Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-08
CONTINUED From Yesterdays starr
CHAPTER XII.
WAR FORCES THE ISSUE.

CHAPTER XII.
WAR FORCES THE ISSUE.
~ AGGER was waiting on the We
randa one evening for Vaneer-
ing to come to escort her to
~ dinner given by one Of the Of
ficers at Fort Sam Houston.
bearing as he stepped from the car at
tracted her.
what's the matter, Jack?" she asked
quickly.
I've got my orders"
His voice was dull and heavy.
For France?"
He nodded. Her own heart missed a
beat. She stood, swaying.
That's fine" she heard herself say
strangely.
He offered his hand, without reply,
and assisted her into the front seat, got
in, slammed the door, and threw of the
brakes, grinding out Of the driveway at
80 miles an hour.
Next week"
''It's not very long, Is it," she an
swered
He muttered an oath, suddenly pulled
over to the curb and stcSSI
Lets get ms=r-- 80 cried.
"Marris ner breath quickened.
why, Jackl"
Il love you," he hurried on. II think
you love NEEDN'T you,'
II don't know"
Eyes, you do, Dagger. You love me.
I've felt it ever since we first met that
night at the ST. Anthony. You've felt,
too. Why, we couldn't have been to-
gether much more If We had been mar
ried. And need you, little girl, need
you more than you know"
But I've only known you few
weeks"
What does that matter? We know
each other better than most people
who've lived together for years. And
you do love ne-dont you?"
He caught her to him, and she ex-
perienced no distaste for the clasp of
his arms. His face lowered over hers
in the dusk, her lips met his. Mechani-
cally she drew closer to him, yielding
herself with an abandon she had never
known before.
Darling, darling, darling!" His voice
was low in her ears. She raised her
lips again, and he crushed them as if
he'd drink the life from her throat.
You will marry me?" he begged
hoarsely.
Eyes" she whispered.
Nov? Tonight?"
"Oh, yes, Jackl IT want to-"
He kissed her third time, then threw
in his clutch and pushed the car for all
it was worth.
On, and on, in the night, stopping
more than once to inquire the way to
a justice Of the peace. The dinner
party was forgotten. Aunt Espy was
forgotten, Uncle Jim, Howard, every one.
Each was wrapped in the other.
An hour later they stood up before a
bewhiskered old man and his agitated
wife and a farmland, and listened to
the solemn Cabling to a set formula.
mo ring?" the old chap inquired
fretfully, marking his place with a
forefinger MY, yew shore were in a
hurry, folks"
Dagger stared helplessly at Vaneer-
ing, whose answering gaze was more
vacuous.
Cant we-get married." she pleaded
The woman patted her shoulder.
Don't yew worry, honey. I got a
ring left by Teller got pinched afore
Mister Shoreman could spell the bonds
onto 'em. That1l do"
1t did. but Dagger couldn't keep her
eyes off the cheap gold circlet that
presently adorned her left hand. A
criminals ring! Was that suspicious
for her and Jack? Nonsense! What
did the previous ownership of a we'd
ding ring matter? If they ioved-and
at the thought her eyes shone dewily
and her fingers trembled under Vaneer-
ing's arm that must be enough.
At any rate she was married. And
when Jack stopped to kiss her her lips
conveyed a silent message that made
him tremble against her.
That was time Of ecstasy, sharp and