The Yale expositor., 1918-12-26
CHAPTER XVI.

CHAPTER XVI.
Even as he kissed her in return he
saw the startled glance that she cast
behind her. and, following it with his
eyes, he saw tall figure in uniform
emerge from the recesses of the ORR
fee; and again he stood face to face
with Kellerman.
Eleanor released him and stood, still
clinging to him, at his side, her hand
drawn through his arm. The contrast
between the two men was extraor-
binary. Kellerman looked as if he had
just stepped into his uniform; his
gloved hands, his adjusted belt, the
creases in his tunic were those of the
fashion-plate. Looking at Mark, he saw
a dirty, grimed, almost unacceptable
figure, with uniform that hung about
him in great tatters, blotched ard
stained with blood.
"You said he would not come back "
cried Eleanor. "You see he has come
back. What have you to say more?"
"You misunderstood NE, Eleanor"
81 understand you now for the first
time in my life. l liked you, Major
Kellerman. l trusted you and / be
lleved in you. When you told me that
you were working to get Captain Wal
lace his recognition 1 was glad, and
proud of you both, and happy. What
did you do?"
"What did he do?" cried Kellerman
furiously. "Why should you believe
evil things of me, because he said
them"
"He never spoke one word against
your
"When the decision has already beer
made by an impartial court, anxious tC
clear soldiers character, if that were
possible?"
Because / have a woman's instinct
Major Kellerman."
Enough of this" interposed Mark
"What are you doing here, sir?"
He snapped the last word out IL
irony so bitter that Kellerman WINGED
$50 you've cheated the firing party
Private Weston" he said, with his
habitual sheer.
30, call me Mark while you're abou
it." answered Wallace. "Or please re
member that / am no longer under
your command, nor a soldier in tn,
American army. Technically 1 am {
dead man, Major Kellerman, and deat
men"
"Tell no tales, eh?" responded Kel
herman savagely. swell, here we stanC
man to man, and the conditions war
rant plain speaking. 1t is not my bust
ness to place you under arrest. But, Il
/ do so, you are aware that your lif'
will be worth about five minutes pur
chase. So go, Mr.. Weston, or Wallace
or whatever you call yourself now. G.,
l-if Miss Eleanor here says the on,
word that will set you free. Go-an,
in this confusion you will have a rea
sonable chance to escape, with thos'
ready wits of yours"
"The one word? Eleanor gasped.
"The one word yes" responded Kel
herman.
81 will never become your wife, Ma
jor Kellerman."
$50 you told me the other day, afte
leading me to suppose that IL was you
intention" answered Kellerman easily
"Stop, Mr.. Weston, if you please, an,
let me finish. War doesn't leave mucl
sentimentality I'm a man. We know wha
life is worth, and we know that life
a matter of bargaining. When WI
were in America might have accepted
my dismissal, Eleanor. But here W,
three stand under the naked heaven
like ants on a hill. All artificial dis
tinctions have fallen away. I've love,
you for many months, Eleanor, and
want to marry you. That's the bale
truth of 1t. In order to persuade you
/ am willing to let this gentleman es
cape-to facilitate his escape, even Il
make our marriage dependent on m.
success. That's fair, isn't it? And
what have you against me? Is IL m.
fault that he was court-martlaled an
sentenced to death for striking an of
ficerT
The mans effrontery took Mark
breath away.
MY answer" responded Eleano
steadily, "is no. And even IL you coul,
send him to his death II would still b,
no, Because he himself would wisl
that. But you can't harm him. Some
thing convinces me that all the harm