is painless interval was but the prelude to the final painless sleep。 Nevertheless； the man who had helped other men to die unflinchingly was facing death with a grave； unflinching smile； albeit life to him was good and full of promise。 The interval was short。 He would pass through it in manlike fashion； and； meanwhile； give thanks that beside his bed sat the one woman in whom his whole future so long had centered。
The slow moments passed by； unheeded。 It was an hour since the surgeons had gone away； it was nearly an hour since Alice Mellen had followed the surgeons。 Instinctively she realized that her place was otherwhere。 There was no need now for skilled nurses。 Ethel could do all the little which would be required； and it was Ethel's right to stay。
Since Alice had left them； no word had been spoken。 The Captain had little strength for words as yet。 It was taking all his energy and courage to face the truth and to accept it。 Only an hour before； his crippled career had seemed to him unbearable。 Now； as he lay with his eyes fixed on the girl beside him； he realized how much of potential sweetness that dreary alternative had held。 And yet； Fate had drawn him into the battle； and it was something that he had met Fate bravely and in the foremost rank。 So far； he had never funked a fight； if it took his last bit of strength； he would go pluckily through this last； worse fight which he was destined to face。 He stirred slightly； and shut his teeth on his lower lip； but his eyes never dropped from Ethel's face。 From the farther side of the bed； Weldon； too； was watching Ethel。 If he lived to full fivescore years； he could never forget her face as he had met her at the hospital door； that morning。 Exhausted with the excitement of the battle； stiff with his half…dressed wounds； soiled and untidy and haggard； he had paused beside the ambulance while the attendants had lifted the stretcher and borne the Captain up the low flight of steps。 Then； like a man in a dream； he had followed along behind them until； on the very threshold； he had raised his heavy eyes to see Ethel standing before him； a broad shaft of sunshine pouring down upon her to rest in the locks of sunshiny hair which straggled out from beneath her crisp white cap。
〃Cooee！〃 he said huskily； as he took her hand。 Then； for the first time in all those terrible hours since the battle； his lips had quivered； and two big； boyish tears had rolled out across his cheeks。
Already the fight seemed to him to be months old。 From the first； it had been the Captain's wish that Weldon should go with him to the hospital； and Weldon would have allowed no other man to go in his place。 Wounded and weak from loss of blood； nevertheless he forgot his own weakness as he saw the leg； shattered by two bullets； explosive bullets such as are denied to warfare of any but barbarous nations。 Young though he was； Weldon had seen many a man wounded before now。 He was not slow to realize the nature of the alternatives which lay before the man who was at once his hero and his friend。 Mercifully； he had as yet no knowledge how soon the one alternative must be taken from him。
The case was too grave a one for the surgeons of the field hospital。 In after years； that ambulance journey into Kroonstad seemed branded upon Weldon's memory： the baking heat of the February sun； the interminable miles of dusty road stretching away between other interminable miles of grassy veldt； scarred and seamed here and there with ridges of naked rock。 And at last the ambulance had jogged into Kroonstad； only to find that no help lay in the hospital there； that the journey must be dragged onward through a night ride to Johannesburg。
If the jolting； crawling ambulance had been bad； the jarring train was infinitely worse。 The Captain made no complaints； he was grateful for every slight attention； he even forced himself to joke a little now and then。 Nevertheless； Weldon； sitting beside him and occasionally laying his own fingers across the steady hand on the blanket； was maddened by the noise of the engine； by the ceaseless thud； thud as the wheels took every new rail； by the roar； and the rush； and the dust which filtered in upon them。 There was nothing he could do。 He merely sat there beside his friend； and thought。 Occasionally； he thought of Ethel； but； for the most part； his mind was on the man before him； the man whose active career all at once had been cut in two。 Now and then he thought of the one who had chosen to fire those bullets； taboo of all but the most brutal warfare。 At such times； he rose and fell to pacing restlessly up and down the car。 Then he controlled himself and resumed his seat。
