The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-10-05
RECIN HERE TODAY

to recognize
NAN MARRABy, to whom he be-
came engaged before going TO the
front. Nan has since gone hon" 10
care for her three motherlcSs step
brothers. She is still in touch. how
| ever, with her friend
Joan ENDlCOTT in London
whose husband has just returned to
the battle front. Joan has told
Nan that she ought t. forget. Peter
and encourage the love Of his friend
and fellow officer,
JOHN ARNOTT, with whom Peter
is resting at the home of Arnotts
widowed sister, not far from the
Marraby estate. Nan is jealous of
! Arnott's sister and Disguised with
the advances Of
HARLEY SETON, a money lend
err, who first met Nan through
Peter prior to his departure for
France. Peter does not remembe r
Seton, who insists that Nan must
marry him or face the consequences
Of having both Peter and her faith
or brought to account for large
sums Of money which he says they
| owe him. Nan has been encouraged
| by her father. to marry Seton.
In her fathers absence Peter
calls to see Nan. He has previous
J ly surprised Seton in the act OF
! forcing his kisses upon Nan, and
now insists that Seton is not
! worthy OF Nan. Peter is about to
leave when he turns to ask Nan
whether she is one Of the people
| he knew before he lost his memory
NOW GO on WITH THE STORY
There was something so pathetic
in the question that in an instant
| Mans heart melted. The mother
illness which is the best part Of the
! love al. women bear to man rose
| uppermost in her heart. She for
got everything but her pity fol-
him.
You imagine these things" she
! said gently cts because you
know there are some things you
! have forgotten that you are always
dreadirg to come across them.'
She tried to smile.
1T mast BE ages sine, I started
TO clear away the tea" she SAID
| briskly. "Arc you going to help
! me-"
1t was a daring challenge to her
| self; a mighty effort to get back to
| the normal.
! Peter agreed at once: he picked
up a pile Of plates and followed he,
to the kitchen; he joked with the
! surprised Little maid there: when
! the last cup had been carried GU,
he looked at Nan laughingly.
81 shall apply Tor the job Of bat.
! man if I'm no good for anything
, else" he said.
Mans eyes grew startled.
! But but you won't ever have tc
go back?" she said quickly.
/ His face sobercd.
! "Tm hoping to--Hm tired of be.
ing on the shelf already. At the
present moment l am going abou,
looking for some kind friend who
viii give me tremendous shock. >
he said banteringly. They tolG
/ me before | came home that a shocl
might give me back what shocl
had taken away =" He stifled :
aigh. "l'm not very saneume
though. ! must admit"
Don't think about it," Nan an
swered hurricdly. "And now an
going to turn you out. Mrs. Near.
will be angry with me for keeping
/ you so long as it is"
She spoke purposely. hoping he
! would say that he did not care; but
! Peter only laughed.
| "Oh. she'll forgive me-" he sale
/ lightly
/ They went down to the gate to-
gether. 1t was when Nan had shut
it between them that Peter said sud
! denly:
80 there is no truth in-in what
! Seton savs?"
Mans face famed.
what do you mean? What ha.
he been saying?" she asked quick
~.
He looked away from her.
"Only that-that you are engaged
to him. Mrs. Mears heard it il
the village last night. 1t was sht
who told me-"
"She told you--then .then-wa:
that why you came here today
just to ask me?"
EYES,"
! His eyes met hers steadily
through the dusk. "But as you say
it isn't true :"
Nan stood very still. She knew
now how sure of her Seton must
be. and her whole nature revoltec
against him and his so-called low.
for her.
She would never marry him-she
hated him. She was not afraid Of
him; he could not force her.
AS you say it isn't true. >
Peter began again.
Nan raised her eyes. Across
Peters shoulder she seemed to SEE
Harley Sefton's eyes threatening
! he.
"But-but l never said it WASH
true" she faltered.
They looked at one another with
out speaking; to Nan, at least, i,
seemed as if great emptiness hac
settled down on the world-as il
the words which she herself hat
just spoken had stunned the still
spring night into silence, hushinf
even the sleepy song of the birds
and the soft voice Of the breeze il
the trees overhead.
Then the stamp of feet sounded
down the pathway, behind her, anc
'Claudie's shrill voice called Incl
! name.
"Nan-Nan. -"
| She turned at once.
Excuse me, won't you-and good.
bye"
She did not look at Lyster; she
fled back to the house; there was
a curious singing noise in her head;
she passed Claudio in the doorway
and went straight on to the kitchen;
she drew some water from the tap
and drank it off thirstily.
| Nan went up to her room and
locked the door.
It was useless to deceive herself
with the hope that anything more
than ordinary friendly interest had
prompted Peters visit; she went
carefully over every word he had
said, every look he had given her
and she knew that there had been
nothing-nOthing to Justify the