Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 27, Number 22, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 21 November 1896 — Page 3

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[CONTINUED FROM SECOND PAGE.]

firmly drew her to one side and closed the shade "I have felt in every fiber," said be, "how yon were waiting, watching and agonizing here for news from—from him. There is no news, Helen, except —yon know the man he stabbed—who gave his life for me—ia dead?" "I know," was the shuddering an ewer. "Has he heard? Does ho realize?" "Possibly not. He seems to be sleeping. **ut he will know it soon enough. Helen, do you know this—that tomorrow we must give him up?" "Qive him up?" she asked, unable to comprehend hia meaning and looking

with new dread into his compassionate faoe. "Yea, to the civil authorities. He has—I cannot choose worda now—be has committed murder and must be tried by a civil, not a military, court" "You must give him up," she moaned. "Oh, what can we do—what can we do?" and fearfully she glanced to where Mrs. Farrarwas seated, chatting blithely, even joyously, now with her garrison friends. "Yes," he answered, "and well I know now why you gaze at her. I know all the miserable truth. Ormsby told mo when be came to ask my counsel and my help. He has only left me a short time since. I was pledged to help your husband, Holen, and I am doubly plodgod to help that clear, dear woman's son. I mast protect Roy Jo Farrar to the utmost of my .power but, Helen, in this last half hour, by tho bedside of the brave fellow who gavo his life for me, 1 have lookod lifo and my own soul in the face. I know what I must do and what I cannot da I am not strong enough to play at friendship with the woman I love with all my soul. I can opiy bo your friend by serving you from far away. When what is coming to Roylo Farrar has come, I shall take leavo of absence and go over tho sea. It is goodby between UH now. Tonight I look my last upon tho fuco of Royle Farrar's wife. What? You want me, Will?" ho suddenly turned and asked, for at this momont, throwing back the snow matted hood of his overcoat," Farrar entered and came quiekly to them, unseen by his mother. "Yoa, sir. Tho news of Crow Knife's death ix all over tho garrison, and tho men are fairly mad over it. They won't try lynching, but tho sentries at the guardhouso aro double, front and rear. Groicn is sleeping yet or olso shamming. I don't think ho's too drunk not to realize what would happen if Crow Knife's people got at him." "Then your duty is doubled, lad," was LOIIIO'H low toned answer—"to hold tho prisonor and to protect him too." "I understand," said Will firmly. "Tho man who gets at him tonight, sir, will havo to go through hell first"

And then ho turned to find Kitty standing, smiling in saucy triumph, at his elbow, leaning on tho colonel's arm. Still angered against her and deeply impressed with tho importanco of tho duties devolving upon him, Farrar would havo hastened by them with only brief and ceremonious salutation, when Feu ton stopptni him. "Where did I understand that you were going, sir?" said ho, with mock sovority of manner. "I gave you permission to remain here, sir, and you'd better jump at tho ohanoo. Hero's my nieoo tolling mo that you are engaged to dance with her, and at this moment it seems you are about to leavo the room. Off with that overcoat, or it's your saber

that will come off, sir, in arrest What, slight member of your colonel's household! Lord bless me, sir, it's tantamount to mutiny!" "But,"colonel," responded Farrar impetuously, "the offloer of the day"— "Not another word, sir. Here is your officer of the day, said ho, indicating Kitty, "and you will report for duty instantly.

Irresolute, rejoicing, disappointed and perturbed all iu one, Farrar stood one moment hardly knowing what to do, when Kitty soiiod him by one arm, and Lcnlc, uotlng his embarrassment stepped to his aid. "I am going to the guardhouse, Will, ami I will look after your duties them Have your dance and return nt your convenience. The colonel will let you go after awhile."

And then Kitty resumed her sway. "I sh.in't dance one step with you until you take that dreadful thing off," said she,. indicating his dangling saber and utterly ignoring his protest that, a* officer of the guard, it was an essential part of his uniform awl equipment Her only response was that he was to remember that he was then on duty to her. "Take off that sword, sir, and hurry about it, for there goes the band. And so, uuslinging the heavy weapon, he handed it submissively to his imperious queen, who promptly stowed it away under th wixxien settee against the wall and then, eonrtesying to her partner, indicated to him that at last ho was a

hlii'riv Vo Ml h£

Ami now, smiling, joyous and once ntotv thrilling with mischievous deh» ht *h lx»tv her Bulky pri» across tho room. Kitty came suddenly upon the major, standing mooning and prv-oc-cupni, gazing aj^virently at th«- porfruit of tVUonol Farrar. yet. as was: equally apparent- to the little knot of laughing looker* on. seeing it not at all Kitty wa on the point of accreting and I

