Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-14


the advance is made"
az hope so, Blunt And now, if you feel ur
to telling it want to hear about your adven.
ture Colonel Somerset asked me to inquire
position of the Kafirs; besides, the whole
camp is wanting to know how you succeeded in
getting Miss Armstrong out of the hands OF
the kafirs l can assure you that there is
There is nothing much to talk about as far
as am concerned, sir, Ronald said. TT was
the Fingoes' doing altogether, and they could
have managed as well, indeed better, without
me-"
Except that they would not have done it,
unless you had been with them"
mo, perhaps not" Ronald admitted, 81
was lucky enough down at Port Elizabeth to
fish out the son of Kreta, the head man of the
party, who had been washed off his feet in the
surf; and twas gratitude for that that induced
him to follow me-"
"Yes we heard about that business from Mr.
Nolan, and although you speak lightly of it, it
was he tells us, a very gallant affair indeed.
But now as to this other matter"
I'm the first place Captain Twentyman, ad-
NIT that going off as did was a great breach
of duty. / can only say that shall be willing,
cheerfully, to submit any penalty the
Colonel may think fit to infict. 1 had
no right whatever to leave my detach-
ment on what was really private busi-
ness; but even if had been certain that
should have been shot as deserter on my re-
turn to the regiment, should not have hesi-
tated in acting as did"
We all understand your feelings Blunt"
Captain Twentyman said, kindly land you
have no need to make yourself uneasy on that
score. To punish a man for acting as you have
done would be as bad as the sea story of the
Captain who fogged seaman, who jumped
overheard to save comrade, for leaving the
ship without orders. Now for your story: all
we have heard is that your FIngo says you car
ried off the young lady from Macomo's kraal,
but, of course. that is not believed"
at is quite true, nevertheless" Ronald said.
"Well, this is how it was, sir" and he gave
full account of the whole adventure.
We'll, congratulate you most heartily"
Captain Twentyman said when he finished; lit
is really wonderful adventures most gal
liant business indeed, and the whole corps, ofh
GERS and men, will be proud of it,
u should be glad, sir, if there could be some
reward given to Kreta and his men; as YOU will
have seen from my story, any credit that there
is in the matter is certainly their due"
Il will see to that" the officer replied. 1.-THE
Fingo desires are, happily, easily satisfied:
good rife, few cows and barrel of whisky
make up his IDEAL of happiness. / think l can
promise you they shall have all these"
In the afternoon Mr.. Armstrong again
dropped off to a quiet Sleep This time he was
not holding his daughters hand, and as soon as
she that he was fairly off she stole out of
the room. and finding The surgeon, asked if he
would take her up to the ward where Sergeant
Blunt was lying.
"Yes, shall be happy to take YOU up at once.
Miss Armstrong. Everything is tidy just at
present, for have had message from Colonel
Somerset that he and the General are coming
round the wards. don't suppose they will be
here for half an hour, SO you can come up at
once"
The sick men in the wards were surprised
when the surgeon entered, accompanied by a
young lady. She passed shyly along between
the rows of beds until she reached that of
Ronald. She put her hand in his, but for a
agitation, and said cheerfuly, Il am heartily
glad, Miss Armstrong, to hear from the doctor |
such good account of your father. As for |
me, / shall not be in his hands many days L |
told you it was mere scratch, and believe |
that goodsized piece of sticking plaster was |
all that was wanted"
You haven't thought me unkind for not
coming to see you before, 1 hope" the girl said, |
"but have not been able till now to leave nv
fathers room for a moment"
Il quite understood that, Miss Armstrong,
and indeed there was no occasion for you to
come to me at all. 1t would have been quite
time enough when was up and about again 1
only wish that it was likely that Mr.. Armstrong
would be on his feet as soon as / shall"
''Oh, be is going on very we'll !" Mary said. II
consider that you have saved his life as well as
mine feel sure that it is only having me with
him again that has made such change in him
as has taken place since yesterday. The doctor
says so, too. have not told him yet how it has
all come about, but hope ere very long he
may be able to thank you for both of us"
You thanked me more than enough yesuer-
day, Miss Armstrong, and | am not going to
listen to any more OF it, As far as can see,
you could not have done me any greater SER
vice than by giving me the opportunity you
have. Everyone seems disposed to take quite
a ridicu Gus view of the matter, and may look
forward to getting troop-sergeantship when
there is vacancy
The girl shook her head. She was too much
in earnest even to pretend to take light view
OF the matter. just at that moment there was
a tramping of horses outside. and the sharp
sound OF the sentries presenting arms
Here is the General" Ronald said with a
smile, land although don't wish to hurry Won
away, Miss Armstrong, think that you had
better go back to your father. l don't know
whether he would approve of lady visitors in
tire hospital"
.Goodby," the girl said, giving him her hand.
= you won let me thank you. but you know"
Il KNOW Ronald replied. "Goodby"
She looked round for the surgeon, who had.
after taking her up to Ronald, moved away for |
J snort distance, but he was gone, having hur-
.iea of to meet the General below, and with a |
asst nod to Ronald, she left the ward. She |
passed out through the door into the court
'ard Just as the group of officers were enter
That is Miss Armstrong" the surgeon said,
What, the girl who was rescued?" Colonel
Somerset said; "a very pretty. lady-likelooking
roung woman. l am not surprised now that |
zee her at this desperate exploit of my SER |
yeant."
No, indeed the General said. smiling. "It's
furious, Colonel, what men will do for a pretty |
ace. Those other two Door creatures who were
;arried off were both murdered and ] don't | ,
suppose that their deaths have greatly dis ,
ressed this young fellow one way or the other.
No doubt he would have been glad to rescue | ,
hem, but imagine that their deaths have not |
n any way caused him to regard his mission as | !
. failure: l suppose that it's human nature,
Colonel"
Colonel Somerset laughed /;
You and would have seen the matter in | ]
he same light when we were youngsters, Gen. i
raj"
The officers went through the wards. stop- ;
'lng several times to speak a few words to the
PATIENTS.
80 this is the deserter" Colonel Somerset
aid, with some assumed sternness as tbey I
topped by Ronald's bedside We'll sir we s
lave had good many of those black rascaIs 8
lesert from our ranks, but you are the first I
White soldier who has deserted since the war I
'egan- OF course, you expect a drumhead | i
ourt martial and shooting as soon as the doc | q
or lets you out of his hands," /
Ronald saw that the old Colonel was not in
arnest. 1
at was very bad. Colonel" he said, "and I r
an only throw myself on your mercy" e
You have done WELL my lad-very well u the | I
'oonel said, laying his hand on his shoulder I
There are some occasions when even military v
Avs give place to questions of humanity and | 2
his was essentially one OF them. You are n
ne fellow, sir; and am proud that you belong I
my corps" h
The General, who had stopped behind sneak K
~ to another patient, now came up. L
'Y ou have done very gallant action Ser @
cant Blunt" he said. Captain Twentyman Il
as reported the circumstances to me: but b
hen you are out of hospital you must come to a
cadquarters and tell me your own story. Will "
on see to this, Colonel Somerset?n a
Certainly, sir l will send him over or u
ather bring him over TO you, as soon as he's il
bout, for should like to hear the whole story 81
So" n
In ten days Ronald Mervyn was about again.
though not yet fit for duty; the wound had b
ealed rapidly. but the surgeon said it would | m
, at least another fortnight before he would
: fit for active service. AS soon as he was | u
Die to go out and sit on the benches in the f:
spital yard, many of his comrades came to Ii