the surgeon, and tears streamed
ova,. tho foco Of tho p11rco who bo1