-f-l/"W*m TT-.TT1 wayne was lctt to become tne central I I-/ I L| I-/ \j Ij object of interest, while Kitty drew her \J JLt 1 XlxJL X* Xi» deposed officer of the guard to a distant

hnivn^ him to himself but wither e^ially of the cow^iwhii*p«T and gesticulations, Amory, Martin and oth- rs called her to them. "iKni't wake huu." they murmured "IV Aunt Lou have that comfort Sen she's votntng to him now." And. •A what Kitty most wanted at that moment W:»J» an opportunity to restore her interrupt) dominion over ber angered lov. r, and as he was blind and deaf to anything but th^ onnsidcmtKm of hi* own grievances, penotud and official.

deposed officer of the guard corner. Wayne was a study. That he was struggling to recall some important' matter was evident to all who had long known him, and for the time being he was lost to all consciousness of ear rounding sights and sounds and had floated~off into that dreamland of reminiscence in which only he was thorough ly at home. One or two of the ladies who were at the moment resting from the dance stood leaning on the arms of their attendant cavaliers and watching with them the result of Lucietia's tim id yet determined approach. Almost tiptoeing, as though afraid that her noiseless footfall might rudely awaken him, she was stealing to his side, and presently they saw her lay her hand upon his arm and peer trustingly up into his face. Thinking only of him *nu for him, she, too, then, was almost uncon acioua of any observation, kindly and good natared though it was.

Unwilling to interrupt too suddenly the current of his meditations, she hesi tated before speaking. Then, half timidly, she suggested* "You like the pic ture, major?"

Slowly his gaze came down from the flag draped portrait, and through his eyeglasses Wayne benignantly regarded her. Finally his wandering wits return ed, and he aroused himself to a faltering answer to her repeated question. "It makes him look too old," he said. can't bear anything that looks old, don't you know." Then, dimly oonsoious of something he might have put in far happier form, he quickly strove to recall his words. "I—I don't mean women, of course—I like old women. You know I liked you 20 years ago." "You left me to guess it, then," murmured she, vaguely grateful for even this admission and desirous of encouraging avowals even thus late and lukewarm. "Yes," he went on, "you know, if seems to me—wasn't it that last night we danced together at Jefferson barracks? That was every day of 20 years ago."

Ah, well," answeredLuoretia, "yoa know it is so very difficult to reokon from, because that was the 29th of February, and that coming only once in four years, you"— "Ha!" Wayno laughingly interrupted and then suddenly fell back again into his old mooning way. "And yet, you know, thero was something I wanted to ask you that night, and I was so confoundedly absentminded"— "Oh, very, suid sho, "for you mentioned that thero was something you wnnted to ask me, and I'vo boon wondering what )t could bo for 20 years. "Do you know," said he dolightedly, "so have I, so have I." And here ho leaned boamingly over her, and his eyeglasses fell off and dangled at the end of their cord. "It was only tonight," he wont on, "it came to me that it was something conneoted with this ring— my class ring, you know. It's odd 1 can't think what it was. Why, your hand is trembling!" Coyly she upraised it to meet tho coming ring, and then again ho fnlterod. ''I remember, I was holding the ring just liko this when somebody oalled to mo that I'd hotter hurry"— "Yes," sho said breathlevssly. "Indeed you'd better hurry." But he was still wandering in tho past "It seems to mo—oh, they'd sounded officers' civil, and that meant the devil to pay somewhere, don't yon know." But Lucretia was wilting now, despondent again, for still ho wont on: "You know, I fancied until the very next day that I'd left the ring here. And, suiting tho action to the word, he slipped it

on her finger. "And yet the very next day, when I was on soout I found—I found it here, And with that ho again replaoed it on his own finger. Lucretia's face was a sight to soo. There was an instant of silence, and then, failing to not© tho expression of her faoe, looking Into tho dim recesses at the past, he again wandered off. "Of oourse I might bare known I oouldn't have left it on your finger without even seeing -without even seeing if it would fit—without"— And here ho lost the thread of his language entirely, and. groping for his glasses, finding them, distractedly be tried to fit their spring on Lucretia's finger. Fenton, who had joined the group of onlookers, could stand It no longer. Bursting into a roar of laughter, he oame toward them, and, thus interrupted, poor Wayne dropped both hand and eyeglass, madly trying to fit his own ring into his own eye and look through that under the impression that it was a monoole. "What on earth are you people laughing at?" he inquired. "Laughing at? At your trying to 1 make a speotaole hook of Lucretia's hand, yon inspired old lunatic," was

Fen ton's unfeeling answer, and poor LuI cretia, unable to stand the raillery at the moment, turned and fled to the dressI ing room, leaving Wayne to oonfront I bis tormentors as best he might.

