Part 29 (1/2)
”Nothing?”
”Nothing! I'll quit the arive up the Service, andback of me, and we'll start out anew--just you and I”
”Wait a er, out-stretched arms ”Why do you need to do all that?”
”Never ood as done You wouldn't understand--”
”But I think I do understand now Do I really mean all that to you?”
”Yes, and irl, quietly ”I want you to talk slowly so I o all those great things you speak of--your profession, your family, your future?”
”Don't let's talk about it, Necia; I've got you, and--”
”Please answer ht I understood, but I' a breed that stood in the way--”
”There's nothing in the way--”
”--that I wasn't good enough I knew I could overcorow to your level, but I didn't think my blood would fetter you andit aardly, because I's seem different now, somehow, than they did before”
”Nonsense!” exclaimed the soldier ”If they don't bother me, Necia, why should you worry?”
”Would you really have to give up your family--your sister? Would those people you are so proud of and who are so proud of you--would they cut you off?”
”There is no question of cutting off I have no inheritance co except you, dear”
”Won't you tell s”
”Well, what if they do?” he conceded ”You h a thousand fae to a--a--to me destroy your army career?”
”Well, it will really be n from the Service,” he finally admitted ”In fact, I've decided to do so at once”
”No, no! You ht you think I am worth the price, but a day will coht her hands in his
”--Meade, I can't let you do it”
”I'd like to see you help yourself,” he said, banteringly
”I can and I will You ht--it can't be” She suddenly realized what this renunciation wouldhim now, after he had come to her freely--it would be very hard! But to her, too, there had come the revelation that love means sacrifice, and she kne that she loved her soldier too well to let her shadow darken his bright future, too well to ruin him
”It will be over before you know it,” she heard hi, in a lame attempt at levity ”Father Barnum is an expert, and the operation won't occupy him ten minutes”