The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1908-03-06

fhe men feeling the enthusiasm ~ |
their officers With preparations well I
n hand Branfs thoughts yeeret once /
again toward Naida He rode down 70 /
the Hcrnd0n house with grave face Z
ana sober thought lie recalled long /
the plainly furnished room into which I
Mrs Herndon ushered him 20 await /
the girls appearance-the formal look /
of the oldfashiOned hair-cloth furni- /
ture the prim striped paper on the
walls the green shades az the win.
dows. the clean rag carpet on the floor
/ The very stiffness chilled him. left
him III al ease Then he heard the
rustic % Naidas 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 vel
come
Mr.. Wynkoop informed me few
minutes ago that you had az last re-
ceived your orders for the north" she
said. her lips slightly trembling.
wondered if you would leave without
word o. 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 I have lately seemed
10 avoid you. it has only been because
7 believed you wished 1t So
There was an embarrassing pause,
as though neither knew how TO get
through the interview.
NO doubt you are rejoiced 10 be
sent on active service again she said.
at last.
Yes. both as a soldier ana as
man. Miss Nadia. am glad 70 get
into the field again with my regiment
10 do my duty under the flag. and
: am equally rejoiced 70 have something
occur which will tend TO divert my
J thoughts. had not intended 10 say
? ANYTHING OF this kind. but now that
E am with you I simply cannot restrain
J the words This past month has been
believe the hardesA have ever Deer
J. compelled 10 live through You sim
r ply mystify me so that l alternately
hope and despair. Your methods arr
cruel
~Mine?" and she gazed at him Wit
parted lips. Lieut. Brant, what cal
YOU mean What is Il i have done
| 1t may have been only play 70 20
and so easily forgotten, he went OF
| bitterly. But that is dangerou
| game. very certain TO hurt some on
| Miss Nadia. your face, your eyes. eve
] YOUR lips almost continually tell N
u one thing. your words another.
d know not which 70 trust | nev'
A meet you except TO so away battle
u and bewildcred."
4 You wish to know the truth"
1 "Ay. and for all time Are r
false or true2 Coquette or woman
DO YOU simply play with hearts {
idle amusement or is there some n
purpose ruling your actions
She looked directly at him. h
hands clasped. her breath almo
sobbing between the parted lips.
first she could not speak. oh. y
hurt me so" she faltered at last
did not suppose you could ever thil
chat II did not mean g. oh. tru
did not mean il. You forget hC
Young I am: how very little | knt
n the world and its ways. Perhap:
have not even realized how deeply
earnest you were. have deceived n
self into believing YOU we're mere
amusing yourself with me Why.
deed should think otherwise
Il love you" he said. with SIM
honesty. Il seek you for my wife.
She started al these frankly spok
words her hands partially conceal
her face. her form trembling. "oh
wish YOU hadn't said that II is
because I doubt you any longer
that fail to appreciate all you OF
me. But it is so hard TO appear
srateful. to give nothing in return
so vast gift"
y Then it is true that you do
love me-"
The blood famed suddenly up i
her face. but there was no lowering
the ewes. no shrinking back she
too honest TO play the coward bel
J him.
Il shall not attempt 20 deceive 70
-, she said. with a slow impresslNen
instantly carrying conviction
~ has already progressed so far tina
you now owe you complete frankn'
Donald Brant. now and always. Nv
ny or dead. married or single. where
life may take us. shall love you.
Their eyes were meeting, but
held up her hand TO restrain him u
The one step forward.
NO. no: have confessed the tru
lays have opened freely 20 you the g
vice secret OF my heart. With 1t you
the be content to leave me There Is n
very ing more that can give you, absol
ices lv nothing. | can never be your
= 20 hope. for your sake and mine
yeen We never meet again"
Brant stood like statue. his
aida grown white He did not In the
him doubt her full meaning OF renuE
and ton