Daily Kennebec journal., 1884-03-26
Haisffllarreuns.
fuE fRrE r.IEyD LOST.
6co.tinuued from yesterday. }

arrival.
"You have brought your wife ?"
heard him say in amazed tones. in answer
4 to some remarks of Rogers after the first
greeting. We will do all we can to make
her comfortable. but it is very little. Be-
/ sides"
He added something in voice so low
that failed to catch it.
/ A moment later / caught sight of his
face, as Roger lifted me down in his arms.
| almost cried out in my surprise. His
hair. which had been as 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 held out my hand.
Won't you welcome me, colonel ?'
asked.
/ He bowed, without seeming to notice
nv outstretched hand, murmured some
courteous words of greeting, and then
turned away to give a command to an
orderly standing near.
| saw very little of him in the weeks
that followed They were weeks of ex-
citement, for the Indians were constantly
molesting US, and fears were entertained
that they meditated an attack. Indeed,
they expected one on the night of our
arrival, and this was what the colonel had
confided to my husband.
Still in spite OF all, / was glad to be
here Away from Roger l should have
sickened of suspense. Nor was | by his
side to meet and know the worst.
! "Why are not you and Lake better
| friends?" he said to me one day. Il
can't understand it."
Nor could explain, now that l kept
silence so long: besides. the distrust was
wearing away Although distant and re-
served. quietly repulsing all my advances,
felt that Colonel Lake would work Roger
no wrong.
Until one morning my sophistries fled.
The Indians had made sortie. 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 return.
At IL O'Clock. my husband. to my
amazement entered my room in full uni
| form
..Good-by, little Be'' he said '.Pray
for my safe return. dear. | am ordered
to command the advance"
You shall not go!' cried wildly. ut
! is his revenge! Fool that have been to
have trusted him."
My darling, calm yourself. What do
you meanP"
"Wait here a moment" | exclaimed.
Leaving him transfixed with astonish-
ment, | flew across to the ColOnePs
room.
He was bucklng on his sword as l
entered.
"You have done this thing" l began
'you have seen how happy 1 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, 1 accompany him, Mrs.
Lee. The danger is divided, and equal for
both"
go. if it must be, to your DEATH"
answered, cruelty. "Yeu have no right
to drag my husband with you. He shall
not go!''
Words were useless, though fancied,
as he turned away, saw tear glimmer-
ing in his eye.
Still l pleaded, clinging to Rogers
At last they tore him from my senseless
/ lOl III anu Wutu ICCOsCICu uCOHSClOuSuCSS
they were far beyond the reach of my en-
treaties. but not my prayers sent to a
higher throne.
agony, "but spare my husband and bring
him back to me. He said should suffer.
All, what was his suffering to this intoler-
able torture and suspense P''
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 a white statue went forth to meet
them. They came slowly. bringing with
them some shrouded forms Among the
latter knew that l should find my hus-
band. even as finding him knew I should
60 mad.
But no. Leading the van he came sit
ting on his horse, though IN his eyes there
smiled no welcome, and on his face was
a CHASTITY pallor, but was not widowed
wife.
I threw myself on the neck of the
horse; kissed his name, his forehead,
clung to Roger in my wild Joy at seeing
him again.
"You are alive-you are alive!" l said
over and over again.
Yes" he answered, "but q, what a
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
I'VE have killed him, Be-you and l, ~
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
surrounded by the foe. Fight desperately
as he would. he would soon have been
overpowered. but the colonel has seen
his danger.
Spurring his horse ahead of his men he
had flown to his rescue. charging down in
the very midst of shower of arrows.
1T was deed worthy of q god," nv
husband continued. Though we were
both unhurt. almost miraculously so. We
were beating retreat to our command,
when one of the willy savages launched
his tomahawk 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