The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1888-11-30

returned. Hut you must go-soon. Acou
while an strong He known nll-knovs
that love you; but you must promisc -
70 speak % this 70 him. and 20 protect hIm'
for you know no 4 your fathers son. ~
almost your brother. Promise ma. Edrnr
promise me BY this klsG"
And no had klssod her. and given ~.
promise And for year he had kept i
hut oven o. his battle was fought .na
won the Captain remembered the duty THAI
lay before hIm-s duty that must be- cnr.
ried out ~ any hazard, that OF uwakcnIn,
tho army 70 = sense Of the approaching
peril. He placed the Lty on tho cruppcr ln
front Of him. mounted. and rode away.
He had no knowledge Of his whereabouts
now, and his bodily pain was almost too
great for him 10 care. Hc could only truxs
blindly 70 the instinct Of tho noble animal
that bore him. An. what torture II waxI
Even tho slight excrtlon necessary n hold
the boy In his place entailei incessans
pain.
And II only hc would still that inccs.
SAINT cry: "virginia! virginia." II was
worse than death TO tho man who was
compelled 10 listen.
In nm -FOUR they came 20 the river ana
on its brink the brave horse stumbled and
fell. She could bear her double burden
no further.
A BY a miracle. tiny skin lay rock.
ing At the waters edge. II was Il DAINTY
craft. cushioned and gaiiy painted. Az
was, no doubt, the toy Of some pc,,el
damsel whose family had long since na
the ncighborhood Into the boat the a.,
tain lifted the boy. and hoatei with him
out into the stream.
Tho cool, sweet air revived him. He A.
most gained consciousness.
Edgar he murmurcd, brokcnly, ''what
does IL all mcanw
: 1t means." said the Captain. bitterly.
"that have been a fool once m IRE, and
saved your life again"
The boys pale cheek flushed He WIS
quite conscious now. II all came back 70
him-thc Thanksgiving dinner OF the home
ward-bound scouting party; the skirmish.
and those terrible wounds. the fii2ht-ah.
yes, and he had also . dim remembrance
Of cooling bandagc placed on his hca -
aye. and by the hand OF the man whom he
had dealt q blow bittcrer than death.
whose happiness on earth he had killed
with a lie.
Edgar" he snid. softly. ignoring mill.
tary discipline In the intensity or the mo-
ment, "you loved her. did you notr'
"Silence." Numbered the Captain,
" Breathe her name to me. and, BY heav-
ems! brother Of mine Is you are, will nix
this boat and end your life and mine.
Love HERR he added. ficrccly, "aya. love
her 30 well that IL would be the sweetest
balm on earth for mo 70 know that you
were dead.''
The wounded boy covered back into tho
storm sheets. his face very white and wan
Ia the fast-breaking dawn. Then there was
silence between them, while the DO
drfted slowly down tho stream towards
the sleeping army-and to safety.
Slowly the Captains great tired head
dropped lower, lower, until II rested upon
his knees. Then he turned about and
stretched himself out upon the bottom Of
the boat. his massive limbs acrcss tho
thwart Unconsciously his head, with its
weight Of damp curl<. rested upon the
knees OF his half brother: and he slept 50.
almost In the arms Of the man he hated
Onward, ever onward upon tho placid
bosom OF the stream drfted the boat
The boy sat there still, calm. watching
for the lights. All! they twinxlcd through
the trees. Tho army was close BY Their
peril was ended Only hals-milc moro
and then lifc- Virginia
In the light Of the early morning tho
smoke OF the camp-hrcs was ascending in
cddying circles TO the sky. ali flushed