The Wagner leader. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1912-1912, 1912-03-01

"You Know What I Mean-That 1
Love You."
ognized you at first sight. BY Heav.
ems! that was what made me SO In
formally mad, the mulish obstinacy OF
the old fool. Your mother used to
come to the hospital tent. too; one
of the best nurses I ever saw. l
thought she was q beauty then, but
she's some older by this time" he
paused regretfully. "You see, I'm no
spring chicken, myself"
Her eyes were upon his face, a
slight flush showing in either cheek,
and she made no effort to withdraw
her Imprisoned hand.
You are just q 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 I say this just to please you-I
have always thought 30, since-well,
since I grew up. Besides. deshy men
generally look young, because they
are so good natured, perhaps. How
old are you. Doctor?"
TT isn't the gray hairs mind, eth
err he admitted hesitatingly. shut I'm
too darned bald-headed. Oh, I amt
so old, for / was only t~hirty-ive when
the war broke out. I was SO thin
then | could hardly cast q shadow.
I've changed some SINCE" casting his
yes admiringly downward, land got
quite q figure. I was forty-three last
month"
That isn't old; that's just right"
i've been afraid you looked on me
as being N old fogy!"
4 should say not" Indignantly.
Why should you ever think that?"
We'll. there were so many young
fellows hanging about"
"Whor'
on. Keith. and Hawiey, and that
bunch Of officers from the fort; you
neve had any time to give me-"
She laughed again. her fingers tight
ening In their clasp on his hand.
why, how foolish; Hawley Ia older
than you are. and I was only playing
with Keith. Surely you must know
that now. And az to the officers, they
we're just fun. You zee, in my profess
sion, one has to be awfully nice to
everybody"
But didn't you really care for Haw
ley?" he insisted. bluntly probing Tor
facts.
"Hs-he interested me-" admitted
the girl. hesitatingly, her ayes dark
ening with sudden anger. He lied
and I believed him-I would have be-
lieved any one who came with such .
story. oh, DR.. Fairbain." and she
chung to him now eagerly. you can
not realize how hungry / have been
for what he brought me. l wanted %
to know the truth Of my birth. Oh.
hated this life!" She flung her dis,
engaged hand into the air, with q ses.
ture expressive Of disgust. II 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 your oh, you must:
/ am going to make you. l am Z
singer In music halls: / was brought
up to that life from q little girl, and
Of course. / know what you Western
men think Of IN a. q class. Hawley
showed It In his whole manner to
ward me. and / resented It: Just FOR
that. deep down in my heart, / hated
him. / know Il now, now that ! real
" understand his purpose; but sou1s
way. when I was with him he seemed
to fascinate me. to make me do just
az he willed. But you have never
been that way: you-you have acted
~ though / wa 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
want you to think I am. and I am
going to tell you the truth. and you
must believe mel am . good GIRL"
Great God! Of course ron are
he blurted out Don't you suppose
i know? That isn't what has been
bothering M. lassie. Why. I'd q
fought any buck who'd ~ snsered q,
you. What I wanted to know was
whether or not you really cared FOL
any Of those buffers. Can you tell MI
that, Christis?"
ahA nfted hsr syss 70 his fscs. nea