But while musio and laughter reigned within the wcodcn walls of the assembly room and many young hearts were

oonression that had RC tiled. upon the garrison earlier in the evening, ana while in some of the barracks there were soundsof merrymaking and Christ

mas cbocr, there was raging in many a Help me out of this—hecre—this night breast a as wild as that that and neither she nor yon will ever"—

whirled the snowdrifts in blinding clouds all around and about tho guardhouse, whetv a xroro of wasont rr jers. silent, grim and by no mciin? in love with their task, were koepir watch and ward owr their httle I

bwn stowed awny an utterly fraxu..

wn*tch who had the upper room. man.

Over across the winn swept parr*.. among the rows of wooden barrels, was one building where uo rang and about which, wary and vigilant three or four noooommissionod officers hovered incessantly. Here were quartered Grow Ktftfe's few remaining mmntdMof tbe In4|aa tzoqpu Here w«are

,-^y^i^r** .f^m

Two of the best and most trustworthy Indians were placed by Leale, with the surgeon's consent, as watchers by the bier of the soldier scout but the others, to a man, were herded within the barracks and forbidden to attempt to set foot outside. Close at hand in the adjoining quarters the men of two troops were held in roadiness, under orders not to take off their belts, against any sudden outbreak, but the few who first had talked of lynching or other summary vengeanoe had soon been hushed to silence. What was feared among the officers was that Graice had been told by some of the guard that the Indians wore determined to have his scalp, and that the soldiery so despised him that he could not rely upon them to defend him. Sergeant Grafton was confident that Graice hoped in some way, by connivance perhaps of members of the guard, to siipf out of the building and take refuge among the outlaws at the groggcry across the stream. Having killed an Indian he had at least some little claim, according to their theory, to a frontiersman's respect

Returning to the guardhouse, as he had promised Will, Malcolm Leale was in nowise surprised at Grafton's anxiety and even less to learn that Graice had begged to be allowed to havo speech with his captain.

It was a ghastly face that peered out from the dim interior'of the little prison in answer to the officer's summons. At sound of footsteps on tho creaking stairway Graice had apparently hidden in the depths of the room and only sJowly oame forward at the sound of the commanding voice he knew. Hangdog and drink sodden as was his look, there was some lingoring, some revival perhaps of the old defiant, disdainful manner he had shown to almost every man at Frayne. Respect his captain as even suoh as he was forced to do, look up to him now as possibly his only hope and salvation, there was yet to his clouded intelleot some warrant for a vague sentiment of superiority.

Outcast, ingrate, drunkard, murderer though he was, he, Private Tom Graice, born Royle Farrar, was legal owner cf all that his oaptain held fairest, dearest most precious in all the world. Leale's love for Helen Daunton was something the whole garrison had seen and seen with hearty sympathy. It would be something to teach this proud and honored officer that ho, the despised and criminal tough, was, after all, a man to be envied as the husband of the woman his captain oould now only vainly and hopelessly lova It was hia plan to bargain with him, to invoke his aid, to tempt the honor of a soldier and a gentleman, bat for a moment, at sight of that stern, sad faoe, he stood abashed.

You wished to see me," said Leale, "and I will hear you now." "I've got that to say I want no other man to know," was the reply after an interval of a few seconds, "and I want your word cf honor that you will hold it sacred." "I declino any promise whatever. What do you wish to say?" "Well, what I have to tell you interests you more than any man on earth, Oaptain Leale. I'm in hell here I'm at your mercy perhaps. My life is threatened by these bounds, because by aocident that knife went into that blind fool's vitals. It was only self defense. I didn't mean to hurt him." "Na I was the object, I clearly understand, said Leale. "Go on."

Well, it's as man to man I want to •peak. You know J. never meant to harm him. You can give me a chance for justice, for life, and I—I can make it worth your while." "That will do," was the stem response. "No more on that head. What else have you to ask or say?"

