gmgjUSOailM -B&MIX QOAUO. SATURDAY. MOVKMBEB 1, 1801 .
s
Y7
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. . . 2?.k . . .
GEORGE DARR McCUTCIIEON,
Author of "Beverly of GrtusUrk," Etc.
COPYRICHT. 1808. BV DODU.
CHAPTER XXIV.
HEX the beautiful and
mysterious nurse whose j
fnine had goue up with
the soldiers Into Tilnd
pass arrived with others
to take charge of the lied Cross hospi
tal on the day following the battle she
found the man she bad been louglug to
see for many weary, heartsick months.
8 ho found him dying.
To the surprise of the enthralled
command, she fell In a dead swoon
when she looked upon the pallid face
of (Jrnydon Itansemer. She had gone
eagerly from one pallet to another,
coming upon his near the lust. One
glance was enough. Ills face had been
In her mind for months. Just as she
was seeing It now. She had lived In
horror of lluilhig him cold in deuth.
It was Teresa Velasquez wiio flrst
understood. Hlie knew that Itnnsemer's
one woman had found him at last. Iler
bourt leaped with hatred for one brief
liiKtnnt. then turned soft and contrite,
ff she had learned to cure for the big
American herself during the hard days
when he hnd been so tender, she ulso
bad learned that her worship wa
hopeless. Khe had felt his yearning
love for another. Now she was look
ing upon that other. While the attend
ants wore bending over their uncon
scious companion the, Spanish girl
stood guard over the man who had
lieen her guardian, the man whose life
was going out before her miserable,
exhausted eyes.
Jane Cable stirred with returning
life. Teresa was quick to see that
words, not medicine, would act as the
restorative. She went swiftly' to the
American girl's side and, clasping her
hands, cried sharply Into her half con
scious ears:
"Lie Is not dead! Ue Is alive! fie
needs your
i The effect was magical. Life leaped
Into .lane's eyes, vigor Into hor body.
Bhe recovered from the swoon as luys
terlntisly as bIio had succumbed to It
Her sudden breakdown had puzzled
her companions. It Is true that she
was new In tho service; she had seen
but little of death and suffering; but,
with all that, she was known to pos
ress remarkable strength of purpose
and fortitude. That she should col
lapse almost at tho outset of her op-
portiinltles was tho source of wonder
and no little coutompt among her fel
low workers. Tho words of the strange
girl In men's clothing opened the way
to smart surmises. It was not long be
fore every one In the command know
that tile "beautiful Ued Cross nurse"
was not wearing tho garb of iho voca
tluu for the sake of Immunity alone;
In fact. It was soou uudemtood that she
d'.d not care a straw for the rest of
mankind so long aa Uroydou Bunsomer
needed her ministrations.
Ignoring the principles of the cause
l!u served, she Implored the doctors to
cuutiuo their efforts to one inan anions
alt of them who Buffered: she pleaded
aud stormed in turn, dually offering
faiutiloita billies hi support of her de
mands, for the time being she was
half crazed with fear aud dread? woe
fully unworthy of her station, partially
divorced from reason.
Thu more desperatoly wounded wen1
left lu the village with an adopiate
guard, the rent of the couiuiund de
parting with Major March. A tcni
pornry hospital was established In the
convent.- There were two doctors and
four or Ave uursos, with a dozeu sol
diers under command of Lieutenant
lirn.v. It was while the apparently
dead Biiiisemor waa being moved ti
the Improvised hospital that' Jane
presented herself, distraught with fear,
to the young southerner who had
o plainly-shown his lovo for her. Hhe
llmded with hliu to start at once for
Manila with the wounded, supportliiB
her extraordinary request with the
opinion that they could not receive
proper care from tho two young stir
geous. Bray was surprised nud dis
tressed; he could not misunderstand
her motive.
lie had gone ou caring for her wit li
mit suspecting that there was or had
been another mail, 'She had not coll
ided In him during those weary, pleas
ant months sloWthey left San Kran
ctsco behind thorn. To learn the true
altuatlou so suddenly and utittxiected
j stunned his sensibilities. He found
difficulty In grasping the Importance of
tin change an hour or two had made
Be had fougnt valiantly, even exult
ntly. In the pass that morning, her
face ever before hlin. her words of
praise the best spoils of the victory
should they win. lie had come dowu
te he Tillage with Joy and eouldence
la his heart, only to Hnd that be was
aot and could never be anything to
star while the life or memory of this
fallen comrade stood as a barrier.
