The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1883-11-10

through me.
Our journey lasted three weeks.
was worn and exhausted at its close.
The colonel himself met our ambulance
on its arrival.
You have brought your wife2n 1
heard him say in amazed tones, in an
swer to some remarks of Rogers, after
the first greeting. "We will do all we
can to make her comfortable, but it is
very little. Besides"
thHe added something in voice solow
at l failed to catch it.
6, A moment later 1 caught sight of his
i"ce, as Roger lifted me down in his
arms. almost cried out in my sur
prise. His hair, which had been black
as the ravens wing one short year ago,
was almost white. He looked fully
fifty years of age. The sight caused
my fear and resentment to vanish, and
| held out my hand.
won't you welcome me, ColonelP"
l said.
He bowed without seeming to notice
my outstretched hand, murmured some
courteous words of greeting, then turned
away, to give command toaD orderly
z
standing near.
l saw very little of him in the wee ks
that followed, They were weeks full
Of excitement, for the Indians were
constantly molesting us, and fears were
entertained that they were meditating
an attack. Indeed, they had expected
one on the very night of our arrival,
and this was what the Colonel had con-
uded to my husband.
Still, spite of all, was glad to be
here. Away from Roger 1 should have
sickened of suspense. Now / was by
his side to meet and know the worst.
why are not you and Lake better
friendsr" he said to me one day. 81
cannot understand it.n
Nor could explain, now that kept
silence so long; besides, the distrust
was wearing away. Although distant
and reserved, quietly repulsing all my
advances, felt that Colonel Lake
would work Roger no wrong.
Until one morning my sophistries
fled. The Indians had made a sortie.
No one knew their numbers or theiI
strength. 1t was necessary to send out
an advance guard from our little gar,
rison, though each man who went well
knew that he might never return.
At IL O'Clock my husband, to my
amazement, entered my room in full
uniform.
Goodbye, little Bel" he said. "Pray
for my safe return, dear. am ordered
to command the advanced"
"Y on shall not gol' l cried wildly
''It is his revengel Fool that hay,
been to have trusted him."
MY darling, calm yourself. VIVA
do you mean"
"Wait here momentl" / exclaimed
Leaving him transfxed with aston
ishment, flew across to the colonel
room.
He was buckling on his sword as
entered.
You have done this thing" began
you have seen how happy L am, anC
you must convert it into agony. Res
cind your orders-leave me to my hus
bandl l throw myself at your feet, a
your mercy"
f 81 would have spared him if l could
, He is the only officer at the post cap
able of just this attack. L accompan
him, Mrs. Lee. The danger is divided
! and equal for both,"
4 go, If 1t must be, to your deathl
4 answered, cruelty. "You have nj
i right TO drag my husband with you
/ He shall not gol"
! But words were useless, though
fancied, as he turned away, saw q tea
glimmering in his eye,
! Still pleaded, clinging to Rog err
i neck, when he crossed in search of me
At last they tore him from my senst
less form, and when L recovered COZ
q seriousness they were far beyond til
a reach of my Cntreaties, but not M
prayers sent to "a higher throne.
I Punish him, oh Godln / cried,
q my agony, "but spare my husband an
bllng him back tome. He said | shoul
g suffer. All, what was his suffering I
Y this intolerable torture and suspenseY
The day wore slowly on. At nigh
fall, when my brain was bursting, "
n heard the note of u distant bugl
/. Some, at least, of the little band had r.
d turned.
Like white statue, went forth
n meet them. They came slowly, brin
II ing with them some shrouded form
J. Among the latter | knew that L shOu
lind my husband, even as, finding hin
;, | knew should go mad.
W But mol Leading the van he cam
10 sitting ON his horse, though in his ey
# there smiled no welcome, and on b
Il face was a CHASTITY pallor; but L WI
q not widowed wife.
,e threw myself on the neck of Il
horse; / kissed his name, his forehea
n l chung to Roger in my wild joy at Sc
~ ing him again.
~ You are alive-you are aliYep1
10 said over and over.
10 YES" he answered, "but at what
,,n eostl a man to-day has given up i
d life for me-"
Nv He sprang from his horse then, al
~ led me to the litter in the rear. ~
= white, dead face of Colonel Lake look
- up at us both.
~ ''We have killed him, Be-yOu al
~ l." my husband said He was I
noblest man that ever lived"
all And then he told me all the stOI
If He had ridden on little III advance
~. the command, when he suddenly Ii
nb bSSh oulAOuuutu ny lllt lO6s II TX
Nc desperately as he would, he would so
90 have been overpowered, but that I
m colonel had seen his danger.
Squirting his horse ahead of his me
IL he had flown to his rescue, chargi
MT down in the very midst of a shower
~ arrows.
'n at was deed worthy of god
an my husband continued. ~ thOug
ar we were both unhurt, almost mira
- lousy so. We were beating a retire
q, to our command, when one OF the W
NO sayages launched his tOmahawk at
nS breast. The Colonel saw it glitter
~ in the air, and throwing himself befC
me caught the blow. The next min
in we were in safety, but safety gain
" too late. Don't regret it, he ia
rod pressing my hand: Tell her l did
,g no. for her sake. loved her, Roger,
%; boy, | have not cared much for lly