The Cairo bulletin., 1910-10-10

rosettes, and she gave start Of SUI
prise. rf
why, l declare" she said Ito THU
that should find in this dreadf
place pieces Of MY, own handiwork Y
Your work. cried the man WI
had tossed them there. '.
II will tell YOU about It," she q
planned, III you promise not to spes
one word iShn looked anxious
down at the pale face beneath b
own and then flashed warnf,
glance at the man who had spoken.
Il have often seen you both
Hampton" she said. ''the general hc
as he went TO and fro each da
and you, Mr., Merrisi. when you Wis
ed in town. My aunt keeps the lltl
millinery store at the crossroads, SO
am also acquainted with your swes
hearts. I am not sure they won
have been pleased, however. had IL,
known that duplicated the rosett
upon their bonnets. 1t was. almost /
last work did before volunteering
a nurse. TX ever hnvea sweetheart
she added, Il hope that he will II
be SO ready to doubt me. And nov
she asked Of her patient, .'are ri
more. comfortableT'
His eyes were shining. Yes.
answered, thanks to YOU
And as they bore him away 1
nurse sniilingly slipped the rosette ba
into the blue coat pocket. The 9th
man rather shamefacedly replaced /
own. u ~fs
Guess I'm about ready to is
again. he, said ii u y sts't I.
aYtn soon will be-" she 4 replll
bending over him. 's.f vi
As she passed, through the rqws, !.
| cot beds In therudeiy cansfEuc,ed j,
pital a few digs afterward a We
| voice called 70 her; 40, ;.', 8
Little mllllner." It said. would !
| write letter for me toto the &
at HamptonT'4 Il u s.as n. ~.
She turned quickly. Yes. genera
she answered hi her brisk way.
The sick man watched eagerly I
her coming each day, and the stea
light Of her clear gray eyes seemed
calm and sooth as she bent otter [
cot with a cheering word.
Il am discharged, little n1illiner,"
said one morning. at Is to be hotr,f
on flrlough."
| The nurse laughed unsteadily. "A
you will see the face In the bonnet
she said.
He left the place one moonlit evt
Ing and turned to look baek at I
slight figure OF the nurse framed
1.-THE doorway. Her face cleaned "
a white radiance beneath Its mus
cap sf
| The picture remained with b
throughout the joyous welcome VII
followed his arrival at home I'll
was there 10 meet him. She +
grown eyen lovelier. he thought, I
MS he fingered Oh idly at her side
was conscious of growing dis
pointment in the girl he had loved.
He reproached himself at the reali
ton that he was ehger TO be aw
then squared his shoulders and dres
long free breath
IL am going back" he told her.
must be In the midst Of this fight"
He prepared for departure In a.
yer Of patience. and then lat q
last moment CT .le the glad news, b
aided from tongue to tongue, that
war was ended. aa I'D
The young soldier listened daze
to the rejoicing Of his conpanio
and as the train which was to b
him away changed noisily into the {
ton he swung himself on to the p
form and waved a goodby.
He must hnd the little gray Q.
nurse. He must see her just o
more As he ascended the hill lead
up to the camp hospital all was bu
ard confusion, and at last, with
great sigh OF relief, he espied wl
clad figure coming alone down
pathway.
"Ob. little miliner," he cried.
feared that YOU had gone!'
She drew back, startled at the SOL
Of his voice, then smiled. do .
not know that the war is over, :
eral," she asked, "and our work b
is finished?'
II knew he answered, but ]
to see you again, if only to say &c
by"
The gray eyes regarded him s
ously. And the face In the bonnie
she questioned.
II have given my word" he d
sadly. II must return to. her"
Then the nurse motioned him 4
seat at her side. II have a confess
to make" she began. Remember
All Is fair in love and war 50 whe
found you and Robert Merrill side
side upon the battleHeld-you fntl
wounded, as supposed well, !
a lie about the two ,rosettes, hopinf
make II easier for you to die. ea
for him to i've. The bits OF forget
not were fashioned by my hands, y
trie. but both were sewed upon
len Isichmond,s bonnet"
She paused. i"Will It grieva..
now to learn that Robert Merrill1s
tened back to marry her the mon
that peace was detlared?' "
But 1t was certainly not grief {