Bray's hour following the discovery
that shesjtad deliberately sought out
ud found tide atrlcken prlval wan
the most bitter In bis life. His pride
suffered a shock that appalled him
Ills unconscious egotism, boru of he
reditary conquest, revolted against
tho thought that his progress toward
her heart was to lie turned aside by
the Intervention of common soldier
lu the ranks, (eulleman though he
-was. he could not subdue the fecll'.i::
at ciu'.tatlou that came oxer him whe:i
v-vi
MEAD Is COMPANY
alio approached with her THta. lie
' know tint It was a base sense of
iKjtrer tlmt made lilm feci tlmt he
.. I111IllMi. hlB nride'8 offender by
... d(1I,.I1K or granting her anneal.
The uttltudo of self sacrifice appealed
to bis wounded vanity, He was tempt
ed to proflt by an exhibition of bis"
own puln and generosity.
He went with her Into the convent
and to Hie pallet on which was stretch
ed the long, still figure of Graydon
Bansemer. A surgeon was standing
near by Btudylng the gray face with
thoughtful eyes. Bray's flint glance at
the suffering face sent a thrill of en
couragement through his veins. The
man was beyond all human help. T he
grip of death was already upon bis
heart.
Then the true manhood that had
been his through all generations re
volted against the thought that was In
his mind. The infln should not die If
It was In his power to preVent No
matter what the cost to him, be would
glvo his aid to her and hers. He tried
to put aside the feeling that death
was certain, and very scon at that.
He sought honestly to Justify hlms:lt
In the hope that Bausemer's life could
be saved after all.
"I.envo mo alone with the doctor.
Miss Cable," bo said. Bhe was kneel
ing beside the man on the cot. With
out a word, but with a dark, appealing
look into the Virginian's eyes, she
arose and went swiftly away. "What
chance bas this poor fellow, doctor?"
"None whatever, sir. He'll be dead
in an hour. I'm sorry on her account.
Strange case. I've heard she belongs
to a fine family la the east. Poor
devil, he's got an awful holo In his
side."
"Have you rondo a careful examina
tion? Is tt possible that no vital spot
has lieen touched?"
1 "We haven't had time for a tborough
examination. It was better not to
waste the tlmo on him when there
were others whom wo have a chance
to save."
"You will oblige mo, doctor, by giv
ing him tho quickest and most careful
attention. Thero may be a chance. He
Is one of the bravest men In the army.
Don't let him die If there Is n chance
for hlra. Miss or the nurse has
asked If he can be moved today."
"No. But wait; I don't seo why. If It
will satisfy her. lie will die anyhow,
so why not tell her that we will start
south with him tomorrow?"
"It Isn't fair. Bhe should be told the
truth."
"He'd die, that's all anyway you
put If
"You will mako the examination?"
"Yes, In at once."
"Hut you you feel that it Is hope
less?" "Certainly, sir."
"I'm I'm sorry," said Bray, walking
away. The doctor looked after him
with a queer expression In his eyes
and then culled his confrere to the pal
let Bray found Juno wnltlng for him out
aldo the door. Teresa Volusques. was
standing lieslde her, holding her hand.
"What does ho say?" cried Jane,
gray wltb anguish.
"Ue cituuot lie moved. There la uo
but little hope. Miss Cubic. They are
to make another examination."
