Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-04-03
The YeHOWDOUe
fcoppiOht ien. o. Appleton 4 co..

him, wanted IT, ! PRAYED that vop
would. II was nurder-in nv bas y,
! can't understand how have Sbsneed
And I've always thought death s1,cb
a fearsome thing!r 'o'
She hid her face in his sbouider
and cluns TO him. trembling. she had
passed through danger valianti,. care
lessly even. but now that for tho moment
Danger had passed. woman like, She
gently
"Sh--child Don't let il work on Won
No bally use. Were safe now
les--ssfc for the present. That
ought TO he enough for me. But If any
thing happened to you" she snuu-
But It didn't"
'Oh. I'm thankful" she whisporcd.
Thankful for that--and for you--the
trouble I've passed throuEh--the pain of
my thoughts Of you--Im thankful for
those, too. because without them I never
should have known you--the real YOU.
Cyril. ] sometimes think that life deals
too easily with most Of US to bring out
The best that's in US. I never would have
known you in England. Cyril. doing
the things you always did.
lie smiled at her
I'm the same chap. though. Can't
teli what fellow viii de- when he has
But YOU didn't have TO. You might
have gone TO France and sat in a trench
Instead of that you did what was
harder--let them distrust you---hold YOU
IN contempt-keeping silent aud cheer
tul. while YOU were doing such splendid
things for England" B." She paused while
she caresscd him and said in p proud
whisper. "The honorable cyril :"
Honorable :" he smiled You'd hard
ly get Won Stromberg to think that"
That terrible old man she went
on cl,ngng to him - can see his
yulture face now. lie would have shot
~ M aAHH
But we fooled him--whst" Poor
Ludberg
She questioned him and he told her
or the devotion Of his old friend.
And what will Won Stromberg do
to lindberg?' she asked anxlously
II don't know he said slowly. "Noth.
IN perhaps. unless lido tells He
paused and looked into the fire. wish
We were very, good pals last year"
He couldn't do anythin'. ! am be-
trayin' his country
said
NO. thank God. Not mine. love
Germany--the Germany OF my mother
and the men like Lindherg, But the
Germany to me-
DO YOU think We will get away"
Yes he said quickly.
She read the anxiety in his voice and
knew that he was thinking Of her. and
IN that moment a new idea Of her duty
came TO her
You mean she said quickly. that
YOU could get away IL II wasn't for
me. o Cyril. know. Don't try to
deceive me, You could disguise yourself
ana get away 70 the Swiss border.
1t would not be difficult for YOU. am
weight around your neck which may
destroy you"
Hush. child"
No. I am not too stupid to see
that, You ought to be going now"
She clung to his arms and looked up
into his face as her duty came more
clearly TO her, while her voice trembled
with earnestness. II want you to go.
Cyril Your life is valuable to Eng
land They are on a false scent down
there. You could get away in the
darkness and by morning you can be
miles away. I'm not afraid. Tomorrow
can go and give myself up. am only
dare 70 harm mo. Don't smile am
in deadly earnest; You must go, Cyril
--now-now-.
But he only pattcd her gently
You think that 7 am a child" she
went on. that ] cannot be trusted 10
get along alone Haven't ! proved il
to you that I am not afraid? Look at
now, but tomorrow ] will go to Won
Stromberg and say Here | am-now
what can YOU do to me?' lie may
threaten and buster and rage. LSit
IituL Will HpI lTlEDten me-Wnen YOU
are safe. What can he reply? What
could he do? My nation is not at war
with his. lie would not dare! o Cyril,
say that you'll go--say that you'll go
She looked up into his face and saw
that its expression had not changed
He was still smiling at her softly, while
she Felt the touch Of his fingers gently
petting her.
"oh--you won't go--you WON'T" she
cried, and then without further warn
ing burst into a passion of tears.
Don't, Doris. for Gods sake he
whispered. Don't break now. | need
all your courage and your strength.
You've been so brave--so strong. Keep
up your spirits, there's a dear Wen
pull through. don't you worry
They'll take you-if you stay here"
NO They won't find us. I'm not
afraid of that and there are water
and biscuits here. Well take things
easy for \ while and then slip off DO
you think I could go and leave you in
the lurch? Pretty sort Of Johnny I'd
be TO do Il thing like that! Not for
twenty Fnglands, Doris" he whispered,
kissing her tenderly. Not for twenty
Englands wouldn't" His touch
soothed her and she grew more quiet
"Ot-of course you w-wouldn't,' she
murmured But ] w-wish you would"
Her hands met around his neck and
he raised her chin and kissed her on
the mouth II was a kiss Of plighted
troth, OF tenderness, faith and the eX-
alted passion that comes with tears
"Mated?" he whispered
"Yes-yes," she murmured family