The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1889-05-11
whether the grooms that follow us may no,
have seen that kiss!'

whether the grooms that follow us may not
have seen that kissl'
She was cool, calculating and reasoned ad
mirably. As for me, tho blood rushed through
my veins like liquid fire, and my heart palpi
tated to an almost painful extent.
"Jack," she said, once more, "it is for to-
night. He knows it; he has told me So We
must fly together"
am not Il coward. To make love to an.
other man ; vic is one thing,::to run away
with her another. but to desert ones colors,
to desert ones brother officer, to leave him to
certain death in the hour of his need, and at
the same time to run away with his wife, isa
piece of villainy too monstrous for tho mind
OF any man to conceive or execute
explained, argued, pleaded for time,
swore that loved her; told her that by an
kct such as this should become an outcast.
All to no purpose.
"lf you love me, Jack, she said, ''surcly
you would not have me handed over to the
tender nlercleS of wretcheS such as thoseT
And with her little cutting whip she intli
Gated the two native groonis
Her kiss was burning on my lips. but was
not the man to desert my colorS in the hour
of danger under the excuse of an intrigue
| said to her:
It's had business, Rosa. it seems to me lie
ought to put you in safety, somehow or an
other"
Jack" she said, with savage detcrmina-
ton. I'll give him n chance He can save
me tonight. if he will 1t is only n four
hours ride, after all But promise me ono
thing. Jack, if he should refuse YOU will
save me You can he back before dawn, to
he butchcred here with him. since you pre-
fer it"
shook my head.
'Do you refuse me still" she cried. Then,
by heavens" she screamed, as she shook her
little fist at the blue sky, IN so by myself,
for you are both of you towards, YOU would
be palallns."
did not answer her, but woman like she
pcStered me into making her a promise.
agreed that her horse and the colonel's should
be brought round, as if for Il moonlight
ride, after dinner Then, and not till then,
did her tears, her pteous tears. cease to flow
''Forsive me. dear old Jack" She said; 81
knew you would save me after ALL
Ah me! did savo her, but nj what pricci
Dinner was over, and wo stood in the COM
pound outside tho mess room the majo his
wife and |. Some sort of attempt at floral
ornament bad been made in the so called gar.
den by a few rows of stranonium plants,
whose largo white flowers. which open only
at night. gave their heavy perfume TO the
tepid air. We smoked our "Trchys," better
ones than they gavo us here tSal Fowler,
with sigh Then there was n horrid scene
between the pair, She implored him on her
knees, in the dust, as woman might plead
with an eXccutioner for her wretched life
but she did not move the major
My dear he said grimly. ''you didn't
marry me for my good looks; you married
me, Rosa, for my position My position, my
dear. has its duties, and one of them is t.
take my chance of death in this hole My
wife has thrown in her lot with me tax.
1t that that's So. Fowler" said tho ma jor
turning to me
Il could run across with her, if you liked
you know, as far as Murghab. it's onl,
twenty-five miles, and the roads are good. "
Now, at Muratab was Il large cantonm N,
-Enslsh families. ladies' and children an
what wa, more important, all English rrgi
nirnt and some guns.
Fowler said the major Il can trus
you. my boy hu, | can't ,rus, her. She |
have to stay and take her chance with Tin,
old man, after all /"
81" that there was no use arguing witt
shame him int" it. | left the par sin. plead
| lng and entreatima. hut the man wa, not 1,
| he moved.
| From til" re:,llncntal lines came the sound
"i nltsl" and song but the men were les
| noisy than usual. and. to my mind. tina
| bodied mischief,
| had made her promise. suppose il
was her OILY chance of escape If the ina iol
n tn bnr IsI,,. I,,I
to Mursli;,h $" much the better for her anc
1t could do hl!n no harm. for at the pass 81,
We're, scandal even the scandal of an Indian
station, was dead OF course he coudn'
leave, but he might easily have sent her of
with Il sergeants guard he could do it thi
| very night even. If he chose But he didn't
| 10 my niinl he knew that things had COM
,oa crisis, and | felt that he had treatc,
me badly IN not taking nj" into his confidence
But why should he have done sof Pcrhap
| he looked on meas his wife's lover so was
IN one sensc Perhaps he thought he wa
revengin5 himself on us both in booming IL
to u certain uud horrld death. so pondcret
as | entered the mess tent Not q servant il
the place
Perhaps was too late, after all | ran on
of the mess tent. as did SO. came upol
my own syre-l little old man, who had bccl
with me since my griffin days He hat
nothing to do with tho regiment, and coulc
trust him, for Lc had been my confidant il
many a stable secret, my trainer for many al
| up country race, the man had never yet solo
me. aud he would not, felt, betray me now
Mortazza,' said 1, saddle my horse ant
the Mem Sahib's, and bring them round t.
the front Of the mess tent at once. Rum.
SAID, as the man hesitated
| He disappeared without u word
| As returned through the mess tent fc
that mischief was brewing. The songs in thu
nr> had ceased, and ! heard u portcntou
| hum of confused voices There was no doub
;snout the matter But my rage against tn,
| men whom felt III u few minutes would b
III open mutiny. was as nothing to my indig
nation agalMt the major for deliberately sac
riiicing his wife and not taking me into hi
confidence.
Major cried as joined the pair
there's something serious on foot: there
| not soul i'll the mess tent"
He calmly looked at his watch, and smiled
| AS he did 50 the sound of clattcrlng hoof
fell opon our ears, and Mortazza, riding my
horse and leading Mrs. Cross Gulf Arab
suddenly appeared.
Light as bird, Rosa sprang into the sad
| die. AT that moment the report of u singl,
musket rang in our ears, and shouts and cries
with the noise of u struggle, wero heart
| from the lines.
Take my horse major!n cried, as urget
| him 10 mount.
| We We're both armed drew my revol
yer, and forced it into Rosa's hand.
Ride said, 81 will take their attention
OFF. Get her away, Cross"
| But the major never mounted.
My place is here he said, as he loosenet
| his sword in its scabbard His hand nevcl
| left her bride rein
y confused mass of armed men made theiI
appearance, shrieking and shouting, in the
| lighted circle on the further side OF the mes
tent.
Save me. jack cried the majors wife
as she gave her horse the spur. The ANNA
plunged frantically, but tae major held hin
fast.
Mount, you fool!' cried, in my rage alle
| excitement.
With his dscngagei hand the major strucl
,i,r