"Ho must lie saved! lie must! Let
me go to hlin now. I will help. I will
glvo my life to save his." she cried.
Bray Btuod lictween her and the door
his arms extended. '
"Don't go In now, I implore. Wall.
There uiuy Ue good news."
"He Is everything In the world to
me!" she moaned.
"Conic with me," whlscred Teresa
limy looked at tho 8uinlsh girl, aud
a new light broke in upon his under
standing. Whut was this refugee to
Banseiuer? The answer shot luto his
brain like a flush, and he turned cold.
"Miss Cable, I think 1 understand
your anxiety,!' bo said, his voice trem
bling. " "Won't you let this young
lady take you away for halt an hour
ur" - -
"But I am a uuree. Why should I
be kept from him? I am here to rire
for .all of them," sho protested
' "You "are not fit to do duty Jusl
now." he said. "Miss Cable, 1 under
stund why you are bore. It la noble
of you I am truly sorry that there Is
so little hope." He was leading her
away from the building, leaving Tvre
su slaudlng there with her eye fas
tened upon the door with a look thiM
could not be (Mistaken. "I would give
my own life to halve his spared for
your sake, Jane. Forgive toe, I would
willingly live all I have la life for
you. But I em afraid It Is Impossible
to save him."
"Don't say that," toe whispered.
"Too you would be hie wife?" he
asked.
".No, that cannot be. I could not be
his w:." . - e
"You mean he Is married?",
"No. uo, not t!0l You can't un
derstand 1 can never marry him.
Never!"
ilray struggled f'jk a moment with
the puzzle. Ills eyW went slowly tQ
Teresa. Then ho suddenly understood
why Jane Cable would not marry the
man she had come to And. Ue ask.il
no questions of himself, but Teresa
would huve been the result of every
conjecture had be done so.
"He might better- -be dead.", -he
thought, his eyes hardening. "She's
found him out Gad. I hope' .But
he put It from him.
Graydon Biinseroer did not die with
in tlic hour nor that day. The careful
examination of the surgeons gave lit:
tie additional hope. It did. however,
reveal the f:ict that no vital organ had
been destrojed or Injured. The ball
hml Ifirn n front hole In Ills loft Side
and had gone through the body Prob
ing was not necessary. The flow of
blood was frightful.- There 'was a
spark of life tuft on which to build a
frail hope, and they worked with new
Interest.
The attention of every one was di
rected to this tragic struggle. The ef
forts of all were lent to the successful
end. Jane Cable, dogged and tireless.
came to be bis nurse now that tho life
thread still held together. It is not the
purpose of this narrative to dwell upon
the wretched, harrowing scenes and
incidents of the wilderness hospital
the misery of those who watched and
waited for death, the dread and suffer
ing of those who gave this anxiety, the
glow of spiritual light which hovered
above the forms of men who bad for
gotten their God until now.
The flrst night passed. There were
sleepless eyes to keep company with
the faint moans and tho scent of chlo
roform. Over the figure of Graydon
Bnnsemer hung the eager, tense face
of Jane Cable. Her will and mind
were rnlsed against the hand of death.
Down In her soul she was crying.
Yon shall not die!" and he was living.
living on in spite of death. The still,
white face gave back no sign of life.
A faint pulse and an almost Imper
ceptible respiration told of the unbro
ken thread. Hoping against hope!
Dawn came and night again, and
still the almost breathless girl urged
ber will against the Inevitable. She
had not slept nor had she eaten of the
food they brought to her. Two per
sons, a soldier and a girl, stood back
and marveled at her endurance nhd
devotion. The harassed surgeons, new
In experience themselves, found time
to minister to the seeming dead man,
tbelr Interest not only attracted by bis
remarkable vitality, but by the ro
mance attached to his hope of living.
That night he moved, and a low
moan came from his Hps. The goddess
of good luck had turned her face from
the rest of the world for a brief in
stant to smile upon this Isolated sup
plicant for favor. Jane's eyes and cars
had sowed her well at last. She
caught the change In him, and ber will
grasped the hope wltb more dogged
tenacity than before. The word went
out that there was a chance for him.
