The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1917-07-27

cushion. This man was soldier a
heart. she thought admiringly, making
light OF his suffering condition and
shielding its unpleasantness from 9TH
ers.
"You should not be here alone In the
hot sum-" she said severely and bent
adjusting her own parasol to shade
him.
II come to rest every morning" be
told her, trying to get up energy foz
the next stunt" He laughed shortly.
Rhoda's pretty brows wrinkled per
plexedly. But don't understand"
she said. "Are you drilling, maneu.
vering? And how did you come to be
injuredY'
The man answered briefly, his eyes
bent downward. Explosion" he said.
IAN explosion Of armsT she asked
him.
He nodded. rat practice" he said.
The girl clasped her hands about her
knees and looked again Off over the
blue waters.
'Then you know" she said, "just
what It is going to mean to face fire,
just what you are prepared to do for
your country's sake over and over
again. I admire a soldier. I admire
a brave man." She broke Off to laugh
TREMENDOUSLY. Excuse me-" said Rho
da; that was burst Of patriotism. I"
She turned to him. "Are you feeling
more sure of yourself? Shall GOT"
The man put out his sound hand,
protesting. please, not yet" he said.
'"Then you admire feats Of daring? /
could tell you some" And he did.
In breathless interest Rhoda listened,
while the morning hours slipped all
unheeded into a golden noon. There
were tales Of adventure, the miracu-
lous scaling Of high, forbidding cliffs,
leapo of recklessness into dark and
foaming waters. This wounded man,
with his spiritually beautiful face, had
accomplished these feats, and more,
and when the distant great steel clad
ships should sail away into the very
mouth Of danger he would go, smiling
as bravely as he smiled at her now
through his pain. Rhoda arose and
impulsively held out her hand.
II do not like to leave you SO alone"
she said, troubled.
Up the hill came swingingly another
seaman's figure. That's all right"
her hero hastily told her. "Barney's
coming after me now" But the spaniel
look was in his eyes again. might I
keep the parasol for this afternoons
shade, and, II it isn't asking too much,
could you stop for 1t here tomorrow ?"
why, Of course I'll stop" said Rho
da. Up the hill she went thoughtful
ly. There were glowing spots Of pink
In her cheeks, brought forth by this
young mans tales Of brave achieve
ment There was soft mistiness In the
blue eyes, in pity for his patient suf-
fering. And as Rhoda looked for the
last time that night at the stars she
was still thinking Of the CHEEKY, pa
tient young man and Of the great ships
waiting out there some place N the
darkness.
And the man, when she had left him,
himself fat upon the ground
and, throwing two strong arms above
his head. smiled into the rose colored
shade OF the little silken parasoL
times up" called Barney. approach
ing. Come out and get busy" Then
as his eyes fell upon the parasol the
navy" whistled. what the devils"
he said.
Never you mind what" the young
man replied as he scrambled to his
feet. Just you keep away from here
when you see anything like q parasol
on the landscape. Understand
Il do" his friend agreed pleasantly.
Rhoda came the next morning, hest
tatingly. Several times she had been
tempted to break her promise and re-
main away, but each time the decision
was made some invisible, compelling
power seemed forcing her on. Now
she stood In strange trepidation, look
Ing downward to the nook beside the
pine needles. Yes, already there, gleam-
ing in the sunlight, was the rose color
ed parasol. She drew out her knitting.
counting stitches as she came. The
young man wore a white navy cap
over his wavy hair today, and he raised
his head to smile at her.
Don't ask how 1 am" he greeted
her. Never felt so well in my life"
Rhoda regarded the Drowned, hand
some face. you look BETTER" she con-
coded. And the arm?'
The man shifted uneasily. "Oh, the
arms ali right" be said.
"Then," suggested the girl "I'n take
my umbrella and CO."
His eyes were beseeching again. 'If
you'd let me keep It for few days."
he begged, "just while I'm out here.
It's such a comfort, and there isn't
one to be found In camp. There were
some snapshots, too that / wanted to
show you, taken In the very places
told you about yesterday" He waited
difhdently. Then his frank laugh rang
out.
"Oh, stay little WHILE" he said.
TITS such great morning."
Again, against her own judgment
and will. the invisible power ruled.
Rhoda seated herself on the pine
needle cushion and put forth her hand