Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1918-09-12

least of all my happiness. You do love
me, don't youY
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 a 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. I sha'n't let
you. Think what you have to live for"
|. "I-did wrong to surrender"
"It was I who surrendered. Come!
Must I say it all? Aren't you going to
i ask me-"
"What?"
"Why, to marry you, Of course.
We're going to be married, and I'm go
ing to take you out Of this miserable
place."
what happiness J" he murmured. IF
I were we'll But T won't let you
marry a dying man."
Norine rose, her face aglow with
new strength, new determination. II
brought you back when you were all
but gone. I saved you after the others
had given you up, and now you are
mine to do with as I please. You be-
long to me and I sha'n't consult YOU"
She turned, for a 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 a
flash Of white teeth, 1--WE have another
sick man, and you'd never guess who.
It is that American, Ell Demonio-"
els he sick or wounded?" Esteban
inquired.
"Shot by a Spanish bullet. He asked
at one for our senorita."
"Of course. I'll come in an instant
When the messenger had gone Norine
bent and pressed her lips to Esteban's,
Remember, you're mine to do with as
I please" she said; then she fled down
the grassy street.
Branch was waiting at Norine's
quarters, a soiled figure Of detection.
His left arm lay in a sling across his
breast. He looked up at her approach,
Jul IN oSo4NS1J CNOSA4AC A1AS SO
greatly changed was he.
"Hello, Norine!" he cried. swell
they got me"
Norine paused in establishment.
"Why, Leslie! I was so frightened
But-you can't be badly hurt"
"Bad enough so that Lopez sent me
in. A fellow gets fyblown If he stays
in the field, S I beat it,"
"Has your arm been dressed?"
"No. I wouldn't let these r%ough-and-
tumble doctors touch it. They'd ampu-
tate at the shoulder for a hangnail.
don't trust 'em."
"Then I'll look at it."
ut doesn't hurt, really" he declared.
cts only a 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 I'D in
wonderment.
Leslie" she exclaimed. "What in
the world"
Branch struggled with himself, he
swallowed hard, then said: "You can
see now why I didn't go to a 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 p
"Say! You don't believe all that
stuff, do you? I'm 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 80 that
I tried to end things quickly. I
couldn't bear to die slowly, to know
that I was dying by inches. But, Lord !!
it scared me even worse to go into
battle. I was blind with fright all the
time and I got W. it. Why,
the sight of a gun gives me a chill, and
I jump every. time n goes off. Lord !
how I've suffered! I went crazy at our
first engagement-crazy with fear. I
didn't know where I was, or what hap
pened, or anything. Afterward, when
they hailed me a. a hero, I thought
they were kidding, that everybody
must know how frightened I was.
After a time I saw that I'd fooled them,
and that shamed me. Then-I had to
keep it up or become ridiculous. But
it nearly killed me-"
1t so happened that the president
and well-nigh the entire provisional
cabinet were in Cubitas. Leslie and
Norine went directly to the former. He
promptly sent for the minister of JUS
tice, who in turn CALAMITY put himself
at Norine's disposal. In no time the
news had spread and there was sub
dued excitement throughout the camp.
Norlne was between tears and laughter
when she ran painting into Esteban's
cabin, leaving Branch to wait outside.
At sight Of her Esteban uttered q
low cry Of happiness. Dearest! I've