Her vigil ended when Bray cume to
lead her away ended because Bbe
dropped rom exhaustion.
The next morning, after a dead sleep
of hours, she returned to his side. The
surgeon smiled, and the nurse clasped
her hands with tears In her eyes. Ban
semcr was breathing thickly aud toss
ing In delirium. It was us If he had
been lifted from the grave.
Lieutenant Bray was seated in front
of the convent late that evening, mood
ily studying his own emotions. Tere
sa, still attired as she had been for
weeks, hung about the chapel with the
persistence of a friendless dog. He
watched her and pitied her, even as he
pitied himself for the wound he was
nursing. What was to become of her?
He called her to him.
"Senorlta, they say he Is better. Tell
me, docs It mean much to you?"
"Oh, senor, he haa been nMe and
good and honorable. If he lives I shall
always hold these weeks with hlin In
absolute reverence."
"Then sho does not understand?"
"She? What Is there for her to un
derstand? She loves him and he loves
her. That Is enough."
"Sho says sho will not marry him.
Thero must be a reason."
The girl's fuce darkened Instantly
and her breath came quickly.
"You you think that I am the rea
son? Is It so? Because I am here In
these hateful clothes? You would say
that to me? How dure you!"
She burst out with tears of rage and
shamo and tied from his sight
Jane came rapidly through the church
door, out of the gloom and odor into
tho warm sunshine and the green glow
of the world, her face bright her eyes
gleaming.
"lie Is consclousl" she cried. "He
knows me!"
CHAPTER XXV.
IIKN Graydon Banseiuer
opened bis eyes upou the
world tor the secoud time
It was as if he had bean
born agatu be looked up
luto the eager, wistful fuee of Jane
Cable. It was too much for ber to ex
pect that he could sec n9 understand
at once. Ho would uot know what had
g0o lieforo nor why she was there
119 fcctilo glance took In hor face
with lifeless Interest Perhaps It was
liccauso he had seen her lu that death
like dream. Perhaps his weakness kept
mm from true rcnllzatWi. lu any
event, he did no more ttmifTo allovnhe
flicker of a smile ).ouie Into bis rves
're he closed them again. Breath
Ic.vily she waited for the lids to lift
ouee more. She uttered his naiue soft
m
ly, tenderly, time and again. As If
bearing some one calling from a great
distance he moved and again iookku
of pain In
his gray eyes. This time be stared
hard at ber. His eyes grew brighter
and then darkened with wonder. At
last she saw the look of surprise and
Joy and relief that she hud been hun
gering for. He sinew h. auu ne wu
beginning to understand. .
If he heard her while she knelt and
thanked God for this flrst great ray of
hope he gave forth no sign. When she
turned her eyes to his facc.agaln be
was asleep. But she went forth Into
tho day with a song In ber heart
She looked about for Teresa. The
girl was gone, no' one knew whither.
Bray alone could say that she bad
started toward the thicket. He point
ed out the direction, but did not offer
to accompany Jane when sho hurried
away to. carry the good newB to the
Spanish girl who had been her stanch
helper during the long vigil. Bray
shook bis puzzled head as he followed
her with his gaze. It had come to him
suddenly that the Spanish girl was not
the solution to the puzzle after all.
Jane found the slim, boyish figure
lying on the ground, deep In the wood.
She bad been crying and made no at
tempt to subdue her emotions when
tho American girl came up to her; In
stead she bitterly poured out her woe
Into the ears of the other. She told
her of Bray's Insult as she termed his
unfortunate speculation and she told
how It came about
"I am n good girl, Miss Cable," she
cried. "I am of a noble family. You
do uot believe It of me? No! He had
no right to accuse me. I was a pris
oner. Senor Bansemer was my res
cuer. I loved him for It. Seo. I cannot
help It; I cannot hide It from you. But
ho Is yours. I have no claim. I do not
ask It Ob," and here her voice rose to
a wall of anguish, "can you not pro
cure something else for mo to wear?
