The Mena weekly star., 1911-11-09

formally mad, the mulish obstinacy OF
the old fool. Your mother used to
come to the hospital tent. too; one
of the best nurses | ever saw.
thought she was a beauty then, but
she's some older by this time" he
paused regretfully You see, I'm no
spring chicken, myself"
Her eyes we're upon his face,
slight flush showing in either cheek,
and she made no effort to withdraw
her imprisoned hand
You are just a nice age" with firm
conviction Boys are tiresome, and
| think a little gray in the hair is an
Improvement. oh, you mustn't inn
agine ! say this just to please you-I
have always thought so, sinee-well
since l grew up. Besides, fieshy men
generally look young. because they
are so good natured perhaps. How
old are you, Doctor?"
1T isn't the gray hairs ! mind, eth
r." lie ADMIT q ho1.taung " but I'm
100 darned Da!d-htaded Oh. amt
0 old. for | was only thirty-fiye when
the war broke out. was so thin
hen ] could hardly cast shadow.
I've changed some since casting his
US aamifingly downward, land got
quite a figure. | was forty-three last
n-on,h."
That isn't old; that's just right"
I've been afrai. you looPed on me
ss icing an old fcgyi"
Il should say not" Indignantly.
Why should you ever think THAR"
Well, there were so many young
e"ov. banging about"
"Who?"
"oh. Keith. and Hawley. and that
bunch of officers from the fort you
never had any time to give me-
She laughed again. her fingers tight
ening in their clasp on his hand.
Why, how foolish; Hawley is older
than you are, and was only playing
with Keith. Surely you must know
that now. And as to the officers, they
were just fun. You see, in my profess
sion, one has to be awfully nice to
everybody"
But didn't you really care for Haw'
iey?" he insisted, bluntly probing for
facts.
"He-he interested me-" admitted
the girl, hesitatingly, her eyes dark
ening with sudden anger. He lied
and | believed him--I would have be-
lieved any one who came with such
story. Oh, DIR. Fairbain,'' and she
chung to him now eagerly. you cam
not realize how hungry have been
for what he brought me- | wanted so
to know the truth of my birth. Oh, |
hated this lifel" She flung her dis
engaged hand into the air, with a ges-
ture expressive of disgust Il was
crazy to get away from it, That was
what made the man look good to me
-he-he promised so much. You will
believe me, won't you? Oh, you must;
| am going to make you. | am a
singer In music halls; | was brought
up to that life from a little girl, and
of course, | know what you Western
men think of us as class. Hawley
showed 1t in his whole manner to-
ward me, and resented 1t; Just for
that, deep down in my heart, | hated
him. | know II now, now that | real
ly understand his purpose; but some
way, when | was with him he seemed
to fascinate me, to make me do just
as he willed. But you have never
been that yay. ynu--you have acted
as though l was somebody-somebody
nice, and not Just music-hall singer.
Perhaps it's just your way, and may
be, deep down you don't think I'm any
better than the other do, but-but 1
want you to think | am. and | am
going to tell you the truth. and you
must believe mel am a good girl.
Great God of course you are.
he blurted out Don't you suppose
| know? That isn't what has been
bothering me- lassie. Why, I'd a.
fought any buck who'd "a sneered at
you. What | wanted to know was,
whether or not you really cared for
any of those buffers. Can you tell ma
that. Christie?"
she lifted her eyes to his face. her
lips parted
Il can answer anything you ask.
And you do not care for them?"
NO"
He drew his breath sharply hts
round face rosy.
Then you have got 10 listen to me
for I'm deadly I'm earnest. I'm an old
rough. baldheaded fool that don't
know much about women never
thought before I'd ever want to-bul
you can bet on one thing, I'm square
Anybody In this town Will tell you
I'm square They'll tell yon thai
whatever / says goes. I've never run
around much WITH women: somehow
I never exactly liked the kind I've
come up against, and maybe they did
nj feel any particular interest in me
I didn't cut much shine as ladies'
man, but. reckon now. It's only be
cause the right one hadn't happened
along. She Is here now. though. al
right. and | knew It the very first TINS
set eyes on her. Oh. you roped and
lied me ali right the FIRST throw May
! lie | did get you and that hAifeistsl