Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-08-22

coming upon, his near the last. One
glance was enough. His face had been
in her mind for months, just as she
was seeing it now. She had lived in
horror of finding him cold in death.
1t was Teresa Velasquez who first
understood. She knew that Bansemer's
one woman had found him at last. Her
heart leaped with hatred for one brief
instant. then turned soft and contrite.
If she had learned to care for the big
American herself during the hard days
when he had been so tender. she also
had learned that her worship was
hopeless. She had felt his yearning
love for another, Now she was look
ing upon that other While the attend
ants were bending over their uncon-
scious companion the Spanish girl
stood guard over the man who had
been her guardian, the man whose life
was going out before her miserable,
exhausted eyes.
Jane Gable stirred with returning
life. Teresa was quick TO see that
words, not medicine. would act as the
restorative. She went swiftly to the
American girls side and, clasping her
hands, cried sharply into her half con-
scious ears:
"He is not dead. He is alive! He
needs your
The effect was magical. Life leaped
into James eyes. vigor into her body.
She recovered from the swoon as Inys-
teriOusly as she had succumbed to it.
Her sudden breakdown had puzzled
her companions. 1t is true that she
was new in the service: size had seen
but little of death and suffering; but,
with all that, she was known to pos
sess remarkable strength of purpose
and fortitude. That She should col
lapse almost at the outset of her OPP
portunities was the source of wonder
and no little contempt among her fell
low workers The words of the strange
girl in mems clothing opened the way
to smart surmises. 1t was not long be-
| fore every one in the command knew
| that the beautiful Red Cross nurse
was not wearing the garb of the voca-
| ton for the sake of humanity alone;
| in fact, it was soon understood that she
! did not care q straw for the rest of
mankind so long as Graydon Bansemer
needed her ministrations.
Ignoring the principles of the cause
she served. she implored the doctors to
| confine their efforts to one man among
| all of them who suffered; she pleaded
and stormed in turn. finally Offering
famuious brides in support of her de
mands. For the time being she was
half crazed with fear and dread. woe
fully unworthy of her station, partially
divorced from reason.
The more desperately wounded were
! left in the village with an adequate
| guard, the rest of the command de-
parting with Major March. tenn
porary hospital was established in the
/ convent. There were two doctors and
four or five nurses, with a dozen sol
diers under command of Lieutenant
Bray 1t was While the apparently
! dead Bansemer was being moved &c
the improvised hospital that Jane
presented herself, distraught with fear
to the young southerner who had
so plainly shown his7love for her She
! pleaded with him to start at once for
Manila with the wounded. supporting
her extraordinary request with the
opinion that they could not receive
proper care from the two young sur
geons. Bray was surprised and dis
tressed: he could not misunderstood
her motive.
He had gone on caring for her with
out SJlSpecting that there was or had
been another man. She had not con
fided in him during those weary, pleas
ant months since they left San Fran
cisco behind them. To learn the true
situation so suddenly and unexpected
" stunned his sensibilities. He fount
difficulty in grasping the Importance OF
the change an hour or two had made
He had fought valiantly, even eXult
antly, in the pass that morning. hel
face ever before him, her words o.
praise the best spoils of the victor!
should they win. He had come dowI
to the village with JOY and confidence
in his heart. only TO find that he was
not and could never be anything t
her while the life or memory of this
fallen comrade stood as barrier.
Bray's hour following the discover.
that she had deliberately sought on
and found this stricken private wa
the most bitter in his life. His pride
suffered shock that appalled, him
His unconscious egotism, born of he
reditary conquests. reyolted agains
the thought that his progress towar'
her heart was to be turned aside b.
the intervention of common soidie
in the ranks. Gentleman though h
was, he could not subdue the feeling
of exultation that came over him whei
she approached with her plea. III
knew that it was a base sense o
power that made him feel that h
!, could punish his pride's offender b.
either denying or granting her appea
The attitude of self sacrifice appeale'
to his wounded vanity. He was tempt
| ed TO profit by an exhibition OF hi
own pain and generosity.
He went with her into the conven
and TO the pallet on which was stretch
ed the long, still figure of Graydo
Bansemer. A surgeon was standin