These rags are Intolerable. I hate
them! I cannot go back there unless I
have"
"We can give you a few garments,
dear," said Jane. "Cone! Yon shall
wear the nurse's uniform. We are to
start on the long march to the coast to
morrow. They say that all of the
wounded can be moved by that time."
It was three days, however, before
the little company left the village and
began Its slow, .Irksome march across
the country . toward the coast where
the ship was to pick up the wounded
men and convey them to Manila. Na-
At last she mio the took of surprise and
Joy and relief.
tlve carriers, cheerful amlgos since the
disaster to Pilar, went forward with
tho stretchers, the hospital wagons and
guard following. Traveling was neces
sarily slow, uud the halts were fre
quent There were occasional shots
from bidden riflemen, but there were
no casualties. Food had been scarce.
The commissary was thinly supplied
for the hard trip. Lieutenant Bray
grew strangely morose and Indifferent.
Ue was taciturn, almost unfriendly, In
his attitude toward every oue.
The little company stopped to rest In
a lienutlful valley beside the banks of
a swift stream. He watched Jane as
sbe moved away from the stretcher
which held Bansemer, following her
to the edge of the streum where she
hod come to gace pensively Into the
future. v
"How Is he?" he asked. She started,
and a warm glow came Into her check.
"He la doing nicely. If he can bear
up until we reach Manila he will sure
ly Hve. Are we going as rapidly aa we
should, Lieutenant Bray?"
"Quite, Miss Cable. It Isn't an easy
march, you must remember." After a
long silence he suddenly remarked:
"Miss Cable. I've got a rather shameful
confession to make. I've had some
very base thoughts to contend with.
You may have guessed It or not but I
care a great deal for you, more thau
for any one else I've ever known. You
say be Is to get well. For days I
wished that he might die. Don't look
like that please. I couldn't help It I
went so fur at one stage aa to contem
plate a delay In marching that might
have proved fatal to him. 1 thought of
that way and others of which I can't
tell you. thank God. I was mau
enough to put them away from me.
Walt please! Let me finish. You have
said you will not marry blm. I don't
ask why yon will not. I lore you. Will
you be my wtfeT"
She stared at blm wltb consternation
In ber eyes. He had gone on stCrapid-
ly that she could not check bis rs ild
speech. Her hand went to ber brow.
and a piteous smile tried to force Itself
to her Hps.
"I am sorry." she said at last "1 am
sorry you have spoken to me of It. 1
have felt for some time that you-you
cured for me. No, Lieutenant Bray; 1
canuet Ih your wife."
"1 know y.fBVove him," he said.
"Yes. it is pinln. I have not tA to
U.,:c It." "
"You must understand why I asked
w
yon to be my wife, knowing that you
love him. It was to hear it from your
own lins. so that I would not go
through life with the feellus. after ulk
that It might have been. m jou iun
me ihe reason why you cauuoi uiun.v
him? He must love you."
"Lieutenant Bray, he would marry
me tomorrow. I think, if I were to co'.
sent. It isn't that. It would not be
right for me to consent. YoO profess
to love me. I have seen It in your eyes
oh, I have learned much of men in
the nast few months and I determined
if you ever asked me to niurry you to
ask a question In return, uo you real
Iv know who I am?"
He looked his surprise, "Why, the
daughter of David Cable, of course."
"No; I am not his daughter."
"His stepdaughter?"
. "Not even that You come from o.
proud southern family. I do not know
who my parents were.
"Good heaven, you you don't mean
you were a waif?"
"A waif without a name. Lieutenant
Bray. This Is not self abasement; it
Is not the parading of misfortune. It
is because you have made tbe mistake
of loving me. If you care less for me
now than you did before you will
spread this Information throughout the
army."
