Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1902-05-14


dignantly, 'Tf you were not going
away, l should be downright angry
with you for saying such things to
me" She crushed the charms In her
nervous fingers do you think me
so small that 1 would keep these as
trophies OF my conquests? You do not
know them or me. Many are souvenirs
or happy foreign experiences, many
the fruits of diligent hunting in curio
shops. 1t is a hobby with me, as YOU
ought to know. This new one" and
she held up an oddly chased silver
heart, Il picked up at Remsden's the
other day"
His face had softened as he detected
a culver IN her voice.
Forgive me. because-because, as
you say. am going away. / want
even more than that. 1 have never
given you n charm. There were always
so many others. Yet now / ask one
from you. Let me take the silver heart
In trust. To you it is a small thing.
no me-
He paused. She had turned again to
her study OF the fire.
The shadow deepened on his face,
but he continued, with a forced laugh:
"Oh, viii bring It back again, never
fear. And who knows but that it's ex-
periences IN camp and on the battle
field may enhance its value in your
eyes. If anything should happen TO me,
it shall be sent back TO you in safety"
The girl turned impulslveiy. You
shall have the heart. Rob. but don't
talk about not coming back again. We
your friends can't spare you" She
smiled up in his face as she fastened 1t
on HIS watch chain. For the sake OF
old times" But she knew that It
meant more than that to him.
He marched away with his regiment,
and she waved flag and eheered with
the rest Afterward the weeks stretch
ed out into months, punctuated by let
tiers written on shipboard and finally
from the Philippines.
She forgot her interest in her charms
and herself. 1T was q new experience.
Between mail days she went to Red
Gross meetings and read war bulletins.
She told herself that 1t was her latest
fad.
One day a newspaper telegram
taught her the truth. 1t was the ac-
count OF a paltry skirmish, and 1t said,
'Many killed and missing"
1t was his regiment. A dreadful fear
seized her heart.
Later news gave the list Of the miss
ing. She swayed as she read il. But
the horrible certainty of his name in
print could tell her nothing. She had
guessed 1t before. Rob was deadl And
now she knew that somehow all the
sunlight had gone out and left life gray
and hopeless.
Her chain charm was dangling from
her belt, and q swift stab OF reproach
reused her from apathy. She had been
80 unfeeling that last night. But, then
she did not know that she loved him
The chain brought it all back too vivid.
ty-tbe fire light and his face. She shut
up the glittering thing in the depths OF
her treasure box. If she could only
have buried memory with it,
And now as the days went by she
watched with a horrible intentness fol
Che heart to come back to her. He haC
said. eff anything should happen Il
me- II shall be sent back to you II
safety"
She knew that somehow or other 4
would come back TO her, and ii did
0he opened the box with trembling fin
gers. There was no word, but wrap
Ded In coarse paper was the silve
heart, furnished with a dull brown
stain.
She awoke one morning to find tina
she had been III for many weeks. WheJ
memory came back to her, she wep
that there should Aave been an awaII
oning. Through the long days Of con
valescence grew bitter realization tina
she had sttn work to do and she mus
uve-ln loneliness, but bravely. Sh
was not resigned; she simply endured.
The gray fall and early winter wen
by and one evening found her sittin
In the fire light. She had pleaded he
delicate health as an excuse for refus
tng all invitations. Yes, she woul
face the coming OF this new year alone
She was absorbed in memories an
beard nothing till "a voice from the pas
called her 20 the present. She locke
Nd with a slight shiver. A tall figur
stood In the shadow. Slowly she ross
Her lips parted. but no sound came
oucdenly she stood InpriGht The hs