Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-10-24

sion of the brain. the door of a rail-
way carriage having violently struck
his head.
The sister, of the ward to which
Dock had been taken shook her head.
81 am afraid for him. poor little man!
He is very thin and delicate to begin
with, It seems. Yes. you can see him
if you like, but he is scarcely con-
scious even now"
Esley made arrangements for Dock
to have private ward, and then went
up to the bed on which the injured boy
was lying.
i So still and white. All that unceas-
ing activity. laughter and fun crushed
out of him as by miracle.
AS the soldier looked silently at the
motionless head on the pillow. a
strange emotion thrilled him, for
there was a Renaissance of another
face in Docks which baffied his re-
membrance to grasp it quite complete
ly. And yet that remembrance was
very strong. although he could not re-
member ever having noticed it before
tonight.
What could it be?
He went home to the Albany, oddly
haunted by it.
The following morning he passed
the Eleusis Theater. and stopped to
look at a life-sized portrait of great
actress exhibited outside. 1t repre-
sented her in the tragic part she was
then playing. and its set look of pale
despair was thrillingly like the beau
tiful woman it represented.
Esley knew her we'll Once he had
had a passing passion for her, which
had subsidized into steady friendship
on her marriage-a change of feeling
in accordance with his character.
Like Rachel, she was known on the
stage only by one name. It was her
second baptismal name, Joyce. and she
| was spoken of by it alone, like the
great French woman.
Now, looking at the portrait, Esley
was suddenly seized by strange
fancy. The artist had suppressed the
lines that gave character to the living
woman's face, and the portrait showed
a younger beauty than was really
hers.
Turning round. he suddenly faced
the actress herself coming into the
| theater.
Looking at my portrait?" she said,
| the sad look of her face lighting up
| with charming smile. ''It is long
time since you have been to see the
| original. When are you coming agains
| My husband told me he met you at the
club the other night, and that you were
| looking ILL"
He regarded her with singular
intentness before he replied: II will
come when you have no other visitors.
I want to see you particularly about
something"
| She knitted her brows prettily te
/ remember her engagements. evil
Tuesday do? At four o'clock? o,
any time here during the third act
when l am not on the stage, you know.
1 am late for rehearsal, 1 must &C
now.'
They parted.
On Sunday morning. Esley arriving
| at the - hospital, encountered a
| shabby figure on the doorstep. and.
| finding himself addressed in a husky
voice, with a strong cockney accent to
boot. looked at the features of the
speaker. 1t was Turtle, with the mos
| woe-begone expression on his prema.
| turely sharpened face. His lips
quivered ominously.
WAS you goin' to see Dock. STRIP
| he asked, jerking his thumb toward
| the windows above them, but avoid.
ing the ColonePs eye.
.'Yes. my lad. have you seen him?'
replied Esley kindly.
Turtle wrestled manfully with rising
sobs before he answered savagely
mo I amt! l arxed to jis' now. and
was told as 1 couldn't see i'm. dispose
they thort / 'adn't no business to want
| to see pal," he added, looking dowr
at the extremely shabby. much-mended
| neither garments which were replaced
weekdays by. his newspaper" uni
| form. The deficiencies of his private
| wardrobe were now painfully apparent
'.rll take you in with me-" sale
Esiey smiling. you're Docks great
chum. aren't you? I've seen you to
gether." F
Turtle nodded sullenly. still smart
ing with wounded pride.
The door was opened by a smar
maid, who instantly admitted the
Colonel. and unwillingly tolerated his
disreputable appendage with cover
looks of scorn. which Turtle repaid by
| glaring defiance behind the Colonies
back. 81 E
On being shown into the private
room where Dock now lay. Esley spoke
aside to the nurse, who shook her head
mournfully.
Turtle sprang toward the bed. re
CARELESS of the strangers present. an6
said hoarsely: ''Dook. l say! Little
'uni'
The dark brown eyes were suddenly
lit up by struggling light of loving
recognition and the pale lips moved
slightly. although they gave no sound
Don't yer know me. DookP It.
yer old pal" and catching Docks THU
hand as it lay loose on the blue cover
lit in the strong grasp of his coarse
red hand, Turtle hurriedly added in 1
whisper: 1--we got some marbles fo1