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About The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 13, 1898)
f-bt ,'- i-" THE COURIER. 8 v AT DINNER. "Eric, if j'ou ever meant the faint est part of the love you profess, don't, don't I beg of yon for the last time don't enlist." "Upon my word, Gesta! Well, what a silly girl! Nothing going to happen to me, dearest now, why cut up so? Here's the opportunity of my life to get out and tight and do something fine and you pretend you'd be con tent to have me stay home! How would you feel to hear me called "old woman," "coward," "the dancing cap tain of Company 1)," and all the rest of it, like poor Itollins, and iie has a wife and child to excuse his hack down? You'd lie prett3 well ashamed of me, I think. Why, you don't sup pose I could go about here in comfort and idleness with the hoys all at the front, do you? Impossible, Gesta. Be sensible and look at things in the proper light; stop imagining all sorts of calamities. I'll be coming back presently, bristling with medals and honors and epaulets a colonel, at least. Think how fine that will be a. gallant soldier's bride! You should value the honor in keep for you, Miss you don't deserve it a bit! ' In bantering tones, half chaffing, half c'onsoling her, he quieted the out burst of sobs and tears in which she had ttung herself at his feet, and final ly managed to unclasp the locked fin gers from about his knees. Then, si lent and moodily resigned, the girl arose nnd slowly crossed to the win dow. Eric talked on in an effort to gloss over his determination- to Volun-" teer with his company; but the object of his concern- gazed abstractedly at the flag that flaunted over the street and appeared not to hear. Her sud denly induced calm and change of front took Eric somewhat by surprise, but he told himself that at last she was accepting the situation in a rea sonable way, and he secretly rejoiced. Going up behind her he slipped an arm about her waist, and bent back the dark, imperious head until it rest ed on Jiis blue-coated shoulder. "You dear, foolish girl, how terrible you've been about nothing! I'm not going to get killed no one's going to get killed. We'll make a splendid dash across Cuba, wipe out the Spaniards and come nome famous, warriors. See?" "Eric, you will never stand here at this window again. I know it, as surely as I'm standing here now." "For heaven's sake, Gesta, do look at the bright side just once, won't 3011? "When do you go?" "We'll be mustered in -tomorrow and expect the call to Tampa at any mo ment." "Good bye," holding out her hand. "Now see here. Gesta, are you try ing to break me all up? What do you mean by saying- good bye like that?" "Well you're going aren't you?" "Not until you're my wife." "Oh." "Well?" "Well?" "Aren't 3011 going to marry me, Gesta?" There was no answer. "Do 3-011 mean to sa3 you're not go ing to keep 3'our 3-romise to marry me on Sunday?" "Eric, if yon cared a fig for me you'd have some consideration for my wishes." "Darling " "Oh, how can you how can 3-ou pro fess to love me and lightly contemp late leaving me like this?" "I love yon devotedly absolutely I want you to be my wife. But I can not turn a denfear to my country and be dubbed a coward. If you loved me, Gesta, you would not nsk it." There was silence for a good many minutes. Eric Winthrop took out his watch. "I must get back to camp. I had 011I3- leave for the afternoon." When they had descended to the hall Gesta's stubborn will gave way. In a torrent of grief .she flung her arms about her brave soldier's neck. He caressed her hair and ..rushed nwny the tears. "There, there, dear love why do-3-011 make it so hard?" "Eric I love 3-011 .so it rends my heart to lose 3-011!" "But 3-011 are not going to lose mc, sweetheart. We have 1110113' a day many a year of J03- before us. You will marry me Sunday, Gesta? "Yes s " "And follow 111c directly 1 leave for Tampa?" "Yes." "I shall take care about your rooms -at the hotel. We 11133 have whole weeks together before I go to the front! You will have every th ng ready for a moment's notice?" "Yes." "My darling girl! We shall be so happy. I'm glad the war came along if only to hasten matters between you and me. Mind Sunday eleven you will be ready? Until then, dearest!" With a last embrace he darted down the steps. On Sunday morning there was a severely simple wedding in the par lors of Gesta Mathias' home. Only close friends were witnesses, and evcr3'thing was informal and hurried, the groom, immediately after the cere-mom-, returning to his military duties for the regiment was to break Camp in the afternoon and depart for Tam pa. On the south bound train that even ing Gesta also took her departure for Florida. Two da3"s after she was en sconed in her luxurious hotel that basks under the radiant skies of our beautiful Biviera. The air was still comfortably cool, the sea a resplend ent blue and the lieaeh like shimmer ing crystal. Gesta found her new en- I IMMmiMMIIMIIIHIMMIIIIIMIIMIIIMIIMIMI THE CLUB WOMAN COURIER ONE YEAR FOR $1-25 l CLUB WOMEN: DO YOU want the club news of the