Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-12-16

little Irritation" declared Paulton smil.
ingly. II believe that regular sol.
der would kiss such a pretty face as
yours"
How do you know that it is pref.
typ" demanded Edith from the securi
ty of the sunbonnet's shade. 1t hurt
her to think that Guy would flirt with
any girl he met. but she was deter.
mined to carry the game as far as she
dared
"I'll take the face on trust" an.
nounced Paulton calmly. "All's fair
in love and war. they say, so your face
must be fair, since this is mimic war"
Maybe It's only make believe fair
since this is make believe war;" sug
gested Edith coquettishly.
"To the contrary. this is very real
war" declared Paulton, land / am
obliged to place you under arrest"
what for?" demanded Edith. not
without some alarm. you cannot
draw country folks into your games"
"You are wrong" retorted Paulton
IL ID lhC SoiOlCi uuty w tahc IlllU
custody those enemies of his country
whose sentiments threaten the success
of campaign"
"But l am not your enemy" pro
tested Edith. 81 won't be taken pris.
oner."
Perhaps" assented Paulton, "but a
stern duty confronts me. 1 must take
you prisoner and hale you before a
court martial unless
he paused tantalizingly.
"Unless?" She told herself that II
he demanded kiss as the price of her
freedom she would never believe in
men again.
There is but one way out of It."
continued Paulton. "Prove your 10y.
atty to your country by marrying one
Of its protectors. There is a parson
just beyond here. passed a church
not very long ago We will slip over
there and get married, and then shall
be certain that you are not an enemy
to the country"
"And II I refuse?" asked Edith lofti-
~, in her anger dropping her vocal
disguise.
'In that case," answered Paulton. IL
am afraid that you will be thrown into
the guardhouse until you change your
mind"
II shall report you to the colonel"
cried Edith angrily. "He will not toll
crate such conduct"
81 am quite certain that the colonel
will approve my conduct" said Guy
placidly. Coming up on the train he
told me that l ought to marry, and l
assured him that, through no fault of
mine, bachelorhood was my lot I am
sure that he will be pleased at the
promptness with which ! have acted
upon his suggestion when l bring my
bride into camp"
II won't be your bridev' stormed
Edith. you are rude and ungentle-
manly to take unfair advantage Of a
woman"
"AlPs fair in love and war;" remind
ed Paulton, land this is both love and
war. / am doing the loving and you
have been doing the warning Do you
think 1t was fair to run away as you
did and never give me hint of your
address"
"You know meY' gasped Edith.
"Most assuredly," declared Paulton.
Il was not positive until l saw that
you were wearing the little ring gave
you and which you never would wear
In town. Then l knew that perhaps
there was chance. Will you marry
me, EdithY'
mot now" protested Edith in sud-
den panic Guy, don't make me mar
ry you right away. You have your
scouting to do, and-I never did like
the minister Of that little church." she
added inconsequentially "Dr. Miron
is much nicer"
May l come back when this cruel
war is over-next weekY' asked Guy
tenderly. "Then I'll ask DR.. Miron to
marry us, and Wen have our friends
up to see the prisoner of war marry
her captor, just as they do in historical
novels"
II think that I'll just have to marry
you," assented Edith. "You are such |
persistent torment"
"All's fair Paulton began his ia |
vorite quotation, but the rest was lost |
in the pasteboard tunnel Of the sunbon- |
net as he claimed n kiss