The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1908-11-21

should, Lieutenant BrayT
quite, Miss Gable. 1t isn't an easy
march, you must remember" After a
long silence he suddenly remarked:
Miss Gable, I've got a 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. l couldn't help it. |
went so far at one stage as to contem-
plate a delay in marching that might
have proved fatal to bin. ! thought of
that way and others of which I can't
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. l don't
ask why you will not. l love you. VIII
you be my wifeT'
she stared at him with CONSERVATION
in her eyes. He had gone on so rapid
ly that she could not check his rapid
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. II am
sorry you have spoken to me of it. !
have felt for some time that you-you
cared for me Nc, Lieutenant Bray; !
cannot be your wife"
81 know you love him." he said.
Eyes, it is plain. | have not tried to
hide it,"
"You must understand why | asked
you to be my wife, knowing that you
love him. 1t was to hear it from your
own lips. so that | would not go
through life with the feeling, after all,
that it might have been. Will you tell
me the reason why you cannot marry
him? He must love you"
Lieutenant Bray, he would marry
me tomorrow, | think, if l were to con-
sent. 1t isn't that. 1t would not be
right for me to consent. You profess
to love me. have seen it in your eyes
oh. | have learned much Of men In
the past few months-and | determined
If you ever asked me to marry you to
ask a question In return. Do you real
" know who l amp
He looked his surprise. why, the
daughter of David Gable, Of course"
mo; | am not his daughter"
His stepdaughterT"
Not even that. You come from a
proud southern family. l do not know
who my parents were"
"Good heaven, you-you don't mean
you were a waif?'
"a waif without a name, Lieutenant
Bray. This is not self abasement; IL
is not the paradlng of misfortune. II
is because you have made the mistake
Of loving me. If you care less for me
now than you did before you will
spread this information throughout the
army"
believe me, l am not that sort"
"Thank you. Knowing what YOU
now do. could you ask me to be YOU
wifeT'
"Don't put it just that way" he
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
about your parents and be happy. Yor
may have been abducted and he
was saying, his face white and set
Somehow he felt that he was chasten
Ing himself.
Perhaps" she said quietly. II
might not have told you this had not
the story been printed in every news
paper in the States just before | left
You see, l did not know 1t until just a
few months ago. l thought you might
have read of me, IL am so notori.
GUS"
"Jane, dear Jane, you must not fee
that way" lie cried as she started
quickly away. IT'S But she turned
and motloned for him to cease. There
were tears In her eyes. He stood stocl
still. "She's wonderful he said t
himself as she walked away. Ever
now | believe l could Pshaw! 1
ought not to make any difference! II
1t wasn't for my family What's in
name anyway? A name He starteC
to answer his W question, but halt
ed abruptly, squared his shoulders ant
then, with true southern, military
bearing, strobe away, murmuring:
"A name is something; yes, family Il
everything"
Jane went at ono to Graydon. Hi
great gray eyes smiled a glad vel
come. She took his hand in hers ant
sat upon the ground beside him
watching his face until they wer
ready to resume the journey.
would 1t not be better il he were t
dep she found herself wondering
with strange Inconsistency to her pur
pose. "Why could 1t not have been
instead of be? How hard it will be 70
us to live after thlsl Dear, dear Gray
don, if-if l only were different iron
what / am"
Not a word Of his fathers conduc
toward her, not a word Of blame 70
the blow his father had struck. sh
held him 70 no account for the base