"Believe me, I nm not that sort'
"Thank you. Knowing what you
now do, could you ask me to be your
wife?"
"Don't put it Just that way," he
stammered.
"Ah, I sec.- It was a cruel question.
And yet it proves that you do not love
as Graydon Bansemer loves."
"Some day you may And out nil
about your parents and be bnppy. You
may have been abducted nnd" he
was saying, his face white and set
Somehow. he felt that he wisb chasten
Ing himself.
"Perhaps," she said quietly. "I
might not have told you this bad not
the story been printed In every news
paper In tbe States Just before I left.
You see, I did not know It until Just a
few months ago. I tnongbt you might
have read of me, I I am so notorl
ous."
"Jane, dear Jane, you must not feel
that way!" be cried as sbe started
quickly away. . "If s" But she turned
and motioned for him to cease. There
were tears In ber eyes. He stood stock
still. "She's wonderful."' be said to
himself as Bbe walked away. "Even
now I believe I could Pshaw! II
ought not to make any difference! If
It wasn't for my family What s In a
name anyway? A name" He started
to answer Mb own question, but bait
ed abruptly, squared bis shoulders and
then, with true southern, military
bearing, strode away, murmuring:
"A name Is something; yes, family t
everything."
Jane went at once to Graydon. His
great gray eyes smiled a glad wel
come. Sbe took bis hand in hers and
sat upon the ground beside him.
watching his race until they were
ready to resume the Journey.
"Would it not be better If he were tc
die?" she found herself wondering
with strange inconstancy to her pur
pose. "Why could It not have been I
lnstend of he? How bard it will be foi
us to live after this! Dear, dear Grnv-
don. If if I only were different from
what I am."
Not a word of his father's conduct
toward her, not a word of blame fot
the blow his father hud struck. She
held him to no account for the base
ness of that father. Only did she hold
herself unfit to be bis wife.
Fortune and strength went hand In
hand for the next two days, and the
fnmlshed, wornout company came tc
me coast ine wounded men were
half delirious once more for lack of
proper attention and the hardships of
travel. But the ill wind had spent Its
force. Bray's Instructions were to
place his charges on board ship at
San Fernando de Union and then
await further orders In the little const
town. It mennt goodby to Jane, and
that meant more to him than be was
willing to admit despite all that she
had sold to him. He went to her when
the ship was ready to leave port.
"Goodby." he said. "I'm more griev
ed than I can tell you. because i be
lieve you think 1 am a cad."
' "Lieutenant Bray, a cad never would
have helped me as you have helped
me In spite of yourself. Goodby!"
He went out of bet life In that mo
ment I
There were vexatious delays, how
ever, before sailing. Almost at the last
moment Jane was approached by Te
resa eiasques. now partly dressed as
a Red Cross nurse, line Spanish girl
was nervous and unotsy. Her dark
eyes held two ever ckanging lights
one somber, the other Bright and pierc
ing. "I have decided to wilt for the next
ship." she announced boefly.
"You are not going vtlth s?" cried
Jane m surprise and dktreee. "What
has happened?" I
"It Is Impossible. I clonot go wltb
you. Pray do not ask fr my reason.
Goodby. Will yon say toodby V3 to
him for me?" I
Jane was silent for 1 long time,
studying tbe eyee of tbe ipanlsb girl.
"I think I understand.' she said at
last taking Toreea's hand! In bers.
"It la better that It be reded bere.e
said Teresa. "I have endued it as long
aa I can. Yon have been food to me.
and I want to soy goodby whUe there
Is love for you In my hiart I am
afrahV to stay near you-and him.
Don't yon see? I csnnot ge on In this
way." I
"Oh. Teresa !"
"Yes. yes; I know it Is wWg. But
how can 1 help it? I've lovej him ever
since I first saw hlm-saved his life."
