Evening star., 1918-03-24
90 RAINBOW'S END

One day I found that I couldn't cough
il 1 tried. ] got strong. I slept we'll
And eat? Huh! j gobbled my share
of food and whined for more. 1 stole
what belonged to the others. l began
to enjoy myself-to have fun. Life
opened up nice and rosy. I fell in love
with my new self and the joy of living.
Then I didn't want to die-never had.
you understand, except to cheat the
bugs; II gave me the horrors to think
of the chances I'd taken. To be strong,
to be healthy and free from pain, to
tear my food like n wild animal. and to
enjoy hard work was all new and
strange and wonderful I was drum k
with it. To think of being cut down,
crippled. reduced TO the useless. miser-
able thing I had been. was intolerable.
1 was twice as scared then I'd ever
been, for / had more 10 lose. You under
stand? I forced myself to do the insane
things expected OF me. when people were
looking-natural pride. 1 sunpose-but
when they weren't looking, oh. how I
dogged it. crawled on my belly and hid
in holes like a snake
"How-funny," Norine exclaimed.
You've got a blamed queer idea of
humor," Branch flashed. with show
of his former irritabilityI
And so you shot yourSelfn
Yep, I tried to select good spot
where it wouldn't hurt or prove too
to spare on a fellows whole body. He
needs every inch of himself every
minute. | was going to shoot myself in
the foot. but my feet are full of bones
and l saw myself on crutches the rest
of my life
why didn't you resign from the
service? You didn't regularly enlist and
you've surely earned your discharge"
but I've gained reputation that I
don't deserve and. strangely enough
I'm madly jealous of il. I thought il
1 were really shot by n regular bullet
I'd be mournsd as hero and hsee a
chance to walk out with colors flying.
] want to tell my children. if / ever
have any, what a glorious man 1 was
and how l helped to- free Cuba. On.
I'd lie like thief to my own children. I.
Now you see why 1 don't want doctor.
There's only one thing I want-and
thats-home" Leslie heaved a deep
sigh Gee. I'm homesick.'
so am t. Norine feeiingiy declared.
Il think l understand how you feel and
l can't blame you for wanting to live,
now that you've learned what a splen-
did thing life is
IF O'Reiliy had been with me think
L could have managed. somehow for
he would have understood, too I'LL
never go back to the front alone-they
can shoot me. if they want to- Have
you heard anything from him.
Not word. Cuba swallowed him up
Oh, Leslie, it is a cruel country, It is
taking the best and the youngest. /
want to go away
He smiled mirthlessly I'm fed up
on it, too. I want to be where / can
shave when 1 need to and wear some
thing besides canvas pajamas I'm
cured of war; i want a policeman to
stop the traffic and help me across the
street want to put my feet under
a breakfast table, rustic morning
paper, and slap an egg in the face.
That's all the excitement | hunger for
Norine filled a basin with clean
water, and, taking a fresh bandage. wrap
ped up the self-inficted hurt. Branch
watching her anxiously. Now and
again he f1inched like a child when she
touched his wound. At last he in
quired. apprehensively, rs it infected ?"
Lord. I'm glad Wouldn't it be just
my luck to get blood poisoning?"
Norine surprised her patient by, in
quiring, irrelevantly, leslie. is there
"Eh? Why, of courser Then sud
denly his somber face Ightened and
he cried: 'Norine, Do you mean it?"
Not you: 1 wouldn't marry you"
why noto I'm perfectly we'll"
PLEASE answer me-"
Leslie settled back in his chair. 'I
dare say some of the Cuban cabinet
officers could put up good bIuff at a
marriage ceremony
"A bluff wouldn't do"
Who's going to be married?-
Branch started to his feet once more:
his mouth fell open. You? Nonsenser'
When she nodded. his face darkened-
who is he? Some Cuban. I'll bet
one Of these greasers"
1T is poor Esteban."
.u @ poor EsIeban' Damn it. they're
asked you. He's after your money"
He didn't ask me. I asked him.
Hes-dying, Leslie" There was a
pause. I'm going to marry him and
What will O'Reilly say?"
I'm afraid We'll never see O'Reilly
again Cuba frightens me. 1t has
taken him. it will take Esteban. and
that would break my heart"
DO you love him as much as that?"
Norine raised her eyes and in their
depths Branch read her answer We'll,
that ends the rest of US he sighed.
There's q minister CT j,lst!ce here. |
believe; he sounds as if he could per-
form most anv kind of ceremony
Wen find out for sure
1t SO happened that the president
and well nigh the entire provisional
cabinet were in Cubitas Leslie and
Norine went directly to the former.
The supreme official was eager to
oblige in every way the guest of his
government and her daredevil coun-
tryman. Ell Demonio. He promptly sent
for the minister of justice, who in turn
gal1antly put himself at Norine's dis
poSaL He declared that, although he
had never performed the marriage cere-
mony, he would gladly try his hand at
it. In no time the news had spread
and there was subdued exciteme Mt
throughout the camp. when Norine
left headquarters she was the target of
smiles and friendly greetings. Women
nodded and chartered at her, ragged
soldiers swept her salutes with their
jipi-japa hats. children clung to her
and capered by her side. 1t was vastly
embarrassing, this shameless publicity
but it was touching, too, for there was
genuine affection and goodwill behind
every smile. Norine was between tears
and laughter when she ran painting into
Esteban's cabin, leaving Branch to
wait outside.
At sight of her Esteban uttered a
low cry of happiness. Dearest. I've
been lying in stupor of delight. The
world has become bright: hear people
laughing. What change. And how
is Ell Demonio?"
Hes all right: he's waiting to see
you, but first-Pve arranged every
thing The president and his cabinet
are coming to witness the ceremony"
Esteban poised, petrified, upon his
elbow. his face was study. What
have you arranged?' he managed to
inquire.
'Sh-h," Norine laid a finger upon
his lips. The guest of the republic
is to be married today. Dignitaries,
magistrates, nabobs, are turning out in