Listen one minute" ole&led the prisoner. "They'd kill me~nere it tney oould get me, quick enough—Indians or troopers either. I must be helped away. I know your secret You love my wife.

"Silence, you bound! Slink back to your blanket where you belong. I thank God my friend, your father, never lived to know the depths of your disgrace! Not a word!" be forbade, with uplifted hand, as tbe miserable fellow strove once more to make himself beard. "For the sakethe name to which ytm have brought only shame yon shall be protected against Indian vengeance, but who shall defend you against yourself? I will bear no more from yoa. Tomorrow yoa may see your colonel, if that will do you any good, but if yet bav* one Atom of decency left, tell no man living that you are Royle Farrar," and with that, r. tig at heart, yet odd and atera. theofU**. heedless of further

TERRE HAUTE SATURDAY EVENING MATT., NOVEMBER 21, 1896.

gathered already a dozen of hidldndred from Big Road's transplanted village, forbidden by the fury of the storm to return to their tepees up the valley, ban iahed by the surgeon from the confines of the hospital, where they would fain have set up their mournful death song to the distraction of the patients and refused by the colonel the creature com forts they had promptly and thriftily demanded, except on condition that they consume them in quiet and decorum at the Indian barracks and deny them selves the luxury of their woe. Tomtom and bowl were stilled, therefore, while the funeral baked meats went from hand to mouth and disappeared with marvel ou8 rapidity, and indeed but for its ex citing effect upon the warriors the colc nel might as well have accorded them the right to lament after their own fashion, since the howling of the tem pests would have drowned all human wail from within the wooden walls. But while they had promised to hold no aboriginal ceremony over Crow Knife' death and meant to keep their word they had refused to pledge themselves to attempt no vengeanoe on his elayer. Well they knew that throughout the garrison nine out of ten of the troopers would have cared not a sou had some one taken Graioe from the guardhouse and strung him up to the old flagstaff without benefit of olergy, but this would not have satisfied Indian ideas, hang ing according to their creed being far too good for him.

rrantic pleas, turnecT and left the spot But at the porch the captain turned again. Wind and snow were driving across his path. The sentries at the front and flank of the guardhouse, muffled to their very eyes, staggered against the foroe of the gala It seemed cruelty to keep honest men on post a night FI wild as that for no other reason than to protect the life of a man so criminal The members of the guard, who had rt sumed their lounge around the redbot Btove the moment the captain disappeared, once more sprang to attention as he re-entered and oalled the sergeant tc him "lam tempted to ask the officer ol the day to relieve those sentries and let Na 1 come up into the hallway," sa?d he. "I believe that with the watch we have on the Indians, there is no possi bility of an outbreak on their part" "Thereisn't sir," was the sergeant' prompt reply. "But every man in the garrison knows by this time that it was the captain that blackguard aimed tc kill, and it is not the Indians alone that would do him if they could. I find that whenever I have had to leave the gnard house some of the men have talked load for him to hear, swearing that he would be taken out and hanged at day break. Others want to tempt him to trto escape, so that they can pursue hin over to town and hammer him into a jelly there. The tower is the only place where he can be unmolested, sir. oouldn't guarantee hia safety from some kind of assault, even if I had him right here in the guardroom."

And just then a corporal came from the little oftloe. Sergeant, it's 10:25. Shall I form my relief?"

The sergeant nodded assent "I'll inspeot it in the guardroom," said he, and as Leale turned shortly away, intending to go in search of the officer of the day and the sergeant opened the door to let him out Graice could be heard on the upper floor, savagely kicking again at his bars. "That man has more gall than any man I ever met, sir," said Grafton. 'He's kicking beoause we refused to send to the barracks for his share of the Christmas cigars." "Did-you search him before he was sent up there?" asked Leale. "Has he matches or tobacco?" "Nothing I could find, sir, but other and sharper men have been confined there, and I'm told that Bomewhere under the floor or inside the walls they'v hidden things, and he's hand in glove with all the toughs of the garrison.'' "Very well. I'll notify Captain Farwell," said Leale briefly, "and he will attend to it," and he left the building on this quest just as the second relief oame tramping out into tho storm, loaving the guardhouse, its few minor prisoners on tuo lower floor and that one execrated oriminal.his old oolonel's.flrstborn and once beloved son, cursing at his captors in the tower, all to the care of the members of a single relief, ard the sentry on No. 1 set up his wat cry against tho howl of the wind, and one a dozen yards away oould have heard, nor did it pass around the ohai'i of sentries, nor was there other attempt to call off the hour that memorable night For long days after men recalled the fact that the last hour oalled from under the old guardhouse porch was half past 10 o'clock.

