The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1903-04-23

Began singing lou and ssDectlv.
Oblivion. dreamy and comparatively
painless, which was the only mercy
which could come to him.
A step sounded on the bare boards.
She looked up, and the wounded man
raised his weary lids with a CLEAN OF
Eladness under them. Cecil bent above
bis couch.
Dear Leon. how is 1t with your"
Ills voice was s6ftened to infinite ten.
0crncss. Leon namon had been for
many a year his comrade and his
friend. an artist of Paris. a man OF
marvellous gehlus. Of high ldcalIc
creeds. who Id a fatal moment Of rash
despair had flung his talents. his bro
ken fortunes. his pure and noble spirit
into the fiery furnace of the hell Of mil.
ltary Africa and now lay dying here. o
commo soldier. forgotteh as though he
were already In his grave.
THE review Ia just over. | got ten
minutes to spnre and ain to you the
instant l could" pursued Cecil "See
here what bring you! You. with your
artists soul. viii feel yourself all but
well when yoh look on theser"
He placed OH his bed some pcachrs
bedded deep In moss and circled round
with stephanotis. with magnolia. With
roses. with other rarer flowers still.
The face of the artist soldier Heightened
with a longing JOY. His lips quirered.
"Ab. God! They have the fragrance
Of my France!
Cecil said nothing. but moved them
nearer into the clasp OF his enger
hands. Cigarette be did not see.
They are beautifulr the dying rnan
said family at length. They have
our youth In them. How came you by
them. denr frlend?"
''Thcy are not due to me-" answered
Cecil hurriedly. Princess Corona sends
them 10 you. She has sent great gifts
to this iiospital-wincs. fruits. a profu.
sion uf flowers such rs those. Through
her these miserable chambers will
bloom for awhile like n garden. ami
the best wines OF Europe will s!ake
your thirst"
ait Is very kind" murmured Leon
Ramon languidly. But I am ung.ate
full. Cigarette here-she has been ST
good. NO tender. SO bItlful. For once
have almost not missed you."
Cigarette. thus alluded to. spranz to
her feet. with her head tossed back and
all her cynIcIsn back again. A hot col.
or wns on her CHECKS. the light had
pissed from her face. she struck her
white teeth together. She had thought
Bel-a-faire-peur chained to his regiment
in the field of maheuver. or she would
never have come thither TO tend hla
friend. She had felt happy In her self
sacrifice. she had grown into a gentle.
pensiye. mercifhl mood. singing here
by the side Of the dying soldier, and
now the first thing she heard was ci
the charities OF the princessi
That was all her reward. Cigarette
received the recompense that usually
comes to generous natures which have
strung themselves to some self surren.
der that costs them dear.
Cecil looked at her surprised and
smiled.
~My pretty one. IL It yot7 That Is in.
deed good. You were the good angel OF
my life the other night and today come
to bring consolation to my friend
"'GoOd angelr Chut, N. Victor!
There is nothing Of the angel about me,
I hope. Your friend tool Pruttut! Dc
you think l have never been used to
taking care Of my comrades in hos.
pitfalls before you played the sick nurse
here?"
She spoke with all her brusque petu-
lance In arms again. She hated that
be should imagine she had sacrificed
her fete day to Leon Ramon because
the artist trooper was dear to him.
He smiled again; he did not under
stand the caprices Of her changeful
moods. and he did not feel that inter.
est I'm her which would have made
him divine tho threads of their va.
carries.
II did not think to offend you, my
little one" he said gently. II meant
only to thank you for your goodness
to Ramon In my absence"
Cigarette shrugged her shoulders.
There was no goodness. and there
need be no thanks. Ask Pere Matoy