The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1908-08-06
now no realized tina, no was to

and his heart responded to the sum.
mons as to a bugle call in battle
Instantly the little camp was astir,
the men feeling the enthusiasm Of
their officers. With preparations well
In hand. Brant's thoughts veered once
again toward Nadia. He rode down to
the Herndon house with grave face
and sober thought. He recalled long
the plainly furnished room into which
Mrs. Herndon ushered him to await
the girls appearance-the formal look
OF the old.fashioned halr-cloth furni.
ture. the prim striped paper on the
walls, the green shades at the win.
dows. the clean rag carpet on the floor.
The very stiffness chilled him. loft
him i'll at ease. Then he heard the
rustic OF Naida's skirt and turned 70
meet her. she was pale from her
weeks of nursing. and agitated for fear
of what this unexpected call might
portend. Yet TO his thought she ap-
peared calm, her manner restrained.
Nor could anything be kinder than her
first greeting. the frankly extended
hand. the words expressive OF well
come
"Mr. Wynkoop informed me few
minutes ago that you had at last re-
ceived your orders for the Forth" she
said. her lips slightly trembling. Il
wondered II you would leave without
a word OF farewell
He bowed low. Il do not under.
stand how you could doubt. for have
shown my deep interest in you even
from the first II have lately seemed
to avoid you. II has only been because
| believed you wished II So"
There was an embarrassing pause.
as though neither knew how TO get
through the interview.
mo doubt you are rrjolced to be
sent on active service agsin," she said.
at last.
Yes. both as q soldier and AZ q
man, Miss Nadia | am gstd 70 get
into the field again with my regiment.
TO do my duty under the flag. and I
am equally reioiced to have sOm6lblng
occur which will tend TO divert my
thoughts. | had not intended 10 say
anything OF this kind. bat now that
am with you | simply cannot restrain
the words. This past month has been.
! believe. the hardest have ever bean
compelled TO live through. You sim.
ply mystify me so that / alternately
hope and despair. Your methods are
c-uel"
"Mlne?" and she gazed at him with
parted lips. Lieut.. Brant. what can
you mean? What IS Il have done?"
II may have been only play TO you
and no easily forgotten" he went on.
bitterly. But that Is a dangerous
game. very certain to hurt some ono.
Miss Nadia. your face. your eyes. even
your lips almost continually tell ne
one thing; your words another. ]
know not which TO trust. never
NEE. you except To go away bafIled
and bewildered."
You wish to know the TRUTH"
"Ay. and for all time! Are you
false or true? Coquetto or womani
Do you simply play with hearts for
idle amusement or is there some true
purpose ruling your actions?"
She looked directly at him. her
hands clasped. her breath almost
sobbing between the parted lips. At
first she could not speak. ooh. you
hurt me so" she fsltered at last. Il
did not. suppose you could ever think
that IL did not mean Il. oh. truly
| did not mean a. You forget how
young | am; how very little | know
OF the world and It's ways Perhaps
have not even realized how deeply In
earnest you we're. have deceived M.
self into believing you were merely
amusing yourself with me. Why. irr
deed, should | think otherwise?"
Il love you" no said. with simple
honesty. Il seek you for my wife"
She started at these frankly spoken
words. her hands partially conceallng
her face. her form trembling. "oh. !
wish you hadn't said that! II is not
because | doubt you any longer; not
that fail TO appreciate ali you offef
rue. But II is so hari TO appear un
grateful. to give nothing in retu.n ia
SO vast a gift"
Then It is true that you do no,
love ne%
Tho blood famed suddenly up into
her face. but there was no lowering OF
the eyes, no shrinking back. She was
too honest to play the coward before
him.
Il shall not attempt to deceive you.-
she said. with slew impressiveness
instantly carrying conviction. This
has already progressed so far that ]
now owe you complete franknsss
Donald Brant. now and always. Hyins
or dead, married OF single, wherever
life may take us. shall love you
Their eyes were meeting. but shs
held up her hand 10 restrain him from
the one step forward.
mo. no; have confessed the truth;
| have opened freely to you the great
secret Of my heart. With It you must
be content to leave me. There Is moth
Ing more that can give you absolute
ly nothing. l can never be saur wife,
hope. for your sake and mine. thai
we never meet again"
Brant stood like statue. his face