United States and Nebraska? When serd a dollar and twenty-five cents to The Courier, Lincoln, Nebr.. and receive them both for one year. If you want a sample copy of the Club Woman send your name to THE CLUB WOMAN, 10 School St.,Egleston Square, Boston, Mass. It is the best club paper published. t - T--TTTT-TTTfTlfTff-TrmilllltTMMIHHmiL llllll I i manded constant attention, and there no means certain. But he was Careful were no leave-takings during the day. to conceal his oppression from her. vironmeut more than harmonious. The Finally, however, the men were got- and the thought that at last his life gayety of the hotel, the novel and ex- ten aboard their vessels and a fewoffi- dream was within reality, that he was citing atmosphere of the large army cers given leave of absence Eric to to stum in battle, in the army he re encampment, lent to her honeymoon dine at the hotel and report on board vered, and fight for the glory nnd well a delicious entrancement. ship at 9 k in. being of his country 'that banished Eric's work in his regiment was ar- "Mind our last dinner must be all other considerations from his duous. Constantly drilling the troops something I can remember in Cuba," mind. and endless detail of provisioning and he liad told Gesta, and the dainty table How gay5 she was, how grateful providing them for the coming inva- she had ordered spread in her ooudoir everything seemed, and the pretty sion of Cuba left him little time to de- delighted his senses when, after the temptress, she was constant- pour- vote ro -his wife, but every moment fatigue of the 033 lie sank :nto the of duty was compassed in loving at- COS3- chair awaiting him. injr wine! He leaned across the table again and again to kiss her. She was tendance upon her. 'Isn't this jolty?" she said ga3-l3 a glorious tonight. The dinner -was finished, and they The3- were happy much too happ3 sweeping gesture indicating the room, in met; tneir growing deugnt in each tne nower laden tame aim a steaming moveii over to the open windows, other and in their surroundings made covered dish. "Of cour&e we wanted There was a stand there with cigars the prospect of separation, now mo- to have this dinner alone, didn't we?" and more wine. A soft breeze blew mentarih expected, tenfold harder to "Of course, darling," entwining- his the curtains about, and a golden moon face. But Eric regarded it hopefully arms about her sinuous form. hung- just before them as if to be cheerily, looking on to the period of "And we're going to eat it in our plucked. Again-she poured the wine their reunion, w-hile Gesta became own wa3 take plenty of time and and each time she leaned forward with glooni3- and silent; the mere appear- plenty of wine?" his goblet he caught her breath. It ance of an officer or the sound of a "WI13-, 3-es." He gazed gratefully at was a delicious wine, so mellow, and bugle would call forth a lowering brow the 'bottle in the heaping pail of ice. the perfumes rising from the flower and a threatening light in her darkly "But I must be back In 9, remember! beds so sweet! In the distance he handsome C3-es. Ifeick on board ship at-9. Just think, could hear the wash of the waves, and Needless to sa3, this attitude of his Gesta, oft" to Cuba at last!" just about them the breeze was rust wife caused Eric no small uneasiness, There was such a ring of exultation ling the leaves of the vines. Hut more and he constantly strove to reassure in his voice that her face clouded in- than all this were her eyes, her -reat and comfort her. But he had not stantly. But she forced it away, and dark, dewy e3-es! And there were her counted upon the intricacies of .her na- with increasing gayety moved about lips rich rich and warm ture. It is doubtless if he suspected the room. "Yes, yes, I know, dear The sun was streaming in at the their existence. She would meeb his but it is only G now. Come, let's com- window, glaring and hot. when Eric efforts almost resentfully, it seemed to mence, shan't we?" Winthrop opened his eyes. He stared l.t... .1 JJ l- A- , , PL. 1 , , " A 1 " 1 1, . " 111111, uiiu uctcr inane repiy 10 nis iov- one Kisseti 111m several nines nis uny a minute without seeini he neck, his ears, his eyes before she closed his eyes, opened them, hl-nkcd took her place at the table. He began them. He was inched he saw that to marvel a little at her brilliant by his side was Gesta sleeping. Some mood, and thought how plucky she thing horrible began -to torture his was, at this last moment, to summon, brain. With a start he sat unritrht about were bustle, hurry and confu- up such bravery. He himself felt now "Gesta!" he called, imperatively. She sion. The immense amount of stores weight of his undertaking, how mo- opened her eyes in perfect conscions- to be shipped, the quartering of the mentous was the expedition, and that ness. men a hundred and one delays de- the chances of hisj returning were by "Is it is it where is the ship?-' mg words except by lavishing the wealth of her embraces upon him. At last came the dreaded command. The transports were to sail at day break the following morning. All 3