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,'- 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
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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
