" You are a soldier's wife, Irene, a soldier's daughter. Be brave ! " " But I have no one but you. I can't give you up. Let others go to the war, not you. Resign, and " Irene ! " '* Ah, it was my womanhood that prompted these words lam proud of you—go." He drew her passionately to his breast. " Laurie is going too ? " she asked in a tired way.
Stowell looked at her questioningly. The clear eyes met him as steadily as of old. Vet it was with a new pain at bis heart that the brave soldier left her. She threw herself on a couch She soothed herself to sleep. Thus Carleton found her as he entered, the tears still undried on bur face. He went softly to the couch, and knelt beside her. With hun gry eyes he scanned her lovely face.
" To kiss her once," he thought, "to take away with me the remembrance of it. Surely it could do no harm." As ho knelt there he realised where he stood. He longed to take her in his aims and fly away with her. What a fate I Why had he met her at all ? But she must never know, never dream of his love.
He softly kissed her, then turned suddenly and left the room.
The parting came all too soon. A year passed and still a bloody warfare—brother Mgainst brother—went on.
