Motion Picture Story Magazine (Feb 1914 - Sep 1916 (assorted issues))

100 MOTION PICTURE MAGAZINE added an air of dignity to her wild beauty. l4I have waited for you," the girl burst out — "you who received my brother's last words. And how hard I have worked in the pursuit of his murderer. On arriving in Egypt I found out that two officers from the S( (dark had been killed in the engagement with the forts. Just what officers had come ashore, without leave, in Ajaccio the ship's captain would not tell me. 'Catch me holding my boys open to court-martial,' he said. But I did not despair. I became a nurse in the Egyptian Hospital and helped save the lives of some of the poor, homeless lads of officers. "All the time I watched and listened, trusting to find the man I sought. ' ' There was one big fellow, a sunnyhaired giant, whom they brought in wounded and whose side I never left. He was so helpless — and when he got better and became to look so like a god — E dwin 1 ' ' ' Edwin ! ' ' cried Barnes. "Yes. Edwin Gerard Anstruther — I love him. He is beautiful like his sister, whom you love." Barnes did not stop to consider how she had learnt of his affair. The awful possibility struggled in his mind. "Great heavens!" The thought staggered him. "If these two should marry, and she should ever know ! ' ' It was after this that affairs advanced so quietly in all directions that Barnes did not attempt to keep track of them. Edwin Anstruther was stationed at Gibraltar, he learnt, and he fondly hoped that the young man would learn to live and die there. ( lount Danella, too, had gone away on some mysterious mission, and Marina had become a bosom friend of his adored Enid. Barnes was jealous of her, he admitted to himself. The Corsican girl's love was so straight and true — a pleasanter thing than her hate, Barnes conjectured. And then the day came when foolish Enid had a try at her fortune in Monte Carlo, and altho Barnes warned her and looked very severe and fatherly, she became carried away and lost a whole gold rouleau, her quarter's allowance. When Barnes heard of the prank, he talked to her more than fatherly, and, with the way of a guilty_ one, Enid flared up, dismissed him and cried herself thru the night. But with the coming of a new day the genuineness of the girl came to the surface, and she sent for Barnes, looking ever so contrite and penitent. And it was at this chastened moment that Barnes took her two hands into his and asked her to be his wife. "And now, Enid," he said, at the close of their stroll in the rose-garden, "I'm going to surprise you. Tomorrow I 'm going to England. ' ' Enid gasped. ' ' Yes, ' ' assured Barnes ; ' ' my traveling wardrobe is worn down to a cane and one necktie. Besides, I have important business." He watched her closely. "By the way, can I find a photograph of your brother in London?" "Yes, at Beechwood — the third in the album." "In two weeks I will return," said Barnes. "It is heartrending." Barnes would never have been so flippant had he known the manner of his coming back to her. A new person came unexpectedly to Nice and innocently laid big hands upon the destinies of Marina, Enid and even distant Barnes. He was no other than Lieutenant Edwin Gerard Anstruther, on leave of absence. The welcome of brother and sister would have warmed the heart of a hermit, but it was not until toward evening that the big moment came to Anstruther. "Walking on the terrace that acts as a sea-wall, his eyes searched seaward toward distant Corsica. Then, slowly turning, he saw her within a few yards of him. "Marina! AUast!" Even the warm, southern girl blushed at the readable depths of his love that starred from his eyes as he came to her.