The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-08-18
UP By
Eo~0 0AE0 George Barr
GAAA~ /0Ox~ McCutcheon
Q Of beverly
Q

He was taciturn. almost unfriendly, in
his attitude toward every one.
The little company stopped to rest in
a beautiful valley beside the banks of
a swift stream. He watched Jane as
she moved away from the stretcher
which held Bansemer, following her
to the edge of the stream where she
had come to gaze pensiyely into the
future.
How is he?" he asked. She started,
and a warm glow came into her cheek.
He is doing nicely. If he can bear
up until We reach Manila he will sure
ly live. Are We going as rapidly as we
should, Lieutenant BrayT'
Quite, Miss Gable. 1t isn't an easy
march, you must remember" After
long silence he suddenly remarked
confession to make. I've had some
very base thoughts to contend with
You may have guessed it or not. but
care great deal for you, more than
for any one else I've ever known. You
say he is to get well. For days
wished that he might die. Don't look
like that, please. ] couldn't help 1t.
went so far at one stage as to contem-
plate a delay in marching that might
have proved fatal to him. 1 thought of
that way and others of which 1 can't
tell you. Thank God, l was man
enough to put them away from me.
Wait, please! Let me finish. You have
said you will not marry him. don't
ask why you will not 1 love you. VIII
you be my wife?"
She stared at him with CONSERVATION
in her eyes. He had gone on so rapid
ly that she could not check his rapid
speech Her hand went to her brow
and a piteous smile tried to force itself
to her lips.
Il am sorry" she said at last. 81 am
sorry you have spoken to me of it.
have felt for some time that you-you
cared for me. No, Lieutenant Bray;
cannot be your wife"
Il know you love him." he said.
Yes, it is plain. I have not tried to
hide it,
You must understand why / asked
you to be my wife, knowing that you
love him. 1t was to hear it from your
own lips, so that I would not go
through life with the feeling. after all,
that 1t might have been. VIII you tell
me the reason why you cannot marry
hinIs He must love you
Lieutenant Bray. he would marry
me tomorrow, think, if / were to con-
sent. 1t isn't mat. 1t would not be
right for me to consent. You profess
to love mo- l have seen 1t in your eyes
oh, l have learned much of men In
the past few months-and determined
If you ever asked me to marry you to
ask a question in return. Do you real
~ know who 1 ann
He looked his surprise. why, the
daughter of David Gable. of course"
NO; am not his daughter"
His stepdaughter"
Not even that. You come from a
proud southern family. l do not know
who my parents were"
Good heaven. you-you don't mean
you were a waif?"
"A waif without a name. Lieutenant
Bray. This is pot self abasement; it
IS not the parading OF misfortune. II
Is because you have made the mistake
of loving me. II you care less for me
now than you did before you will
spread this information throughout the
army"
Believe me, / am not that Sort
Thank you. Knowing what you
now do. could you ask me to be your
wifeY'
Don't put it just that way" he
stammered
"Ah, see 1t was a cruel question.
And yet it proves that you do not love
as Graydon Bansemer loves"
Some day you may find out all
about your parents and be happy. You
may have been abducted and he
was saying. his face white and set.
Somehow he felt that he was chasten-
ing himself.
Perhaps" she said quietly. Il
might not have told you this had not
the story been printed in every news
paner in. the ST. ties just. before l left