Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1918-08-23

well SbUltHOW. +.
Norine's color had returned. She
stood over the hammock, looking dowp
mlstily. 'Don't you need me, want me
any merc?" she inquired. S@t%.
Esteban turned his tired e5as aSsy,
fearing to betray i'll them his utter
wretchedness. "You have done all there
is to do. | want Won TO go back into
your own world and forget"
A sudden impulse seized the girl. She
stopped and gathered the5sicll man into
her young, strong arms. Don't be
silly" she cried. "My world is your
world. Esteban dear. I'll never, never
leave you"
Miss Evansl Noriner" varona
tried feebly to free himself. "You
mustn't"
Norine drew him closer. you're 60
ing 10 tell me that you have nothing.
can offer me nothing. You're going to
do the generous, noble thing. Well |
hate generous people. Pm selfish utter
ly selfish and spoiled, and 1 don't pro-
pose to be robbed of anything ! want,
least of all my happiness. You do love
me, don't you?"
Esteban's cry was eloquent; he
clasped his arms about her and she
held him fiercely to her breast.
"We're quite mad, quite insane" he
told her after while. 'This only
makes it harder to give you up"
"You're not going to give me up and
you're not going to die. / sha'n't let
you. Think what you have to live for"
"I-did wrong to surrender"
at was I who surrendered. Come!
Must say it all? Aren't you going to
ask me-"
"What?"
"Why, to marry you, of course,
We're going to be married, and I'm go
ing to take yousout Of this miserable
place." z -
"What happiness !" he murmured. eff
We're we'll But won't let you
marry q dying man." a
sNorfae fose, her face aglow with
new strength, new determination. Il
brought you back when you were all
but gone. saved you after the others,
had given you up, and now you are
mine to do with as please. You be-
long to me- nndsI sha'n't consult you"
She turned, for figure had dark
ened the door; it was one of her Eng
disappearing convalescents who was
acting as a. sort Of orderly.
"Senorita," the man said, with
fash of white teeth, 1--WE have another
sick man, and you'd never guess who.
1t is that American, Ell Demonio-''
as he sick or wounded?" Esteban
inquired.
"Shot by Spanish bullet. He asked
at once for our senorita.v
"Of course FL come in an, instant"
When the messengersh had gone Norine
bent and pressed her lips to Esteban's.
Remember, you're mine to do with as
please" she said; then she fled down
the grassy street.
Branch was waiting at Norines
quarters, a soiled figure of detection.
His left arm lay in sling across his
breast. He looked up at her approach,
but she scarcely recognized him, SO
greatly changed was he.
'sHello, Norinev he cried. swell,
they got me-" ~
Norine paused in establishment.
"Why, Leslie! l was so frightened !
But-you can't be badly hurt"
'Bad enough so that Lopez sent me
in. A fellow gets flyblown If he stays
in the field, so beat it, @s
"Has your arm been dressed"
"No. wouldn't let these rough-and-
tumble doctors touch it. They'd ampu-
tate at the shoulder for hangnail. /
don't trust 'em."
"Then I'll look at it,"
at doesn't hurt, really" he declared.
"It's only scratch"
"Then behave yourself" Norine
forced the patient into a chair and
withdrew his arm from the sling.
Then, despite his weak resistance, she
deftly removed the bandage. From
his expression she felt sure that she
must be hurting him, but when the
injury was exposed she looked up in
wonderment.
'Lesliew she exclaimed. "What In
the world"
r. Branch struggled with himself, he
swallowed hard, then said:% "You can
see now why didn't go to doctor;
did it-shot myself. You won't give
me away?"
Norine seated herself weakly; she
stared in bewilderment at the unhappy
speaker. "Afraid? You. Ell Demonio
Why. you aren't afraid of anything y
"Say! You don't believe all that
stuff, do you? Tn afraid of my shadow
and always have been. I'm not brave
and never was. They told me I was
going to die and it SCARED me so that
tried to end things quickly.
couldn't bear to die slowly, to know
that was dying by inches. But. Lord
it scared me even worse to go into
battle. was blind with fright all the
time and i never got over it. Why
The sight of gun gives me chill. and
l jump every time one goes off. Lord
how I'VE suffered! Invent crazy at our
first engagement--crazy with fear.
didn't know where was. or what hap
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