The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1920-04-30


it struggling with the apparently i'm
possible: it was as though she. In her
little studio. had been suddenly called
upon to paint all the portraits In the
world. In some degree she un-
derstoOd the difficulties: In equal de-
gree she sympathized with those who
were striving to overcome them, and
she hung on from day to day In her
search with q logged determination
which set Its teeth against admitting
that the search was hopeless.
At last m great fear had settled
on her heart. Suppose Dave should
not enlist under his right manner In
such a case her chance Of finding him
was the mere freak Of accidental meet
ing q chance not to be banked upon
in a country already swarming with
its citizen soldiery. And yet
there was nothing to do but keep on.
She had sought a park bench where
groups OF soldiers were continually
moving by. The lights shone on their
faces, and her own tired eyes followed
them necessarily. Always her ear
was alert for a voice that should set
her heart a-pounding, and more than
once she had thought she heard that
voice: ore than a score Of times she
had thought she had seen that figure
with it's stride of self-reliance, with
strength bulging in every muscle. And
always it had been to learn that she
had been mistaken; always it had been
to feel the heart sink just q little
lower than before. And still she kept
on. There was nothing to do but keep
on.
Often she wondered how he would
receive her. That cold look which
had frozen his features when she
seized the revolver in his hand. would
it still sit there, too distant and de-
tached to be even scornful? Would
she have 1t to break down? She could
not know; she could only hope and
pray and 60 on.
As she turned her eyes to follow a
group Of men in uniform she became
aware Of q soldier sitting alone in the
shadow q short distance away. Some
quality about him caught her atten-
ton !; his face was not d~iscernible, and
his figure was too much in the shadow
to more than suggest it's outline, but
she found herself regarding him with
an intentness that set her pulses rae
ing. Should she dare risk it again2
And yet there was something. . !.
She had a sudden plan.. She would
make no inquiry, no apology; she
would walk nea by and call him by
name. II that name meant nothing to
him he would not even notice her pres.
ence. but If 1t should be-
Dave" she said.
He turned quickly in his seat; the
light fell on her face and he saw her ;
he was on his feet and had taken a
step toward her. Then he stopped, and
she saw his features harden as they
now seemed SO long ago.
"Well?" he said. His voice was me-
chanical, but in it was something
which quickened her hope; something
which suggested that he was making it
mechanical because he dared not let
it express the human emotion which
was struggling for u%tterance.
Let me talk to you, Dave" she
pleaded. II have followed you around
the world for this. Let me talk. ]
can explain everything"
He stood still SO long that she won
dered il he never would speak. She
dared not reach her hands to him ;
she could only stand and wait.
~"Irene," he said, why did you fol
low me here?"
"There is only one answer. Dave.
Because I love you and would follow
you anywhere. No one can stop me
doing that no one, Dave-except you"
And again he stood, and she knew
that he was turning over In his mind
things weightier than life and death.
and that when he spoke again his
course would be set. Then, In the
partial shadow, she saw his arms
slowly extend; they rose, wide and
strong, and extended toward her.
There was q quick step, and they met
about her, and the world swooned and
went by. 80.
II can explain everything" she said.
when she could talk.
"YOu need explain nothing" he re.
turned. II have lived the tOrments Of
the damned. Edith Duncan was right
she said IL 1t were real love It would
never give up. 'Endureth all things
she said. All things she said. .
There Is no limit"
.But l must tell you. DEAR she said
$50 that You may understand" And
then she patched together the story
from what she knew and from what
Edith Duncan had told her, and Dave
filled In what neither had known, In
GLIDING the incident earlier on thai
fateful evening. She could see hi
Jaws harden as they pieced the plot
fnOothop and she knew what he VA