The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-07-23

the mountain paths must bs bdIlt TO
order"
She laughed indulgcntly.
Jimmy turned TO stili another rnaga.
zine. remarkins presently: Here's O
love story OF another type-sccne. an
emergency hospital at Tampa. An In.
1ured army officer falls deeply In love
with bis nurse, but, as II often the
case. he haB n dependent mother. flo
frankly ayows his position 10 the nurse,
who, In return for the confidence, 70.
fuses 10 divulge her true name and ad.
dreAa. He asserts, nevertheless, that
no win find her nv soon % his circum-
stances admit, II ho has 10 scgrch the
country through, and them why. what's
tho matter, vnleriaT'
with a half startled gasp she clutch
ed wildly for the magazine.
"Is the authors name Robert. Rob.
ert Franklin she whispered.
Lets sce, Yes. that's right. WhyT'
"oh, don't ask me TO explain" she
begged. "yet you have doubted, and
must toll some one. VIII you promise
will you promise never TO toll a
soulT'
Her hating words, low with inten.
sity. struck chill Of premonition TO
his heart. What 10 vital TO her life lay
concealed within that magazine storyi
Even he had never stirred her TO such
depths. however often no had tried 10
make love 10 her; Yes, tried, he grimly
reflected.
"Will you promisef'' she repeated In
that same tense whisper
"promisef Why, you know that
would promise you anything. valerla.
But for heavens sake don't proiong the
agony" added Jimmy. totally uncon-
scious that he was at the moment as
melodrnmatic as the maligncd writers
OF love stories could picture a man.
ut all started At tho time OF the Gu
ban war;" she began. II was eighteen
then, young and romantic. Yes, l sup.
pose I mlstook romance for patriot.
ISM" she pursued reaectlvely, gazing
far across the valley to Mount Wash
lngton. blue yelled In all the grandeur
Of the distance, and suddenly | re.
solved TO enlist as nurse. Father
would not hear OF it--what did know
OF the hardAhlps lnvolyedf But ! was
silentiy determined, aud had my way
tool Some relatives In Florida gave
me the opportunity would visit them
as ruse. Am tiring you by my pre-
liminary explanatlonT
"0h. don't mind me-" he deprecated
ironically. 1T seems don't count In
this game"
She smiled slightly, only TO resume
after moinentary hesitation: Every
thing went my way. even TO my gain.
Ing access TO the hospital without the
regulation requirements. You see,
nurse was taken III just as I arrived.
and l stepped Into her place. alling II
as best might. And. then, he came,
badly wounded. but, oh--so bravel"
She stopped short to fasten her rcv.
Ing eyes on Jimmy's face.
"Go on" he urged bitterly. "it 10 q
great place for condolences. 10 far
above tho littleness Of our everyday
existence"
She turned to hide a smlle. Continu
ing: ~ nursed him for three weeks
every day OF which was harder FOR
both OF us. He insisted upon leaving
that he would advertise broadcast for
his nurse as soon as possible. could
think Of nothing but newspaper per
sonals, and I never read them. but be
has been 30 original. He certainly has
advertised broadcast. and instead OF
paying for II he has made the adver.
tising medium pay him!"
"Don't! How can you be 80 trivial
at such a timer" he lmplored.
Suddenly her mood changed to one
OF bitter self denunciation.
"Won't you forgive me, Jimmy" she
begged. "0h. how have lied to you,
all the while leading you to believe In
my perfect sincerity! Won't you for
give me--and forget" Impulsively she
rested both hands on his shoulder.
IT forgive you." he repeated, "but
can't say the rest. guess you know
why, valeria.'
Again her mood changed. like the
mood OF an April day.
"Now will you admit that true ro-
nance sometimes lies between the Gov
ersY' she playfully demanded.
'l'll admit anything you wish. You
can't hurt me deeper"
"Oh, goodyl" She clapped her hands
In ecstasy, then, slowly rubbing her
eyes, added lightly, "Now that you've
owned up to being In the wrong. ! may
as well admit that I've had such
pleasant dream" As she finished
speaking valeria regarded him eau
tiously.
"Do you mean to say that you fash.
ioned that out of whole cloth as you
went alongT he demanded in bewil-
derment
"Why, yes; / suppose 80. But l gave
you good At, didn't II l just had to
do 1t to show you what might have
happened In real life, for 1t Is not po-