Moment by moment； almost second by second； the dreary night had worn away。 It was full morning when the train had halted inside the familiar station。 After his vigil； the healthy stir of the streets appeared to Weldon like the confused picture of a dream； and it had been like a man in a dream that he had been driven away to the hospital。 Then； on the steps； he had seen Ethel； and the dream had been shattered； giving way； for the instant； to the perfect happiness of reality。
But the surgeons at Johannesburg had shaken their heads。 The delay； although unavoidable； had been full of danger。 One only chance remained； and they would take that chance。 Weldon had lingered until he was ordered away； then； with Ethel beside him； he had gone to find a doctor who could dress his own wounds and make him fit to face the ordeal which he knew was awaiting him。 For one short moment； he had felt Ethel's hands busy about his shoulder and head and wrist； had rejoiced in the quiet strength of their soothing touch。 For another moment； their eyes had met； but no word had been spoken between them。 Then Alice had come to them； bringing the surgeon's verdict。 That had been an hour before。 Now they still were there； watching the slow approach of the inevitable summons。
Slowly the day waxedand waned。 For the waning life； there was no interval of waxing。 Slowly； steadily； by infinitesimal degrees； Leo Frazer was sinking down into the Valley of the Shadow。 Once the head surgeon had stepped behind the screens and bent over the bed。 Only Ethel had seen the brief contraction of his brows； but no one of them was deceived by his cheery words of parting。 And still the blue eyes rested upon Ethel； as if seeking to gain from her the answer to some unspoken question； as if begging her to share with him some fraction of her quiet strength。 Now and then Ethel wondered at her own quiet。 This was the second week of her promised month with her cousin； but it was the first time she had come face to face with death； the first time； too； that her work had taken on any hint of personality。 Now； suddenly confronted with these three； Death and the two men who； during the past fourteen months； had played so active parts in her life； she was surprised to find that she faced them steadily and in silence。 As yet； she felt no wish to make any moan。 That would come later； when her nerves had relaxed a little from the stretching strain。 And； meanwhile； as she sat watching the face on the pillow； grieving for the waning life； now and then she raised her eyes to the other face on the opposite side of the bed； and told herself that Fate； harsh as it was； was yet not altogether unpitying。 Although wounded and worn and sick at heart； Weldon was with her； and intensely alive。
〃Ethel！〃
Bending forward； she laid her strong； firm hand upon the hand of the Captain； noting； as she did so； that the finger tips were cold to her own warm touch。
〃Yes？〃 she said gently。
〃You are here？ It troubles me to see。 Stay with me to the end； Ethel。 It won't be so very long。〃
She bowed her head； but the answer came firmly。
〃I will stay。〃
There was a short silence。 Then； gathering together all his strength； the Captain went on quite steadily；
〃It won't be so very long； Ethel。 I am sorry。 I liked to live。 I have had a good time； and I had no idea that my good times were so nearly over。 Not that it would have made much difference； though。 And yet； when one comes to the end； all of a sudden； one finds a great many things that are left unfinished。〃
She made no attempt to answer。
Gently he urged the final words upon her attention。
〃There are always so many things left unfinished；〃 he repeated。
〃Yes；〃 she said faintly。
Slowly； as if its weight dragged sorely upon his failing strength； he raised her hand to the pillow and rested his cheek upon it。
〃Don't cry； Ethel；〃 he said then。 〃Of course； if I had lived； it might have meant so much to us both。〃
Involuntarily she caught her breath and made a swift gesture； as if to withdraw her hand。 Then； with a hasty glance at Weldon； leaning against the opposite wall； she controlled herself and allowed her hand to rest where it was。
〃It would have meant so much to all of us； Captain Frazer。〃
〃Perhaps。 But to you and meEthel； I can't go out of life and give you up！〃 Pitifully； longingly； the blue eyes stared up at her face through the growing shadows of waning day and waning life。 Longingly； although the questioning look had left them。 In its place was an infinite； contented love； an absolute trust。
The girl nerved