on the firing line-第32章
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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 herself to meet his eyes。 Then she drew her own eyes away； to give another hasty； appealing glance up into Weldon's paling face。 For him； as for her； the moment was all unexpected。 For him； as for her； there was need of all the reserve strength in life to go through it honorably and without flinching。
Up to that very hour； no thought of Leo Frazer's love had crossed the mind of Ethel Dent。 They had been friends； good comrades； meeting often and always with much pleasure。 She had acknowledged to herself； long since； that he was a man among men； she honored him； admired him； cared for him as she might have cared for an only brother。 Beyond that； she could not go。 Moreover； it had never occurred to her that Captain Frazer could mistake her attitude to himself； could differentiate her light； bright cordiality from the cordiality she showed to other men。 When she had met him first； she had been a mere girl in character and experience； love had had scant place in her girlish dreams。 Later； Weldon had come into her life。 His coming had changed many things for her； but it had made no change in her attitude to the Captain。 She was now； as always； his loyal； admiring friend； no less； no more。 She had supposed that he had felt the same loyal friendship for her。 Too late； she realized her mistake。
〃You must have known it all； Ethel；〃 the Captain was saying steadily； 〃how my whole life has seemed to go into yours。 I have never told you。 I was sure you knew it； without any telling； and I have been waiting until the war was over； before asking you to go home with me； as my wife。 The〃 he caught his breath sharply； 〃the war is over for me now； dearest。 I can't ask you to go home with me； butTell me； Ethel； I have not been mistaken； all these months？ You have cared for me； as I have cared for you？〃 The last words came out with the roundness of tone he had used in health； but there was a weary drag to the hand that drew her hand still nearer to his cheek。 Ethel faltered。 Then； soldier…like； she braced herself to fight to a finish。 It was not her fault that the man had mistaken her friendly； cordial liking for something deeper； infinitely more lasting。 She had never consciously played with him； never sought to win his love。 Blame there was none； it was all only a mistake； albeit a terrible one。 Nevertheless
Desperately she glanced up from the blue eyes； still so wishfully fixed upon her own； up to the drawn； white face of the haggard man on the farther side of the bed。 In that instant； the girl fought madly with herself。 Then her eyes dropped back to the bed once more。 Eternity and time； a final short； comforting word to the one； a long explanation to the other。 The mistake； if mistake there were； had been all of her doing。 Bravely she would take the bitter consequences。 Captain Frazer's day was passing fast。 The night remained for her talk with Weldon。 Her eyes dropped back to the bed； and her hand yielded itself to the pressure of the ice…cold fingers。
〃Yes；〃 she said slowly and so faintly that Weldon； standing breathless； could scarcely hear the words； 〃I have cared for you； as you have cared for me。〃
The fingers tightened over her hand； but the lids drooped heavily above the dark blue eyes。
〃Dearestgirl。〃 Then； smiling to himself； Captain Leo Frazer fell asleep。 The next moment counted itself out by slow seconds。 Then Ethel raised her head and turned to smile drearily up at Weldon。
Instead； she found herself smiling up at an empty wall。 Harvard Weldon had vanished and had left for her no word of farewell。
CHAPTER TWENTY
Up Commissioner Street and down Commissioner Street and around and around Market Square tramped a haggard man in khaki who surveyed all things with dull； unseeing eyes。 On his cheek； an inch or so above his stubbly beard； was a wide cross of plaster； and his left wrist wore a narrow bandage。 He walked with quick； nervous strides； yet every now and then he halted to rest for a moment。 Then he hurried on again； as if pursued by some unseen； but malignant foe。
Twice he turned northward
