La Junta tribune., 1907-04-06
,ine. reraarktps presently: "nere's .

ttutN hpsp8Nhi AZ
jured array officer falls deeply In love
with his nurse: hut. as is often tie
case. he has a dependent mother. He
frankly avows his position 10 the nurse,
who. in return for the confidence, re-
fuses to divuise her true name and nd.
dress. He asserts. nevertheless. that
he will find her m soon as his clrcum-
stances admit. II he has TO search the
country through. aud then-why, what's
the matter. valeria:''
With half startled gasp she clutch
81 wildly for the magazine.
lis the authors name Robert-Rob.
ert franklin" she whispered.
Let's see. Yes. that's right. Why e.
''oh. don't ask me to explain" she
begged Yet you have doubted. and
I must tell some one. VIII you promise
will YOU promise never to tell
souly''
Her haItinG words. low with inien,
sity. struck chill OF premoniti0n to
his heart. What SO vital to her life lay
concealed within that magazine story
Even he had never stirred her to such
depths. however often he had tried to
make love to her: yes. tried. he grimiy
reflected.
"Wili you promise:" she repeated in
that same tense whisper.
Promise? Why. you know that
would promise you anything. Valeria.
But for heavens sake don't proiong the
agony" added Jimmy. totally uucon-
scious. that he was at the moment as
neiodram as the maiigned writer's
Of love stories could picture man.
1t all started At the time Of the Gu
ban war" she lsegan. II was eighteen
then, young and romantic. Yes. sup,
pose mistook romance for patriot.
ISM" she pursued renectively. gazing
far across the valley to Mount Wash
ington. blue yelled In all the grandeur
Of the distance. 'and suddenly re-
solved to enlist as 4 nurse. Father
would not hear of it-what did l know
Of the hardships involved? But I was
silently determined, and had my way
too: Some relatives In Florida gave
me the opportunity would visit them
as ruse. Am l tIring you by my pre-
liminary explanation:"
"Oh, don't mind me-" he deprecated
ironically. at seems don't count In
this game"
She smiled slightly. only to resume
after momentary 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 arrived.
and l stepped into her place. filling 1t
as best might. And. then. he came.
badly wounded. but. oh-so brave!'
She stopped short to fasten her row
ing eyes on Jimmy's face.
Go on" he urged bitterly. TT Is
great place for condolences. SO far
above the littleness Of our everyday
existence"
She turned to hide a smile. Continu.
Ing: II nursed him for three weeks.
every day Of which was harder for
both OF u. He insisted upon avins
that he would advertise broadcast for
his nurse as soon N possible,i could
think Of nothing but newspaper per-
sonals, and never read them. but he
has been 70 original. He certainly has
advertised broadcast. and instead Of
paying for 1t he has made the adver
tising medium pay him."
Don't! How can you be 20 trivial
at such timer" he implored.
Suddenly her mood changed to one
of bitter self denuuciation.
won't you forgive me. Jimmy?" she
begged. "Oh, how l 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.
Il 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
ers?' she playfully demanded.
III admit anything you wish. You
can't hurt me deeper"
"Oh, goody" 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 a
pleasant dream" As she finished
speaking yaleria regarded him eau
tiously.
do you mean to say that you fash
ioned that out of whole cloth as you
went along?" he demanded In bewil-
derment.
why, yes; 1 suppose 30. But gave
you q good at. didn't I? just had to
do It to show y0u what might have
happened In real life. for 1t Is not po-
lite, you know. to contradict lady"
"Tve q good mind to shake you"
.It isn't polite to shake lady o.
thef," was the ready retort-
For q moment he was silent.
"You aren't mad, are you" she
coaxed. you know you just said
you'd forgive my ibblng. After your
savage arraiynment Of the girl who
crawled along the back easement to