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

conjecture had he done so.
He might better be dead" he
thought his eyes hardening "She's
found him out Cad, l hope But
he put it from him.
GrayGcn Bansemer did not die with
in the hour uor that day. The careful
examination of the surgeons gave lit
tie additional hope 1t did. however.
reveal the fact that no vital organ had
been destroy ed or injured. The ball
had torn Il great hole in his left side
and had gone through the body. Prob
ing was not necessary. The flow of
blood was frightful. There was Il
spark of life left on which to build
frail hope. and they worked with new
interest.
The attention of every one was di-
rected to this tragic struggle. The eff
forts of all were lent to the successful
end. Jane Gable, logged and tireleSs,
| came 10 be his nurse now that the life
thread still held together. 1t is not the
purpose OF this narrative to dwell upon
the wretched. narrowing scenes and
| incidents of the wilderness hospital
the misery of those who watched and
waited for death. the dread and suffer
| ing of those who gave this anxiety. the
glow Of spiritual light which lowered
| above the forms of men who had for
gotten their God until now.
| The first night passed. There were
sleepless eyes to keep company with
| the faint means and the scent of chic
r.nFr ,r a T-.,r- i.
Bansemer hung the eager. tense face
| of Jane Gable. Her Will and mind
were raised against the hand of death
{ Down il her soul she was CRYING.
You shall not die" and he was living
| living on in spite of death. The Sill,
white face gave back no sign of life.
4 faint pulse and an almost imper-
ceptible respiration told of the uEbro-
ken thread. Hoping against hope.
Dawn came and night again. anu
ttiil the almost breathless girl urged
| her will against the inevitable. She
had not slept nor had she eaten of the
! food they brought 10 her Two per-
sons, soldier and Il girl. stood back
and marveied at her endurance and
in experience themselves. found tine
10 minister 10 the seeming dead man,
| their interest not only attracted Ivy his
remarkable vitality, but by the ro-
nance attached to his hope of living.
That night he moved. and Il low
! moan came from his lips The goddess
of good luck had turned her face from
the rest of the world for 4 brief in
slant to smile upon this isolated sup-
plicant for favor. lanes eyes and ears
had served her well at last. She
caught the change in him, and her will
grasped the hope with more logged
tenacity than before The word went
out that there was chance for him.
| Her vigil ended when Bray came to
lead her away - ended because she
dropped from exhaustion.
The next morning, after dead sleep
of hours, she returned to his side The
| surgeon smiled. and the nurse claspcd
her hands with tears in her eyes. Ban
semer was breathing thickly and toss
ing in delirium. 1t was as if he had
been lifted from the grave.
Lieutenant Bray was seated in from;
of the convent late that evening, mood
lily studying his own emotions Tere-
sa. still attired as she had been for
weeks. hung about the chapel with the
persistence of a friendless dog. He
! watched her and pitied her. even as he
pitied himself for the wound he was
nursing. What was to become of her?
He called her to him.
''Senorita, they say he is better. Tell
me, does it mean much to you:"
"Oh, senior, he has been noble and
good and honorable. If he lives shall
always hold these weeks with him in
absolute reverence"
Then she does not understands"
she: What is there for her to un.
derstand? She loves him and he loves
: her. That is enough"
"She says she will not marry him
There must be reason
"You-you fh.ik that 4 am the rea
son? Is ii so: Because | am here in
these hateful clothes2 Yoa would say
that to me? How dare you,'
She burst out with tears of rage an'
shame and fed from his sight
Jane came rapidly through the churc,,
door, out OF the gloom and o1or iTi
the warm sunshine and the green shir
OF the world, her face bright, b" for
! cleaning. ~ Com
sic is conscious she crikford. IL
knows met ..,nnecticu
Go be Continued
T