Meantime, having bad two dances with his now pleading and repentant sweetheart and having been cajoled irto at least partial forgiveness, Will Farrar had sought his colonel to say that he really ought now to return to his guard, at least for a little time, but Fen ton, oonscious of tbe shadow that had overspread the garrison earlier in the evening, seemed bent on being joviality itself.

He bade the boy return to his immediate commanding officer and obtain her consent before again coming to him, and Kitty flatly refused. She was danoing with Martin at the moment and that left Will to his own devioes, and, alter a fond word or two from his mother, he had stepped back of the seat occupied by her little circle of ohosen friends and was standing watching tho animated scene before him. Olose at band, not a dozen feet away, stood Helen Daunton, partially screened from observation of the dancers. It was at th:* moment* that Leale again oame striding in, glanced quickly around until he caught Will's eye, and the young officer promptly joined him. "Is Farwell here?*' be asked "He came in a moment ago. Tender he is now, sir," answered Will, indicating by a nod tbe figure of tbe offloer of the day in conversation with some one of tbe guests at the other end of the room. "Then ask him if he will join me in fire minutes at tbe guardhouse. I need to see him," said Leale, and tbe youngster sped promptly on his mission.

The music had just sounded the signal for the forming of the sets for tfa» lancers, and with soldierly promptitude the officers, with their partners, began taking their positions. Floor managers have little labor at a garrison hop. Ellis Farrar, who had reappeared upon the arm of Oaptain Vinton, mutely bowed her head and accepted OrmsJiy's has

as he led her opposite Will and his no# radiant Kitty, and Maloolm Leale, halting at the screened threshold before taking his departure, turned for one lorq look at Helen Daunton'8 face. Some

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intense fascination had drawn her once more to the east window, and there, as the dancers formed, alone, almost unnoticed, she slowly turned and her eyes met his. One last, long, intense gaze and, in one impulsive movement, as though he road in hex glorious eyes tbe kindling light of a love that matched his own, he would have sprung to her side, but, with sudden recollection of tbe barrier oetween them, he gathered himself, lifted his hand in gesture of farewell and turned abruptly away. The musio crashed into the opening bars of the lancers and the dance began.

For a moment longer Helen stood there. Again that powerful fascination seemed to lure her to draw aside tho curtain and gaze forth across the white expanse of the parade to where the guarded prison stood, within whose walls was caged the savage creature whose life was linked so closoly with those of many thero besides her own. Then the thought of that other, th man whose love, all unwittingly, she had won and the fear that, glancing back, he might see her shadow as when be came, caused her to draw hastily away. In all that gay and animated scene, as onre more she faced the merry throng, Helen Daunton stood alone. The dance went blithely on. Chat and laughter and the gliding, rhythmic steps of m«*ny feet mingled with the spirited musio of Fort Frcyne's capitai orchestra. Even Mrs. Farrar's sweet faoe, so long shadowed by sorrow, boomed with the reflected light of the gladness that shone on many another. Longing to be alone with her misery, Helen turned to soek the seclusion of the dressing room and had almost reach* its threshold, when, over or

through

strains of tba lancers and the howl of the wind without there came some

W{ Ipc-'^Jt

tre

Strang'

sound that gave her pause. Somewhero out upon the parade she heard the distant muffled crack of the cavalry carbine. Another, another farther away, and then, mingling with them, a hoarse, low murmur as of mai »r voices and of commands indistinguishable through the gale. Louder grew tho clamor, nearer camo the sounds then tho added rush of many feet in tho adjoining barracks of troop, the quick, stirring peal of trumpet sounding some unfamiliar call. Overstrained and excited as were her nerves, fearing foi him against whom the wrath of the garrison was roused, she could only cc~nect tho sounds of alarm and confusion with him and his haplos3 f^lo. Si., started forward to call the colonel's attention, for among the dancers the sound was still unheard

Again tho shots and shouts, tho rush of hurrying feet on the broad veranda without Again and nearer, quick and imperative, the thrilling trumpet caii. Then, close at hand the loTid bang of tho sentry's carbine and the stentorian shout of "Fire!" And then, just as the music abruptly ceasod in response to tho colonel's signal, bursting in at the door, followed by a couplo of troopers, oame Rorke, rutihing for a ladder that had been in use during the day. "It's that madman, Graice, sorr!" ho cried in answer to the look in his commander's face. "He's fired tho tower, and he's bnrniii to death."

