The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1908-12-09


At last she Sdt0 the look of surprise and
joy and relief.
tive carriers, cheerful amigos since the
disaster to Pillar, went forward with
the stretchers, the hospital wagons and
guard following. Travelling was neces-
sarily slow, and the halts were fire.
quent. There were occasional shots
from hidden rihemen. but there were
no casualties. Food had been scarce.
The commissary was thinly supplied
for the hard trip. Lieutenant Bray
grew strangely morose and Indifferent,
lie was taciturn, almost unfriendly, in
his attitude toward every one,
The little company stopped to rest in
a beautiful valley beside the banks o.
swift stream. He watched Jane as
she moved away from the stretcher
which held Bansemer, following her
to the edge of the stream where she
had come to gaze pensively into the
future.
GLOW is he?" he asked. She started
and a warm glow came into her cheek
"He is doing nicely. If he can bear
up until we reach Manila he will sure
" live. Are we going as rapidly as we
should, Lieutenant BayT
"Ouite. Miss Gable. 1t isn't an easy
march, you must remember" After a
long silence he suddenly remarked:
miss Gable, I've got rather shameful
confession to make. I've had some
very base thoughts to contend with.
You may have guessed it or not, but
care a great deal for you, more than
for any one else I've ever known. You
say he is to get well. For days
wished that he might die. Don't look
like that, please. couldn't help 1t.
went so far at one stage as to contem-
plate a delay in marching that might
have proved fatal to him. | thought OF
that way and others Of which l cant
tell you. Thank God, l was man
enough to put them away from me
Wait, please! Let me finish. You have
said you will not marry him. ! don't
ask why you will not. love you. viii
you be my wife?"
She stared at him with CONSERVATION
in her eyes. He had gone on so rapid
" that she could not check his rapiC
speech. Her hand went to her brow
and a piteous smile tried to force Itself
to her lips.
81 am sorry" she said at last 81 an
sorry you have spoken to me of it.
have felt for some time that you-yor
cared for me. No. Lieutenant Bray;
cannot be your wife"
Il know you love him." he said.
eyes, it is plain. l have not tried tC
hide ii"
you must understand why l asked
you to bc my wife. knowing that yor
love him. 1t was to hear it from your
own lips. so that | would not g,
through life with the feeling, after all
that IL might have been. Will YOU tel
me The reason why you cannot marry
him? lie must love you"
Lieutenant Bray, he would marry
me tomorrow, think, il l were TO con
sent. 1t isn't that. 1t would not b'
right for me TO consent You profess
to love me. / have seen it in your eyes
oh. / have learned much Of men il
the past few months-and determined
If you ever asked me to marry you tC
ask a question in return. Do you real
" know who 1 amp
He looked his surprise. why, the
daughter Of David Gable, of course"
"No; l am not his daughter"
WIIis etarlau0hfprf"
"Not even that You come from &
proud southern family. l do not know
who my parents We're"
GOOD heaven, you-you don't meal
you were a waifY
az waif without a name, Lieutenant
Bray This is not self abasement; i
is not the parading Of misfortune L
is because you have made the mistake
of loving me- If you care less for m,
now than you did before you vii
spread this information throughout th,
army"
believe me. l am not that Sort
"Thank you Knowing what yol
now do, could you ask me to be you
wifeY
"Don't put it just that way" HI
stammered.
"Ah, see. 1t was a cruel question
And yet it proves that you do not love
as Graydon Bansemer loves"
"some daY you may find out al