The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-09-10

afterwards that something OF me
same thought had crossed his own
! mind: -.
"This is the woman for me-this is
the woman | have been waiting for
all my life
1t was not often Nan allowed her
thoughts to stray like this; she real
lied how necessary it was to keep .
firm hand on herself during these
days, for her own sake and also for
the girl with whom she was sharing
homes-the poor little wife Of two
happy years, who was wearing her
self to shadow for the sake of a
man with a jolly laugh and a heart
like lion, who was facing death
hundreds of times a day out in
France.
But for Nan, Joan Endicott would
have broken down under the strain
of it months ago. 1t had been q kind
Providence indeed that had sent Nan
across her pathway just when Tim
Endicott was called to face war with
all its attendant horrors.
And it had been to Nan that
trouble had come first.
Peter Lyster had been wounded,
| seriously. Afterwards better news
followed, and Nan drew breath of
relief and the strained look left her
eyes little, till now when she knew
| that he was out of danger and COM
ing home.
IF it had been me ! should have
gone to France if I had had to walk
every step of the way and swim the
Channel" Joan said after moment,
her thoughts still with that fateful
night when the yellow envelope had
been put into Mans hands.
Nan made grimace.
"Ah, but then you're Tins wife"
she said ruefully And the War
Office don't recognize a sweetheart
in the same way. suppose it's all
shoulders. ANYWAY, / shall see him
: soon," she added cheerfully.
She and Nan were a great com
| trast, for Nan was tall and straight
as a willow, with blue eyes that
| looked fearlessly at the world from
beneath level brows, and firm
mouth with a whimsical line at one
corner that gave it an odd, crooke d
sort of appearance. and a mass of
thick brown hair that curled like a
boys about her face, and was caught
up in knot of artistic dishevelment
| al Tie DdSh VI ucI uedu
| The cotton overall she now wore
rather severely cut blouse was
white firm throat, and the glimpse
of thin gold chain on which, as
Joan knew, hung Peter LISTERS big
signet ring.
Nan wondered why she kept think.
ing of Peter as he had been when
they parted, seeing that for the past
six weeks she knew he had been III
a base hospital.
She had tried SO hard not to be i'm.
patient-not to let the dread and
longing overwhelm her, but this eve
ming the shadow she had kept at bay
so determinedly was very persistent
1t seemed to be lowering all abou,
her, waiting for an unguarded mo-
ment in which to envelope her with
its sitting embrace.
Lets 60 out, ! believe I'm til ID
Of the house-let's 60 to picturi
palace and laugh :" She brok,
off suddenly. There was q knock Al
the outer door of the little uRpreten
tious flat which the two girls shared
together.
Nan dared not look at Joan. Shi
dared not raise her eyes from tn
glowing heart of the fire.
! 1t seemed an. eternity till the littl,
maid servant went down the narrow
passage from the kitchen to the from
door-a lifetime until they heard tn,
door open, years of torture till SD,
came back again.
Nan was on her feet then-she ,ha.
crossed the room and flung the. doc
wide-she felt as If She were suffo
eating.
"Yes. who is it?'
"If you please. miss--a gentlema,
:. his card, II you please, miss.
Nan grabbed the card
John Arnott, Lieutenant, I'll
Middlesex."
She read the name aloud-th
blood hammered at her temples,
cts John Arnott-the man VIII
wrote to me when Peter was wound
ed" she said breathIessly.
She passed the girl and went ,ou
into the narrow hall. A man stood il
the open doorway man in khaki
he turned rather stiffly as he heart
her step; he saluted gravely.
miss Marraby?"
Eyes" Nan felt as il Ill be-
breath had gone out in that littl,
monosyllabic answer; something wa
the matter-he had come to tell he
to tell her she swaye,
forward with momentary loss OF self
control, gripping his arm.
What is it,. it's Peter-tel
me tell me-"
The man answered hastily.
mo, no--I'm sorry If I startle
you; it's nothing--nothihg like that
Please don't be afraid. / promis
you that Peter is all risht--he i
quite WE'LL"
Nan forced shaky laugh.
"I'm sorry-I'm not often such
> fool. Won't you come in?
"Joan, this is Lieutenant Araott.
Mrs. Endicott," She pulled fo.ws.