The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1908-02-21

line. NOW ne realized tnat hs was %
be part of this chosen fighting force
and his heart responded to the sum
mons as to a bugle call in battle.
Instantly the little camp was astir
the men feeling the enthusiasm OF
their officers. With preparations well
in hand, Brants thoughts veered once
again toward Nadia He rode down tc
the Herndon house with grave face
and sober thought. He recalled Iona
the plainly furnished room into which
Mrs. Herndon ushered him TO await
the girls appearance-the formal look
OF the old-fashioned hair-cloth furni
ture, the prim striped paper on the
walls, the green shades at the win
dowS, the clean rag carpet on the floor
The very stiffness chilled him, left
him i'll at ease. Then he heard the
rustic OF 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 a few
minutes ago that you had at last re-
ceived your orders for the north" she
said, her lips slightly trembling. Il
wondered il you would leave without
a word of farewell"
He bowed low. 81 do not under.
stand how you could doubt, for have
shown my deep interest in you even
from the first. If have lately seemed
to avoid you, it has only been because
| believed you wished it So"
There was an embarrassing pause,
as though neither knew how to get
through the interview.
mo doubt you are rejoiced to be
sent on active service again." she said,
at last.
Yes, both as a soldier and as a
man, Miss Nadia. l am glad TO get
into the field again with my regiment,
to do my duty under the flag, and |
am equally rejoiced to have something
occur which will tend to divert my
thoughts. / had not intended 10 say
anything of this kind, but now that |
am with you | simply cannot restrain
the words. This past month has been,
| believe, the hardest have ever been
compelled to live through. You sim
ply mystify me so that | alternately
hope and despair. Your methods are
cruel"
"Mine?" and she gazed at him with
parted lips. Lieut.. Brant. what can
you mean? What is it have done?"
1T may have been only play TO you
and so easily forgotten" he went on,
bitterly. But that is a dangerous
game, very certain to hurt some one.
Miss Nadia. your face, your eyes. even
your lips almost continually tell me
one thing; your words another. /
know not which to trust | never
meet you except to so away baffied
and bewildered."
You wish to know the TRUTH"
CAY, and for all time! Are you
false or true? Coquette or woman ?
Do you simply play with hearts for
idle amusement or is there some true
purpose ruling your actions?"
She looked directly at him. her
hands clasped, her breath almost
sobbing between the parted lips. At
first she could not speak. "Oh, you
hurt me So" she faltered at last. Il
did not suppose you could ever think
that. II did not mean it; oh, truly
| did not mean it! You forget how
young | am; how very little | know
of the world and its ways. Perhaps l
have not even realized how deeply in
earnest you were, have deceived my
self into believing you were merely
amusing yourself with me. Why, in
deed, should think otherwise?"
Il love you" he said, with simple
honesty. Il seek you for my wife"
She started at these frankly spoken
words, her hands partially concealir {
her face, her form trembling. "Oh,
wish you hadn't said that! IL is not
because doubt you any longer; no.
II at l fail to appreciate all you offer
me. But it is so hard to appear up-
grateful, to give nothing in return for
so vast gift"
Then it is true that you do not
love me-"
The blood famed suddenly up into
her face, but there was no lowering OF
the eyes, no shrinking back. She was
too honest to play the coward before
him
Il shall not attempt to deceive you, "
she said, with a slow impressivenes5
instantly carrying conviction. This
has already progressed so far that !
now owe you complete frankness.
Donald Brant, now and always, living
or dead, married or single, wherever
life may take us, shall love YOU"
Their eyes were meeting, but she
held up her hand to restrain him from
the one step forward.
mo, no; 1 have confessed the truth |;
have opened freely to you the great
secret of my heart. With it you must
be content to leave me. There is moth
ing more that can give you. absolute
w nothing I 0an novar ha vnlfr uifsv-