The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1884-11-14

taken. Half dozen others stepped in.
to the road and gathered about the fall.
en- men.
Dead" said one, dropping the hand
of the Captain.
Dead" repeated another, who was
STOPPING over the Major.
"Hsrk, what's that? Come, boys,
let's skedaddle, they're at it already
down by the river"
Slowly consciousness came back to
the Major, consciousness alone, unac-
companied by memory. The room was
family lighted by lamp hidden away
somewhere. There was sound OF
weeping near him, and smothered
voice said:
do you think lie will die?"
II can't tell" replied another voice.
isn't it strange I feel sorry?" asked
the sobbing voice. 81 hated him so
when he was here eating dinner, and
vet 1 can't help crying to save my life.
1t seems SO terrible; and then to think
that Charley shot him. Oh, it's a
dreadful thing to think of ones broth
er having killed q man,"
The major tried to turn his head
toward the speakers who seemed quite
near, when q hand was laid upon his
forehead and another voice said, "Don't
try to move, sir"
"Am I shot?"
Eyes, sir"
"Who brought me here?"
"a couple of men found you in the
road"
where's the csptain?"
Him Is was with you"
"Yes.n
Dead, sir"
Days of lethargy, nights Of delirium.
At last morning, when voice beside
his pillow said:
HE is much better, Rachel, and he
looked up into kind sweet face, which
he seemed family to remember having
seen somewhere before.
Afigure came and stood in the long
open window and locked at him:
aAh? I know" he said with weak
smile, 1.-THE Queen of the Pixies"
"Come in, Puss," said the lady at
his bedside, and the girl drew shyly
nearer,
"Puss!" he repeated; land where is
the white kitten?"
"How did you know I had white
kitten?" she answered. laughing.
"Yes, "he sald, looking at her reminis-
Gently, chat is the way you looked,
when you danced in the hall"
HE is delirous again, " exclaimed the
matron, but Puss laughed and ran out
ofthe room.
Days Of enchantment succeeded, each
more divine than its predecessor. The
bullet, fortunately, had taken itself out,
and, though it had torn an ugly OPEN
ing in dangerous proximity to vital
parts, the simple domestic surgery of
Mrs. Sterling proved equal to every
emergency, and the convalescence met
no serious Interruptions.
Gradually the patient progressed
from an armchair near the window to
a hammock on the southern gallery,
then to a slow promenade under. the
trees.
The tide of war seemed to have rolled
away and left him there in paradise.
Puss-it was the only name he ever
heard her addressed by-sometimes
walked beside him o few moments in
the avenue; sometimes read to him for
u brief half hour on the gallery; but she
was an cratic puss, and seldom staid
long in one spot.
"DQ you still hate me?" he asked one
day, as she paused for moment nea,
where lie sat on the gallery.
"Not SO much, no." she answered
candidly; then with an air of reflection,
"bnt suppose 1 shall whom you are
gone"
what! then I shall not go. Why
should my going renew your hatred p
ooh! I shall only think of you then
as o Yankee"
"And you are bound to hate all
Yankees!" he said with panied look.
"Of course, they are our foes"
II am not your foe."
Mine or my country's, what does il
matter. You will go from here to fight
against us. You may kill my own
brother"
Believe me, 1 would save his life al
Tile Sacflhce OF my own"
"He nearly killed you, and you don't
hate him? 2"
II regard him as my greatest bene-
factor" "She looked at him incredu.
lousy.
"You are funny Yankee" she said,
with her charming, Joyous laugh.
But with fuller strength once more
awoke the suspended senses of duty.
The semi-occasional newspapers sup
plemented by information gathered
from rowing negroes who fuctuated be-
tween the Federal camps and their old
homes had enabled him to follow,
though not very definitely, the course
his regiment up to the Investment OF
Vt Hudson, and when he had positive
80 hat it was among the be.
l'ent sa osslat, cost what it might,
q good, Ian effort to join it. II
that hlorning-the last break
MT !, i oaten. Even Mrs. Stsrl-
felt that she was perform.
= ke'of exalted magnanimity in
and healing q wounded enemy,
QUAD carefully guarded herself
ing deeper interest than was nat.
er The part Of physician toward
/. u, felt little sense of prophetic
len they rose from the table and
t6gether into the hall. As they
y looking ct each other, with the
s3lrd irresolution that precedea
IN. Rachel called Mrs. Sterl-
ITO sosne domestic consultation,
the Najor found himsalf alone With
e y, Nl Il ~ qsusl, hsf lcaneGpup
TT Nlliite Fit y \ \ $500 II,
r = & ~ nv