The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-02-09

l longer What is the matter? Don't | you love me-not at all?'
 1 She stood straight and serious be l fore him, white to the lips, her heart as cold as ice.
 T love you, Graydon. with all my soul. I shall always love you. Please, l please, don't ask any more of me- You understand, don't you? We can- not be as we once were-never. That is ended. But you-you must know that love you"
 "It Is sheer madness, dearest. to take that attitude. What else in the world matters so long as we love one 1 another? 1 felt at first that I could 1 not ask you to be my wife after what my father did that night. That was as silly of me as this is of you. 1 did not contend long against my love. You have never been out of my mind night or day. I was tempted more than once to desert, but that was i'm possible, you know. It Twas the ter rible eagerness to go back to you and compel you to be mine. My father did you a grave wrong. He''-
 But my father did me a graver wrong, Graydon. I have thought it all out.''
 Nonsense, dearest. You have saved my life. You must save my love. These last few weeks have knit our lives together so completely that nei- ther of us has the right to change Gods evident purpose. love you for yourself, Jane. That is enough. There has not been an instant in which I have felt that any 'circum- stance could alter my hope to marry you You say you have no name. You forget that you may have mine, proud of, I fear, in the light of cer- tain things. You must be my wife, Jane."
 "I cannot. Graydon. That is final. Don't-don't plead, dear. It will not avail. Look into my eyes. Don't you see that mean it, Graydon?"
 "By heaven, Jane, your eyes are lying to me! You can't mean what is back of them. It's cruel; it's wrong
 uSu. IOu HUI DCIOlAC VA cited. You are far from strong, and am still your nurse. Be-
 ''You are my life; you are every thing. I can't give you up. It's ridicu- lous to take this stand. Be sensible Look at it from my point of view"
 There is only one point of view, and love has nothing to do with it. Come. let US talk of something else. Have you heard from your-your father? Does he know you've been injured:'
 He looked long into her tense face spair of the sick: 'I don't know. I've had no word from any one"
 ''The dispatches have doubtless given your name. One of the Chicago core spondents was talking about you re- gently. Your father will surely write to you now"
 Are you eager to have him do so? should think you'd hate his name. I can't help caring for dad, Jane. tried to curse him, but he really has been good to me. I don't see how he can have done the things they say he's done"
 Inere may De m1Stahe.
 That's good of you, dear, but you forget your mothers statements and all that Rigby says-all that. Oh, I've gone over all of it, and I am convinced I wonder what has become of him. He was afraid of-of-well, there was talk of an arrest before I left. I have not looked at a newspaper since I saw the headlines that awful morning. God, how they must have hurt your'
 'T, too, have not locked at a news paper since then. Graydon," she said simply. He smiled wearily, and there was response in her eyes.
 He took her hand in his, and they sat silently side by side on the bench for half an hour, their thoughts far away, but of one another.
 "Graydon," she said at last, "are you going to remain in the armyT'
 ''No;. am through with it. My dis charge is to be recommended. I'm dis abled."
 You will be as strong as ever, dear"
 Do you want me to stick to the army? 1 am only private"
 You can do greater things out in the world, l know. You will be a great man if you don't lose heart, Graydon."
 'I can't be a soldier, dear, and sup port wife on the pay I get,'' he said with a smile.
 You shouldn't marry"
 F'But I am going to marry" he said.
 ,'I have decided to become a nurse. l It is my intention to give my whole life to-
 ''The Red Cross?
 No. The hospitals at home-the hospitals for the poor and homeless"
 Ethel Harbin was coming through the grounds toward them. Her face was clouded by a dark frown, and she was visibly excited.
 ''It's all off," she announced as she came up.
 Where is the usual hero?" asked Graydon.
 Continued on Page 9.l