The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1917-07-19

GfS.
You should not be here alone in the
hot sum- she said severely and bent,
adjusting her own parasOl to shade
him.
Il come to rest every morning" he
told her, trying to get up energy for
the next stunt" He laughed shortly.
Rhoda's pretty brows wrinkled per-
plexedly. But l don't understand"
she said Are you drilling, maneu-
yering? And how did you come to be
injuredT'
The man answered briefly, his eyes
bent downward Explosion" he said
IAN explosion CT arms?'' she asked
him.
He nodded. "At 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. l admire soldier. l admire
a brave man." She broke off to laugh
TREMENDOUSLY. Excuse me- said Rho
da; that was burst Of patriotism"
She turned to him. Are you feeling
more snre of yourself? Shall go?''
The nan put out his sound hand,
protesting. "Piease, not yet" he said.
Then you admire feats of daring?
could tell you some" And he did
IL breathless interest Rhoda listened,
while the morning hours slipped all
| unheedel into a golden noon There
| were tales of adventure, the miracu-
lous scaling of high, forbidding cliffs,
leaps Of reckiessness into dark and
foanlinS 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
impulsirely held out her hand.
L 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
/ keep the parasol for this afternoons s
shade. and. if it isn't asking too much.
corld you stop for it here tomorrow -
Why, of course I'll stop" said Rho
da. Up the hill she went thoughtful
ly. There We're 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 ut the stars she
was still thinking Of the CHEEKY, pa
tient'young man and Of the great ships
waiting out there some place in the
| darkness.
And the man, when she had left him
stretched himself fat upon the ground
and, throwing two strong arms above
his head, smiled into the rose coloretl
Times up" called Barney, approach
ing. Come out and get busy" Ther
as his eyes fell upon the parasol the
NAVY" whistled "What the devily
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 paraso
on the landscape. Understands
II do," his friend agreed pleasantly.
Rhoda came the next morning, hest
tatingly. Several times she had beer
tempted to break her promise and re
main away, but each time the decision
was made some invisible, compellin:
power seemed forcing her on. Nov
she stood In strange trepidation, look
ing downward to the nook beside til,
pine needles. Yes, already there gleam
ing in the sunlight. was the rose color
ell parasol. She drew out her knitting
counting stitches as she came. Th
young man wore white navy cal
over his wayy hair today, and lie raiset
his head to smile at her.
Don't ask how l am," he greete,
her. Never felt SO we'll i'm my life"
Rhoda regarded the Drowned. hand
some face. "You look better" she con
cedcd. "And the arm?'
The man shifted uneasily "Oh, tn
arms all right" he said.
Then" suggested the girl. "I'll tax
. my umbrella and go"
His eyes were beseeching again II
you'd let me keep it for a few days,
he begged. "just while I'm oat herr
It's such comfort. and there ISL
one to- be found in camp. There wer
some snapshots, too, that wanted
! show you, taken in the very places
told you about yesterday" He waite
diffidently. Then his frank laugh ran
out
,. "Oh. stay little while" he sal,
Its such n great morning"
: Again, against her own judgme1
and will. the invisible power rule'
} Rhoda seated herself on the pin
needle cushion and put forth her han
! for the pictures.
: So that morning became but one (
many mornings when the two woul
linger together. smiling into each otl
er's eyes, dreaming contented
through the si!ences which follows
z while the breath of sea and hillsit
seemed filled with the sweet enchan
9 ment that was slowly Unfolding thel
both Each night Rhoda idealiZed hi
as she looked at the stars His nan
+ she knew and his home city-Jof
Radclilf of Boston. But it was Of h
Il brave chosen plan of life that 81