LOVE'S PLEDGE



  "We just love whom we love, dearest, and we can't
help it. I am yours and you are mine. It's not a
question of good or bad, right or wrong. We love-
that's all."
  "Yes, we love-that's all and it's everything. There's
no more doubt, dear"
  "Not one," she cried. "I'm going to bring back the
red blood to your cheeks now and take that fevered
look out of your eyes---"
  The weeks of convalescence were swift and beau-
tiful to Betty-her ministry to his slightest whim a
continuous joy. The only cloud in her sky was the
strange, feverish, unquiet look in his eyes. On the day
of his discharge he received a letter from his mother
which deepened this expression to the verge of mania.
  "What is it, dear" Betty asked in alarm.
  "One of those unfortunate things that have been
happening somewhere every day for the past year-
an arrest and imprisonment for treasonable utter-
ances  -"
  "Who has been arrested"
  "This time my father in Missouri."
  "Your father" she gasped.
  "Yes.  He has been a bitter critic of the war.
le seems to have gone too far. There was a riot
of some sort in the village and he took the wrong
side."
  There was an ominous quiet in the way he talked.
  "I'll take you to see the President, dearest," she said
soothingly. "We'll ask for his release. It's sure to
be granted."
  John's eyes suddenly flashed.
  "You think so"
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