Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-05-28
"Bride of Battle"
By VICTOR ROUSSEAU
ROMANCE OF THE AMERICAN ARMY
FIGHTING ON THE BATTLE
FIELDS OF FRANCE.
Copyright by W. q. Chapman

like you. Captain Mark. You're stub
born. You have a stupid, wicked
streak of stubbornness in you that al
ways makes YOU pretend things. and
always prevents you from letting the
world see what q dear, good, splendid
man you are. know you through and
through, though you've never known
! did You've ruined your life by
your silly silrnccs. YOu seem 10 like
10 be misunderstood. You like things
to go wrong with you, so that you can
suffer undcservingly. But it isn't he
roical Of you, Captain Mark. It's stub
born and wrong. and. where others
are concerned. it's criminal. Where
others are concerncd-others who love
you. Captain Mark"
She spoke with intense passion. but.
when she ended. she put her arms
quietly about his neck. Tell the COL
oncl. Captain. Mark. because of me"
she said.
There's nothing to tell, my dear"
said Mark, cropping for the words that
would not come. II struck him be-
cause he"
And he could say nothing. OF kcl-
lerman's blow outside the inn. OF his
false offer of friendship, of the trcach-
cry that had riskcd three lives that
Mark might die on a false GRAND
nothing, And. If he had been able to-
sneak, he could not have told. Yet he
was ignorant OF the inhibility process
that now, as always, held him in
silence.
But Eleanor clung to him. Yes
Captain Mark. Because he"
"Hc sent three of us out TO rescue
wounded man unnecessarily" said
Mark lamcly.
He saw spasm pass over Howards
f,ce. This was worse than Howard
could have believed. The colonel was
shall ken: his faith was strong. but he
WAS one of those who accept the obvi-
Gus.
Listen, Captain Mark! said Flea
nor. speaking as II to baby. That
isn't what YOU wanted to say. You had
no thought OF criticiZinG your superior
officer, even If you thought him wrong.
That isn't what you meant. Perhaps
he'll tell me, father. Stand back lit-
tie. Now, whisper ii. Captain Marx!
But in the shelter of Eleanor's arms
Mark felt altogether at peace. What
did it matter, all this of long ago?
Are you going to marry Kellerman'
he asksd----~
Very softly, in the obscurity, he feit
her shake her head. And the action
had precisely the opposite effect OF
what Eleanor had intended.
For nothing mattered any more,
nothing at ALL He couldn't find en-
cuscs-Mark Wallace had never OK
cused himself in his life.
Eleanor drew herself out Of his arms
and looked ut him. He looked from
her face to the colonels. why were
they worrying him? How couid nc
hone to save his life by going into inc
obscure details and explanations that
they required of him?
And what long rigmarole. besn-
ming hack i'm the war departments
Mark could not string II case toIether'
his mind was not constructed in that
fashion.
Eleanor laid her hand on his arm
"captain Mark-don't you see tha'
every moment is torture to us! sh'
asked.
There was terrible intensity in her
tone. as IL she was holding herself
riridly i'm restraint. for fear that she
would fail should she yield to her emo
tion.
81 struck him." stammcred Mark. i
told you why. thought he was wrong
to risk those lives--l--
The look upon each face seemed L"
H., frozen there: il was as if their lives
and not Marks. hung upon his words
suddenly n shrek pierced the sky
cuttinC off Marks speech, and shell
hurst somewhere by with shallerihs
dctopation, followed by the dull boom
Of a distant gun. The colonel started
and then resumed his gaze. In the en-
forced silence, which seemed intcrmih-
able. the expression on his ana MS
c,mponion's faces did not change IN
the least.
II seemed TO Mark rs If that was an
eternity of torment. He struggled IN
his mind desperately 10 find words 10
say when the noise subsidized. :,
But there came stunning souhu
that seemed to split his ear-drums. nc
fell forward. and felt rs II some one
had lifted him: looked out into DARK
ness, sought Eleanor and knew no'h-
ing.