The Washington herald., 1908-08-11
HOME LOVE IS BEST.
By JANE LUDLUM LEE.

have promised that he shall De the first.
Can you see Etm to-day2 The poor boy
IS almost frantic.
Yes. mother. I want 20 see him when
ever you say I may
He has been waiting in the other room
for Two hours. so 7 VIII call him
A weIl-built brOwn-faced man appeared
at the door II answer 10 the mothers
cali and knelt down Dy the side CT the
girl, slipping one strong arm about her
shoulders and nesting his bronzed face
close 70 hers
Dear heart he nurrnured-
Why. Jack. mother is here looking at
Us, said Eleanor, as the color came 70
the pale cheeks
Your mother knows all abort It. dear.
Haven't been telling her every day FOR
the past two weeks2 II she don't know
! tits not my fault. You see. couldn't
tell you. so I had TO tell some one. and
thought your mother q safe repository
for condolences. but you mustn't talk,
dear You are just 10 get vel. and then
I I'm going 10 take you away FOR months
/ and months Just you and / dear"
Eleanor proved good patient. and
| each day found her stronger than the
/ one gone by Jack was IN attendance
! almost as constantly as the nurse and
I Mrs. Short. and many happy hours he
/ sat BESIDE her. with her head On his
/ shoulder while he read aloud One dag
as the twilight approached she leaned
I over and closed the book that he was
/ reading
Jack. dear. you have not told me that
you loved me"
! Why. Eleanor. how can you say that2
/ Il was the last thing said last evening
1 when your mother turned ne out
] E.---
1 day she said as she nestled closer 70
| him. That was a whole twenty-four
I hours ago
/ Dear heart he sadL with a smile.
/ as each twsnty-fOUr hours elapse 1 love
you that much more You know that.
[ dear. and I don't see Why we have 70 wait
! until you get entirely well Why not be
/ married quietly. right here IN this little
| room, where We have been so happy with
/ each other. and let me nurse you back 10
! heaIth2"
! Why. Jack. you selfish man, Not have
| q wedding, no bridesmaids and no long,
/ white satin dress with q train On. now
I could YOU even suggest it, But Il yOg
[ want me 70 I viii. dear, for when you 20
I far away from me the whole light seems
% 90 out OF my life. and its been CARA
I such a long time"
/ Jacks answer was 20 take her n his
! strong arms and hold her close 10 his
I heart for a moment as he whispered
darling
{ Jack. Eleanor EllrUUred. 7 want 10
[ ask YOU a question that has been On NY
/ mind ever since I reEaileC consciousness
/ 7 wanted TO ask mother. but feared %
worry her. but Il you VIII hold me tight.
I 1 Vii ask YOU
/ What is IL dear answered Jack,
{ Who shot me-" and her eyes closed as
/ she asked the dreaded question
The poor count did not Go It. I hap
I peaed 70 be coming Up the grounds ---ar
night as he left you and I stopped 10
watch him He walked down the front
steps and sauutered over 20 the big elm
tree al the south end 0f the grounds,
( when from the bushes --e form OF
. woman appeared. and IN an instant she
Z Ieveled a pistol and s1or a- him she
. missed him and the bullet STRUCK YOU L
! all came out il q few days. L has since
/ come 70 light that the woman wa lis
wife whom he deserted in GzerUany-
2 oh. JACK what suffering -1z- wicked
. man has caused
Yes. but he opened ny eyes 20 show
how precious YOU were % me I had
taken you for granted. dear not as a spe-
. ciaI blessing We men are SO selfish
Not YOU JACK" she E--u-Ursd. as E-s
. arms closed around her.
lCcry-szr. -ss. bT P C. Ezs--s--l