The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-02-02
Only A LAPSE
or COURAGE
By CHARLOTTE CANTY
Copyright, 1901, bB The
s. s. Mcclure Company
By CHARLOTTE CANTY

N N through the little barred win.
dow to Alice Forbes. news
paper correspondent following the for
tunes of war may not indulge in the
feminine weakness OF nerves, yet she
paced the room in the old stone build.
ing where, through the kindness Of
young Or. Wallace, she had been per
I mitted to make her quarters.
1t was now long past midnight. They
had said that at daybroak, If the
trenches of the enemy had not been
vacated, the troops would move for
ward. Foremost in that charge would
be Captain Alexander Forbes, and to
Alice there was no one In the line so
brave as her soldier brother. Together
they had studied army tactics, and
when his regiment had been ordered to
the Philippines she had not rested un-
til she had made arrangements to fol-
low him.
! How noble he was, how heroic, how
different from But there 1t was alb.
surd even TO think of Or. Wallace In
the same hour with Alexander. Still, n
realization that her refusal of him had
sorely hurt the quiet doctor gave her
an uneasy sense of not being quite on
( good terms with herself
Out there, covered by the darkness,
! the troops were ready, and Alice, lean
ing upon the window ledge, fancied
that through the stiffness she could
hear the pulse beats Of the men wait
ing. She thought of Alexander, eager,
wakeful.
Had she dozed? A low spoken COM
mand reached her ear, and the voice
surely it was that of Cough Wallace.
stop! Who are you, and what do
you wantT
II am-never mind who l am! Let
me pass
The first tone OF the response had
brought Alice to her feet.
"Oh, it's you, Forbes! Then perhaps
it's my place TO explain" The doctors
voice, still very low, had taken another
tone, and Alice heard her brother spring
lightly from his horse. 81 managed to
get permission to quarter Alice in this
building. You know how anxious she is
to see every detail of your work to-
morrow, and from here she can watch
in perfect safety. However'-the doc
tors voice broke somewhat nervously-
II didn't like leaving her here on a
night so full of unpleasant possibili-
ties, and l decided to remain near her
in case of an alarm"
Alice was but family conscious of
her feeling of gratitude toward the
doctor. What had brought her brother
here?
"It's more than kind of you, Wallace.
l was little nervous about her
! "Oh, then you knew that she was
here?r
"Yes-no"- Alice observed that he
was fumbling strangely with his re-
! ply.
"There will be some busy hours for
all of us tomorrow" remarked DR..
| Wallace. "Of course your men are all
wild to begin. Alice is very proud that
| you have the position of honor. b com
pany leads, l understand"
"Yes; B company leads" Again the
girl observed that curious weakness of
| tone.
| "Forbes"-the doctor was speaking
hurriedly-"I Judge from your manner
that you are not quite at ease about
| the little girl here. Let me relieve you
| Of any anxiety on her account. If
| things so badly tomorrow, trust me to
stand by her as friend and brother. l
ought to tell you that l had hoped to
| be something more to her. but she
| thinks differently about the matter.
| don't measure very much in her eyes
beside you,
The words were spoken lightly, but
| Alice, listening, felt the keenness Of
| their edge.
only little while now between you
and glory, Forbes. There isn't much
Of this black night left"
| mo; there isn't. That's Just it."
| Forbes jerked the words out with sin
| gular emphasis. Wallace, believe
that, after all, l shan't be able to lead
my men in that charge"
FORBES" The doctors exclamation
drowned Alice's gasp of Mortified
| amazement.
THE truth is that THAT have been
| i'll all night"
| The tremor in his voice translated
the words for Alice, but the doctor had
no suspicion of their meaning.
why, Forbes, you're all right. It's
| your first time under fire, and natural
ly You feel the responsibility, but you'll
go through in fine STYLE and Alice will
| sing your praises more loudly than
ever You haven't much more time to
! wait now, Forbes"
| A thin silver blade along the horizon
was cutting the black night from the
| earth.
| "No; not much more time" Could
that spiritless voice belong to Alexan-
der? "At daybreak," the orders read.
| And If after the battle l am dead Or
| or missing you'll help Alice
| "IIave no fear for Alice. The thought
| Of her love for you and her faith in
| your invincible courage will help carry
you through safely''
| sI know I Epnu and Go, bo, .of,o