St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-30

colonel himself met our, ambulance on its
arrival.
s'You have brought your wife gu I heard
him say in amazed tones, in answer to
some remarks of Rogers after the first
greeting We will do all we can to max
her comfortable, but it is very little. Be
Sides
He added something in a voice so low that
I failed to catch it.
A moment later caught sight of his face,
as Roger lifted me down in his arms. l al
most cried out in my surprise. His hair,
which had been black as 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 l held
out my hand.
''Won't you welcome me, colonel?"
asked.
He bowed without seeming to notice my
outstretched hand, murmured some courteous
words of greeting and then turned away
to give a command to an orderly standing
near.
I saw very little of him in the weeks that
followed. They were weeks OF excitement,
for the Indians were constantly molesting us,
and fears were entertained that they medi-
tated an attack Indeed, they expected one
on the night of our arrival, and this was
what the colonel had confded to my hus-
band.
Still, in spite of all, was glad to be here.
Away from Roger [ should have sickened OF
suspense. Now was by his side to meet and
know the worst.
ssWhv are not YOU and Lake better friends?"
he said to me one day. II can't understand
it.''
Nor could 1 explain, now that kept silence
so long; besides, the distrust was wearing
away. Although distant and reserved, quiet
ly repulsing all my advances, l felt that Col
onel Lake would work Roger no wrong.
Until one morning my sophistries fed.
The Indians had made sorte. No one
knew their numbers or their strength. 1t
was necessary to send out an advance guard
from our little garrison, though each man
who went well knew that he might never re-
turn.
At II O'Clock, my husband, to my amaze
ment entered the room in full uniform.
''Good-by, little Be!'' he said. ''Pray for
my safe return, dear. | am ordered to COM
mand the advance"
''You shall not go!'' L cried wildly. ''It is
his revenge! Fool that l have been to have
trusted him"
''My darling, calm yourself. What do
you mean?"
ssWait here moment, " exclaimed.
Leaving him transfixed with establishment,
| flew across to the colOnels room.
He was buckling on his sword as / entered.
''You have done this thing" | began;
''you have seen how happy l am, and you
must convert it into agony Rescind your
orders-leave me to my husband! l throw
myself at your feet, at your mercy"
81 would have spared him if could. He
is the only officer at the post capable of just
this attack, / accompany him, Mrs. Lee.
The danger is divided, and equal for both. /"
eco, if it must be, to your DEATH" l an
swered cruelty. "You have no right to drag
my husband with you. He shall not goI'
Words were useless, though l fancied, as
he turned away, L saw tear glimmering in
his eye.
Still 1 pleaded, clinging to Rogers neck,
when he crossed in search of me.
At last they tore him from my senseless
form, and when | recovered consciousness
they were far beyond the reach of my en-
treaties, but not my prayers sent to higher
throne.
'Punish him, Oh Godr" cried in my
agony, ''but spare my husband and bring
him back to me- He said [ should suffer-
All, what was his suffering to this intolerable
torture and SUSPENSE"
The day wore slowly on. At nightfall,
when my brain was bursting, we heard the
note of distant bugle. Some at least, of
the little band had returned
Like white statue I went forth to meet
them. They came slowly, bringing with
them some shrouded forms. Among the
latter knew thai 1 should find my husband,
even as finding him, l knew l should go
mad.
But no! Leading the van he came sitting
on his horse, though in his eyes there
smiled no welcome, and on his face there
was a CHASTITY pallor, but was not widowed
wife.
l threw myself on the neck of the horse;
| kissed his name, his forehead. L chung to
Roger in my wild joy at seeing him again
''You are alive-You are aliven' | said
over and over again.
eyes, he answered, ''but at what cost!
A man to-day has given up his life for me-"
He sprang from his horse then and led me
to the litter in the rear. The white dead face
of Colonel Lake looked up at US both.
ave have killed him, Be-you and /, "
my husband said. ''He was the noblest
man that ever lived"
And then he told me all the story He
had ridden on little in advance of the
command, when he suddenly had been sur
rounded by the foe. Fight desperately as he
would, he would soon have been overpower
ed, but the colonel had seen his danger.
Squirting his horse ahead of his men he had
flown to his rescue, charging down in the
very midst of shower of arrows.
at was deed worthy of a god, P" my hus-
band continued. Though we were both I'M
hurt, almost miraculously SO. We were
beating retreat to our command, when one
of the willy savages launched his tomakawk
at my breast. The colonel saw it glittering
in the air, and throwing himself before me,
caught the blow. The next minute we were
in safety, but safety gained too late. Don't
regret it, he said, pressing my hand. Tell
her did it for her sake. Iloved her, Roger,
my boy have not cared much for living
since; and now-now that have spared her
the suffering l would once have wished her
l am glad to die. Ask her to forgive me
those rash words-I never meant them-and
let her future happiness buy my atonement. "
I have been Rogers wife many happy
years now. He was too noble to reproach
me, though told him all; but through my
happiness mingles ever my hearts self
reproach, and the wonder if, at the judgment
bar of God Gains brand will not be upon my
brow.
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