Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-05-16

veil Oh our pllSnO' lhcy hlSht SShu NO
rcinforcements, and save US. Their
strength is just augmented. TOmOr-
row will be too, late. But who dare
take the message and the risk Of such
u journey"
"Send mer, sir," the soldier said
quietly and without a moments hest
tation, as If it were a message into the
mess-room he proposed taking in
stead of ride for miles across the
country insested by the rebels, and
some portions of it swept by their
guns.
The Major hesitated and looked at
him.
You will do it, Smith, if man can
do it, l believe. You can ride over
anything that. know of-cross-coun-
try at home? All, yes-but l don't
get there the chances are a hundred
TO one Of your returning alive Who
ever undertakes this must do it vOlun-
tarily."
Il volunteer, sir"
Dorothy's dark eyes glanced up with
an unconscious agony of appeal in
their depths, She did not speak, but
her breath came quick and short, and
the soldier turned from that eloquent
| look.
IF get to K, sir, care moth
ing for the rest" he said in firm
steady voice,
IL will write the note and meet you
| here again" the major said, and hur-
ried off.
you will go?"
Dorothy spoke quietly, but her eyes
said what her lips could not frame.
would you have me less brave than
woman-yourself?" was his only
reply.
She dew deep quivering sigh.
don't start till / get back" she
said, and hurried on her rounds.
He was just on the point OF leaving
the barrack-yard when she returned,
breathless, and if possible paler than
before.
"God speed you!" she said solemnly,
placing her little hand for one instant
in his. Il will pray for your safe re-
turn; we can i'll afford to lose such
men as you"
He raised the little hand to his lips,
then pressed it to his heart-that was
ALL just that mute farewell, and then
he was gone-to ride in the very teeth
of death, with the lives OF all his COM
rades probably hanging upon his own.
With anguishel eyes the girl lifted
her face and heart for one moment in
silent, earnest prayer, then she turned
to her work, and compelled herself to
be absorbed in it; and the time went
on, each moment fraught with anxious
fear and dread, and faint half-impossi-
bic hope.
The time went on until n weight like
nothing Dorothy had ever known be-
fore crushed down her brave young
heart. She went restlessly out into
the veranda to listen and watch, and
she saw Major Harvey standing there
looking graver than his won't.
Major Harvey" the girl said gasp
ingly, lido you think there is any
chance now? Would not Smith have
been back before this if"
Yes, fear so. 1t was last chance
and our only one. He may have got
across, however, even if he failed to
get back. Keep up heart, Miss Doro-
thy! things cannot get much worse"
But there was little cheerfulness in
the attempt 10 cheer.
A look came into the lovely dark
eyes which the major could not under
stand.
you think he-Smith-is certainly
kiued?n
Il fear so--we cannot tell; one more
brave life gone-that is all, and our
own turn may come ut any moment"
"Hark! What is that - what is
that?" the girl bounded forward.
A rush, stir, a cheer raised long
and loud, an eager little crowd collect
ing, which opened, however, to let
Dorothy's slender figure speed in and
up TO its central figure-a tall man
alighting from horse and giving u
strained crumpled paper into Ma. or
Harvey's eager hand, who read it as he
stood there, and then cried aloud:
"If we can keep up for two more
days, my friends, we shall be saved!"
Then the cheer broke out again, but
as it rose, Smith just sank down at his
officers feet, and Dorothy's practiced
eye saw the thin red stream filtering
through the torn uniform.
Calm and helpful, Dorothy Beau
champ sood beside the surgeon as she
had stood beside many wounded
man, for she was DIR. Cars right hand
in his labOriols work
With no trace of agitation save the
intense pressure of the earnest lips.
she handed the surgeon his appliances,
and waited for his verdict as he ex-
amined Smiths wound.
"Not fatal" he said brightly. I'VE
shall have him about again in very
short time, Miss Beauchamp; we can
i'll afford TO lose man like this. He
will have the Victoria Cross, | should
say, ii he lives to return home, and
never man deserved it more. Just
give me that linen, Miss Beauchamp;
| will finish his dressing before he re-