Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1919-10-16

YOU must not get so excited, Madame
selle. You know your parents would
not have you die of grief for them"
MY poor mother and father. How
can live without them? What shall
l do! What shall | do" She buried
her face in her pillow and sobbed bit
terly.
"MaGamoselle, you must not give
way to your feelings like TINS. You
cannot stand it,"
"Ah, monsieur, you cannot under
stand. You have never suffered Wha0
1 90 through or you would not talk
So"
Richard Spangler drew his chair
I'M nearer the bed and took Ninette'S
hand in his. NO." he said, MY
mother and father are still alive, but
| once had little sister, who, II she
had lived would be about your age
now" And he tried to console her
by telling Of his younger sister, VINO
had been burned to death while very
small.
Days passed, nd weeks, and Mn
cites burns healed slowly, and with
them her griefstricken heart; for her
love for Richard Spangler was like
balm. She had now reached that
period of restlessncss which comes to
the almost-well patient. She wanted
to be up and stirring, but perhaps
it was better thus. Did net monsieur
lie Doctor say so?
A few of the birds, those who were
brave enough to come this near the
front were chipping and calling to
their mates outside the hospital WIN
dow. The ground was beginning to
thaw and a spring Of green had dared
to show itself here and there. Spring,
it seemed, had finally come and it was
said thai peace was not many months
off.
Ninette lay on her little hospital
bed, propped up and surrounded by
pillows. She was reading one of our
own American novels. Richard
Spanglar tip-toed into the ward, IA
diant and smiling. "Well, hello pill
lows, where is Ninette 2" he asked.
"She is lost; not in pillows, but in
an American story of love. Mon
sieur, are they all like this?' she
smiled.
"Not -Mademoselle! Ninette,
what have I told you about calling
me Monsieur.
"Ah, l forget, Mon" She giggled.
"But l will learn" She laughed
heartily. 81 am so happy" she said,
''but time goes SO slow. | have
counted the days and the hours
| and | shall soon start on the minutes"
"And how many were there, MIN
ette?" He drew his chair up close
to the bed and took small, beauti-
fully-shaped hand in both his own.
The only adornment which it bore
was a small diamond engagement
ring. 81 too, am growing impatient,
| and yet when l thing of the reward
which my future is to receive, mar
vel and am ashamed of my own i'm
pertinence~ To think that a man
who is to have the world bestowed
upon him in three weeks is complain
ing because it is not sooner"
1T is only twenty-three days
five hundred and fiftytwo hours. I'd
much rather think in days, hadn't
for me?"
'I,ll do thousand for you. What
you? Monsieur, will you do favor
is it, Macherie ?"
"Stand by the window with your
back to me for minute"
"Well, is the time up?" he called.
"Oui, now you may sit down."
He turned about expecting to find
something different, but everything
was as before.
"What is it I've done to be made
to stand in the corner; or is it the
old story of the goose's back?" He
laughed as he came back to his
chair.
"You big tease" she said, chad l
never told you, Monsieur, that | fell
in love with your back?"
"Well, my back was it," He
patted himself on the back congra
tutorily. 81 always knew did every