Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-07-26

~ A"oe"eAoA' IL sorry LndL i can [
be more polite, but have a Spanish
souvenir in my leg which makes it i'm
possible for me to rise and pay nv
respects, but I'm only a foot or two
behind you. It's a deuced bore getting
bowled over so early in the game. isn't
1T? We are missing the very best of
it."
Il wish could see you. It may be
my fancy, but think you are Jack AL
lerton," said Ned.
"Of course am, and you are Ned
Forsythe, as I live! God bless YOU,
Ned! Well, say, this is uncommonly
jolly"
do you think SO? would have an.
piled some other adjective. So YOU
have not forgotten me. 1 fancied the
hole left had long since closed over. y
There are some who do not forget
their old friends. The Allertons are
loyal, If nothing else."
"All Of them?" queried Ned.
"Allertons, l said. There are no ex.
ceptions. You groan, Ned; are you
suffering greatly?"
mo, 1t Is nothing-only little done
up"
Another groan and Jack knew that
the old friend beside him was either
fainting or dead. He made an effort
to pull himself nearer, but the pain
occasioned was too great, and a few
minutes later, when the Red Gross
nurse came, he found both comrades
lying unconscious with open wounds
But when the first transport left a few
days later, Jack and Ned were on It.
bound for home.
Mother and Alice will revel in q
chance to show their patriotism. Ned
We will be nursed and fed without
ceasing. I am going to submit grace
fully myself, and let them hero-wor-
ship me to their hearts content. You
follow my lead, old man, and the prod
igal sons entertainment will read like
poor performance compared to the
continuous show kept up for us, in the
role Of wounded reroes."
"You are as ridiculous as ever. Jack.
I am glad that little thing like a
mauser hasn't dimmed your spirits.
AS for me, beg Of you not to let them
look me up. I shall get all the atten-
ton need in the hospital"
Hospital! Who said hospital? You
won't see the inside Of one very soon.
You are going home with me, you
idiot. I thought you understood that
long ago."
"You are awfully good, Jack, but 1
can't do it, old fellow. Let me go off
by myself"
"And eat your heart out-a fine diet
for half starved and wounded SOL
der. You will never go to hospital
without a fight with me-"
Ned found remonstrance, argument.
alike futile, and he wisely left the sub
ject to be settled at the end of their
journey. But he had not counted on
the fact that he would topple over in a
faint when he saw amid the waiting
crowd long remembered face, watch
ing with anxious eyes the landing of
the ship. When he came to himself
in the smoothly running, rubber-tired
carriage, and found his head against
the shoulder Of the woman he loved.
he sighed contentedly at the beautiful
dream, and feared to speak, lest the
vision should vanish and he should
find himself once more aboard che
crowded, ill-smelling boat.
Are you comfortable? I thought
you would never come out of that
faint"
Comfortable He reflected that he
had never been SO comfortable in his
life, but he only murmured, "Alice."
Jack is with mother. One carriage
would not hold us all, so Jack had you
put in here under my charge"
ut is long drive, isn't it?" asked
Ned, hopefully.
Eyes. rather. Does the jolting hurt
you?"
Nothing hurts me now, Alice. Even
my old wound seemed healed for the
moment"
"You must not talk. Just lie still
and rest"
Its so strange, Alice. can't real
lie 1t. You are just the same after
these two years and I am"
you're Ned she slipped her hand
into his and tear fell on his worn
and faded blouse.
He had said she was the same and
yet how infinitely tender she had
grown.
"Alice, are you-is 1t really true?"
Eyes, Ned, 1t is true. I am, 1 al
ways was dear. You misunderstood