Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-28

ddant he had hitherto refrained. He must
never let her know that he was a man with
a mouomania-
Tonight, after an hours struggle. he
paused at the stile that led to the college
grounds. 7 was fool this afternoonT he
said, bitterly. But that is ended now. I
am going to settle down to decorous Ameri-
can citizenship. SO that Marcia need not
be ashamed of me-"
He climbed the stile and crossed the
campus. AS he walked silently under the
elms the clear. sweet notes Of q whistle
pierced the darkness. Alex stopped with q
gulp. There is 1t again" he muttered.
TITS no use for me to try to fight 1t on.
am going insane It was but half
dozen notes repeated over and over; call
strangely sweet and sad. Alex gulped as If
to swallow sob, then started on In the d.
rection of the call.
Some one wants me-, he muttered, ex-
citedly. Some one wants me-
But there was no one In sight beneath
the elms Struggling for calm, Alex crossed
ident's house, where Marcia was spending
commencement week Marcia, dirnly
lovely figure in soft white frock, was
awaiting him in the porch.
Marcia" began Alex, abruptly, II can't
tell you; I'm just a crazy fool.
Marcia, with wisdom beyond her years,
threw back her head and laughed No?
Why you said you were not going to tell
That's not who am" said Alex grim
ly. That's what I am" Then falling
easily into Marcia's little trap Il haven't
the least idea as TO the who.
Marcia's voice sounded surprised. why.
they told me that you are an orphan; that
you are foreign born. but have been In
America since you were tiny IeiioW;
Alexis voice was little husky. But
that is all that I really know"
But what do you guess?'
You won't laugh?" entreated the man.
Alex" exclaimed Marcia, reproach-
fully.
MY dream is of some very queer things.
Marcia; lots and lots of men in uniform
and one man in particular, to whom all
tiny chan in uniform to whom this great
man gives precedence. And then, bugle
call and shouts and sword play. Then the
little chap has a long hard trip In some.
body's arms on horseback. Then g great
ship and America. Here, the little chap
seems to be /.
And 1 was put in boarding school, and
the uniformed man who had given me pre-
cedence said to me. before he left me:
Remember, you go not as an indlViouat
to a school. but as nation that would
learn of a greater. Remember what we
expect of YOU And tiny as / was, SEEM
ed to understand him. And that Is the
dream. 1 know that l have monthly re-
mittance through a bank and that the bank
directs my movements.
Marcia had not stirred, but, as Alex
paused, land now that you are through
college. what next?"
Alexis voice was low and tense Mar
cha, somewhere / am needed. somewhere
I have place to fill. / must go some,
where / don't know who / am or where l
belong, but-O, Marcia, none can know
what these years alone here in America
have been to me. The awful, awful lone
Illness the constant yearning, for l knew
not what. For the past four years, II
had not been for you, l should have gone
mad.
The electric light fared at the corner
and by its white glare the two young faces
a@A oh w
its look of hauteur, it's pathetic lines or
loneliness.
Il am needed somewhere" Alex repeated,
as If finding relief in the words. fhis
afternoon the feeling was simply unnerV-
ing. / hated the race at first until-Marcia,
did you hear a whistle just before came
a queer. sweet whistler"
Eyes, l think l did,, answered Marcia.
Did you!" feverishly. Where did 1t
seem to come from?'
From around here
Alex rose in his excitement. This is
very strange" in a low voice, i thought IT
was only part of my dream: ..
What was it, asked Marcia Was 1t
like tais?"
She pursed her curving lips. threw back
her head and the call, shrill, sweet ana
strange. sounded on Alexis ears. He stag
gered back to the porch rail, where he
leaned Tigidly.
Marcia" he whispered, Marcia, what
is it2'
Inc girl spoke SLOWLY. II is the dtthS .
call to arms
There was a pause in which Marcia
could hear Alex breathing heavily. The
struggle was acute, but memory was COM
ing to her own. Childhood pictures, broken
words and phrases were flooding back
Still Marcia waited. tenseiy, patiently. Sud
denly Alex Strengthened himself to his full
height.
II am the Duke of Petrovia.' he said.
"Oh Alex, yes cried Marcia, her voice
trembling a little.
who are you?" asked Alex, harshly.
'I am a cousin on the other side of the
house After they decided to keep you in
America, to be out of harms way until
you were grown, they sent me, too. I, too,'
she smiled sadly, was too near the powers
that are to stay there, safely. So they ex-
lied me, too. Only mother has Smuggled
letters to me-"
Alex spoke rapidly. II am remembering
1t all, now, all. But how did you know me
II have only been here four years, you
know. 1 was not sure of your whereabouts
until 1 met you that vacation at the Mil
ingtons But 1 was pledged not to tell
you for fear that you would come back
before the time is ripe And oh, Alex, the
loneliness of 1t. To be so alone, knowing
that there one who spoke the Ian
guage. who loved the same cause, who
was the cause, and yet, to keep silence
But the whistle.
ALEX, when l saw that you were giving
out in the race this afternoon, l could not
bear that one or our blood should lose
courage, even in a college race. 1t seemed
ominous. And so l whistled the Dukes
your-Call to Arms" And you remembered.
And, Alex, the call has come. You are to
go back to fight for your own Mother
wrote me that they are to send for you.
And they expect much of you for you have
been learning OK a great nation
There was long pause. From the other
side of the campus came the soft strains
of the mandolin concert From the river
bank, whip poor-will called.
Marcia" said Alex, with the old tired
look. so strange In his young face, Marcia,
dear, there will be very little of happiness
in our lives unless-unless we give 1t to
each other. When we go back it will be
to days of strife. Marcia, will you go back
with me. belonging to me?"
Marcia moved slowly toward him. 'Fhey
said that it must be for the sake of the
family, but l said no, it never should be
unless you asked me for myself alone.'
Alex shook his head impatiently. But
you, youi Do you wish it?''
Marcia was very close now: Alex yes,
ever since that first day at the Milingtons."
And over the silence that followed, the
whip-poor- willis notes melted like the
strane. sweet notes of the Dukes Call to
Arms.
Copyright, 1906 by Ruby Doug.as)
Dandelions and Yellow Roses.