Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1909-03-04
Jane Cable
{ GEORGE BARR McCUTCHEON.
Avthss 4 -Bsvsriy 4 csasslask" EA
H1nAD & COMPANY

grew strangely morose and Indifferent.
He was taciturn. almost unfriendly, In
ais attitude toward every one.
The little company stopped to rest In
beautiful valley beside the banks OF
swift stream. He watched Jane ~
she moved away from the stretcher
which held Bansemer, following her
to the edge of the stream where she
lad come to gaze pensively into the
future.
How is her" he asked. She started,
and warm glow came into her cheek.
"He Is doing nicely. II he can bear
up until we reach Manila he will sure
tiy live. Are we going as rapidly as we
should, Lieutenant Bray
"Quite. Miss Cable 1t isn't an easy
march, you must remember" After q
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 1t or not, but I
care a great deal for you, more than
for any one else I've ever known. Yog
say he is to get well. For days
wished that he might die. Don't look
like that, please. / couldn't help it. l
went so far at one stage as to contem-
plate delay In marching that might
have proved fatal to him. l thought of
that way and others Of which / 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. don't
ask why you will not love you. VIII
you be my wifeT
She stared at him with CONSERVATION
ly that she could not check his rapid
speech. Her hand went to her brow,
and piteous smile tried to force itself
to her lips.
II am sorry" she said at last. 81 am
sorry you have spoken to me Of 1T. /
have felt for some time that you-you
cared for me. No, Lieutenant Bray;
cannot be your WIFE,"
81 know you love him." he said.
"Yes. it is plain. l have not tried to
hide It."
"You must understand why l asked
you to be my wife, knowing that you
love him. 1t was to hear 1t 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 were to con-
sent 1t isn't that. 1t would not be
right for me to consent. You profess
oh, l have learned much of men In
the past few months-and determined
| IL you ever asked me to marry you to
ask question In return. Do you real
" know who | amT
He looked his surprise. "Why, the
daughter of David Cable, of course"
mo; am not his daughter"
His stepdaughterT
Not even that You come from
proud southern family. | do not know
who my parents were"
"Good heaven, you-you don't mean
you were a waif?"
"a waif without name, Lieutenant
Bray. @This is not self abasement; 1t
Is not the parading of misfortune. 1t
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 your
wifer'
Don't put It Just that way" he
stammered.
"Ah, see. 1t was cruel question.
And yet It proves that you do not love
as Graydon Bansemer loves"
Some day you may and out all
about your parents and be happy. You
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 l left.
You see, | did not know 1t until just
few months ago. thought you might
have read of me, IL am so notori-
sus."
"Jane, dear Jane, you must not feel
that wayw he cried as she started
quickly away. IT'S But she turned
and motioned for him to cease. There
were tears in her eyes. He stood stock
still. "She's wonderful he said to
himself as she walked AVA Even
now / believe / could I shaw! 1t
ought not to make any diff"redce! II
1t wasn't for my family .shats in a
name anyway? A name He started
to answer his own question. but halt
ed abruptly, squared his shoulders and
then, with true southern, military
bearing. strobe away. rurmuring:
"A name is something; yes. family Is
everything"
Jane went at once to Graydon- His
great gray eyes smiled glad vel
come. She took his hand in hers and
sat upon the ground beside him.
watching his face until they were
ready to resume the journey.
Would 1t not be better II he were to
diey' she found herself wondering,
with strange inconstancy to her pur-
pose why could 1t not have bsen !