"Because there's a limit, Jeb, to the patience of a country, just as there is to the patience of men and women. Even the mildest of us reach the end of our endurance, sooner or later," she added, not knowing whether she wanted to laugh or be furious. "Oh, come," he cried, squaring his shoulders. "I thought maybe you had some inside news from your father! Don't be a gloom, Marian! The war's three thousand miles away from us, and that's where it's going to stay--take my word for it!" "But I thought you were crazy for it," she turned on him in surprise. He shifted uneasily, but his voice rang strong and true as he answered: "I am crazy for it! What d'you suppose I've been getting ready for all these months? But you leave wars and that sort of thing to us men! You haven't anything to do with 'em!" "We have to nurse you in wars, Jeb, just as we do in times of peace," she laughed. "Really, I don't see how such big babies as some men I know can conduct a first class war, anyhow!" This was the old Marian again; lightly bantering, deliciously good to look upon. He moved close to her, and asked earnestly: "Why did you run away from me?" "I wanted to be a nurse," she answered. "But why did you decide so quickly to be a nurse?" She hesitated, then smiled: "It was better than the other alternative." "Now that you are a nurse, can't you accept the other alternative, too? You know I want you just as much." His voice, deep and resonant with a timbre that went to women's hearts, thrilled her delightfully. But she had not forgiven him for the paper target episode, wherein she had been pushed aside to make way for his skill. There were, moreover, plans that had been fermenting in her mind for many months--plans of which marriage should not be a part--and she answered him frankly: "I really don't know at all, Jeb--I haven't had time to think. Of course, should our country get into this war, daddy has promised to let me go across at once; otherwise he insists that I can't. Still, if I go to France, you will, too, for that matter," she added brightly. Then the color flew to her cheeks. "Maybe when I saw you in uniform, Jeb, and realized that you--that we might neither of us get back, then I might--we might----" She was looking down, unable to go farther without assistance; but he offered none, and they stood for several moments in absolute silence--for a quick spasm of fright had shot across his soul! The sublimity of her partial surrender, contingent only upon his transportation to a foreign battlefield, suddenly brought the war from three thousand miles away to his very door. But his next feeling was one of self-contempt, and squaring his shoulders with a jerk he said: "I love your pluck! Then it's all settled." "Oh, it isn't all settled by a great deal," she laughed; but, seeing his face, gasped in mock astonishment. "Heavens! Which is making you look so like a ghost--marriage or war?"