June waa astounded. The tbiist plerc
ed her to the quick. I
saved Ills life?" ffl I
"Yes, though he does not L-now it
Filipinos. My poor brother was dying.
From the convent Agulnaldo and his
men -were watching nnd directing the
fight on the plnza. They paid no at
tention to me a girl. The noise of the
fighting men was terrible, nnd f climb
ed up to a window where I could see.
Suddenly below me I saw two men
fighting apart from the struggling
mass. In nn Instant it flashed throuO.
my mind that the Filipino was over
powering tbe 'other was goi- to kill
him. Although 1 hated them equally,
there was something in the young sol
dier's face I could not see blm mur
dered I seized a pistol that was lying
near me and fired.- The Filipino fell.
In terror of the deed and fear, of dis
covery I ran to my brother. In a mo
ment the Americans broke into the
convent You know the rest."
Jane was suffering the keenest pangs
of Jealousy and asked excitedly:
"You you did that?"
"And finally, when I had learned to
care for him and he was wounded, to
have been denied the rlght'of nursing
him back to life my place usurped by
you! Surely I have as much to bo
proud of as you, and I love him a
great deal more!"
"As much to be proud of" Jane was
saying, for the moment all the warmth
gone from her voice, the flame from
her cheeks, but her meaning could not
have been understood by the other
who proudly, defiantly tossed back her
head. Beautiful Indeed was this brown
skinned, black, eyed girl as she stood
there pleading her rights to an unre
qulted love, a heart already tenanted
by another, and that other the woman
before her.
"Now, can you Imagine." the girl
went on, "how it has hurt me to see
you caring for blm. to see bis eyes for
ever searching for you? No?' They
were silent a moment A wistful look
was in ber eyes now nnd her voice un
mistakably reconcilable when she re
turned: "Ah, be was so good and tra
when I was alone with them before
you camel I pray God now that he
may be well and that you may make
him happy."
"Alas, I am afraid that can never
be! You cannot understand, and I can
uot explain.". .
"Your family objects because be Is
poor and a common soldier? Yes?"
Sbe laughed bitterly, a green light In
her eyes. "If It were L no one could
keep me from belonging to blm. I
would"
"Don'tl Don't eay It! You don't un
derstand!" Jane reiterated.
"Dloe, bow I loved blm! I would
have gone through my whole life with
blm I He must have known It too."
"He was true to me," said Jane, her
figure straightening Involuntarily, a
uew gleam In her eyes. '
"Ah, you are lucky, senorlta! I love
you, and I could hate you so easily!
Go! Go! Take him with you and give
him life! Forget me as I shall forget
you both!" And, Impulsively taking
from round ber neck an Agnus Del
which she was wearing, sbe placed It
in Jane's bands aud added. "Give this
to him, please, and do not forget to tell
him that I sent goodby and. good luck."
Jane would huve kissed ber bad not
the blazing eyes of tho other forbade.
They merely clasped hands, and Te
resa turned away.
"My uncle lives in Manila. He will
take me to Madrid. We cannot live
here with these pigs of Americans
about us." she said shortly. A mo
ment later she was lost In the crowd.
Jane's heart was heavy when 'the
ship moved away. Her eyes searched
through the throng for the slight figure
of the girl who hnd abandoned a lost
cause.
CHAPTER XXVI.
HEN Jane brought Banse
mer, back to Maclla.
wounded almost to
death. Colonel Harbin
had ber 'Installed reg
ularly aa a nurse for Bansemer, a con
cession not willingly granted. Those
days were like years to her. Sbe was
thin and worn when sbe came down
from tbe north, but sbe was haggard
wltb anxiety and despair when tbe
two days of suspense were ended.
Rthel Harbin was ber ablest ally.