Springing to the window, Helen Daunton dashed aside tho curtain, and, all one glare of flame, tho gtsardhcr.ro burst upon tho view. A black ladder, silhouetted against the blasse, was being raised at tho instant the curtain fcil from her nerveless hand. Will seized his cap, made one leap to tho defer, despite Kitty's frantic effort to seize him then, missing his saber, whirled about and rushed from point to point in search of it Divining his object, the girl threw herself in front of the settee, behind which she bad concealed it, and, when be sought to reach around her, desperately, determinedly fought him off. Seising a cap, the colonel vanished into the night Throwing over his shoulders the first mantle he oould lay his hands on, which happened to bo Lucretia's, Wavne followed bis leadat Will. &*>•

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layea and maddened, only succeeded in capturing his saber by forcibly lifting Batty out of the way then be sprang to the doorway to join the men hurrying from distant points to the scene. Ormstoo, had rushed after the colonel, and only women were left upon tho floor. These, horror stricken, yet fascinated, had gathered about the eastward window, where Helen Daunton crouched, unable to look again upon tho frightful spectacle. It was Ellis who hurled aside the curtain, just as old Rorke, re-entering, sprang to the middle of the hall. "Come away, ma'am I Forthelovoof God, miss, stand clear of that window The poor divil's climbed to tho top, and the cannon powdher's in the tower."

With a moan of despair, Helen burst through the group and toward the open doorway, as though she herself would hie to tbe rescue. Rorke, with one leap, regained the threshold and thrust her back. "My God, can no one save him?" she cried. "Save him, ma'am! It's sure death to the man that dares to try it Any moment it may blow up. They're rushin clear of it now. The oolonel's ordered them all back. Nol God of hivin, some one's climbin the ladder now I It's Captain Leale! Oh, don't let him, men! Dhrive him back! Oh, what use is it? Did man ever live that oould turn Maloolm Leale from the duty he deemed hia ownf" And away rushed poor Terry. Ellis sprang to her mother's side just as, to the aooompaniment of a shriek from Kitty's lips, there oame a dull roar, followed by a sodden thud and crash of falling timbers and the hoarse shouts of excited men. An instant later, Ormsby, nearly breathless, leaped in at tho dooc. "They'll Lave to bring him in here. Lealo would havo saved him if be had not jumped. Ellis, your mother must not see his face. Take her into the dressing room.'' "And why?" cried Ellis. "The lives of our best and bravest havo been risked to save that worthless life? This is no place for him. He shall not bo brought hero." "Hush," said Ormsby in a low, intense tone. "In God's name, Ellis, hush! The man on that litter is your mother's son, your own brother, Roylo Farrar. Th is tho secret I was guarding for Helen Daunton, your brother's wife,"

A momcn* later as the women gathered about Mr,5. Farrar, obedient to Ormsby's murmured injunction to keep her from seoing tho face of the dying man lest it provo too severe a shook to her weakened hoarr, the men, camo solemnly, hearing a stretche*", on which lay tho blanket covorcd form, followed by a silent group of oflicors. The doctor simply touched tho wrist, gavo cno glance into tho scorched and blistered face, shook his h°ad and drew the blanket Kitty, sobbing, clung to Willy's arm, theii quarrel forgotten. Helen, who had thrown herself almost hysterioaJly upon her knees at the strotoher's

Bide,

turned

in added terror at tbe words of the oolonel, "Another patient, doctor," for at the instant supported by Wayne and others, Malcolm Leale wus led within tho doorway, a handkerchief pressed to his eyes. "He got the full flash of that explosion in his faoe,'' murmured the ohT soldier as the doctor met them. Then, in the solemn presenoe of doath, in th. hush and silence of the throng, Mrs. Farrar stepped forward and laid her white hand gently, reverently upon tho lifeless breast 'Reckless and hardened he may have been," she said, "but somewhere, somewhero, I know a mother's heart in yearning over him and a mother's lips are praying lor tho boy sho loves."

And so it happened that only one or two could hear the single, whispered word with which the doctor turned to his commander after one brief look into Malcolm's eyes. "Blind!"

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