This rather lawless young person laid
aside tbe hearts with which she wss
toying and bent her every endeavor to
the cause of romance. It was not long
before every young officer In tbe city
was more or less Interested In tbe wel
fare of Graydon Bansemer. Sho threw
a fine cloak of mystery about the "mil
lionaire's son" and the greet devotion
of her cousin. The youth of tbe army
followed Ethel to and from the hospi
tal for days and days. Without Ethel
Is quite doubtful If anybody couw
have known what a monstrous Impor
tant personage Private Bansemer we
VIS,
At the end of a fortnight be was able
to sit up and converse with his nurse
and tbe occasional Ethel. Dr. O- chief
of tbe ward, remarked to Colonel Har
bin:
He'll get well, of course. He can't
help It. I never knew before what so
ciety could do for a fellow, nes got
a society nurse, and he Is visited by a
society despot"
Do you think be will be able to uo
any more fighting? Will be be strong
m
uo'ever. ThsT, tel'
before I,, be
w ""bin.. -".
-v sirree; fly,, .
fow, for ,m .n h feK..
"ter, colon ll'jl
reed from la,,., '-
"" irasseu she . .7 "tj
resentful .1,...r,-,1"Hk3
I" her comm.?; T""'ai
uW 1hortlum.ta,!LW'
"Kane was alkM o,7T I
background of uL " Z?
hungered hiT
i void IHmwltba,;:.5
Brought starvation to
she was r ... .
was ever "."H
her smile lacked tbe lenalz.'l
came lu from n.
his crutcbes. ,h,."fH
" ne-not at all
She stood straight .
fore him, white to tbe JT"J
us cold as Ice. 1
"I love you. Graydoa. raj
' ivrayslot(j
please, don't ask i . i
You understand, don't t! J
noi De as we on wert-Kn,!
enuea. But joo-m ,
mat i love you."
"U Is sheer madma ;
take that attitude. Wiu,
world matters so loaning
another? I feit it In; tel
net ask you to be m irtf,
my father did that tight
as Billy of me as tibln J
did not contend long irral
i uuve never been mini
night or day. I vu twril
than once to desert, but laisl
possible, you know. It nil
rlble eagerness to sobntssl
compel you to be mine. 101
you a grave wrong. Et-
"But my father did m i
wrong; Graydon. I kin 1
all out."
"Nonsense, dearest T SnI
my life. Too militant I
These last few veeki knit
lives together so compta!! 1
ther of us ou tbe ikli s i
God's evident purpose, llmnj
yourself, Jane. Til! k :
There has not been u )
which I have fell tan a
stance could alter mr kti
you. You say yon Iron I
You forgx't that yoo sujlnl
dearest and It Is not sal
proud of, I fear, In the 44
tain things. You Basts CI
Jane."
I cannot. Graydoo. IkM
Don't-don't Plead, deal. I
avail. Look Into W eja. l
see that I mean It, Gnpa-I
"By heaven, Jane, 1 "
lvinc to me! Yon ou't 1
hack of them. If s cmei:
"Hush! You moat act k
Htwl. You are far frffl
nm atill vour muse. V-
"You are ntf I" Jl
thing. I can't give y -M
..... - .L-i thii itial 1
luua iv m,- - ,
I fc . II trtm mf B"Ir
UWa "' '- jjJil
There is only one pl
love hasnotblagto
u ... tnik or aonutW
heart from r-J"M
two ha kraivr von'ntfi'
ir 1v.toH lone Inn
and then mattered''!
spalr of tbe slc: -;.
had no worn iroiu--
. . ji.n.trhM bin
rour name. Oneof iKl
spoadenta was la -J
cenuj.
lu you m.-
"Are you ,J
should think yort '
ivJncsrliiHWrJ
to curse aim. W 1
have cone Z7. -
done- K.iisil
(Continued ner
that i
-Action rfe"".
4. - ,ntflljiv.
entire
us torn- rf
We ask
tated,-i
every
stubborn
coughs, Wgr
entconsowrf
.Uaf'
Vinol "S-r
uua t Spa
won't let hhTV- It.
U was when we were prisoners of the
enoush?"
Qc
Q
fa