Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1890-06-06

Ii took the letter and deliberately tore 1t
into fragments. throwing the bits to the wind
from the porch Miss Clara, be exclaim-
ed exoitedly, L know all want 10 know
you. Yon are doing your duty as yon see
il, ike brave hearted woman, for your
side: leave NE to do mine, as a gentleman,
for mine
She looked at him earnestly. hall in
surprise and half in tenderness, and said
IN an undeTtone, as if speaking to herself,
Ny task grows harder than | thought
for" Then she added. offering her hand.
% Let Us be as kind to each other as We
can"
The day after this strange interview she
insisted upon their daily ride, although
the rain came down at intervals in tor
rents. Ellersley demonstrated but she
laughed, saying, I'VE are soldiers, you
know, aud must not be cowed by little
rain"
They started, followed by Corporal Bang,
and after an hours riding gained the sum
init Of the mountain, along which the road
ran for mile or more comparatively level.
and then She cried; "Now for my last
race, and started on the run Bob fol-
lowed as well as he could, and while lum-
bering along, the girl rapidly gaining upon
linn. be remembered that at the erd of
miic the road sIoped down gradually 10
the river and also remembered a gully,
along which ran a path dangerous for a
horse. but that cut off half the distance to
the point where the main road touch ed
the stream. Instinctively he plunged
down the deep declivity. Fortunately his
horse, though slow, was sure footed. and
in few minutes he gained the bank he
gained this Just in time to see his fair fug-
tive enter light boat and push into the
stream. He was below the where she cm-
barked, and saw before she could get hold
of the oars that the boat, caught in the
swift stream, was floating down to where
a large rec, nearly level with the water,
leaned over the stream. She would pass
under this, and running out he swung
down, catching limb with his knee, and
caught the skitf with his right hand. At
that instan t the sharp crack of rifle rung
out from the opposite shore, and Bob fell
wounded into the boat.
His weight nearly upset the frail craft,
but it righted, whirled around, and the
next instant the girl pulled it to shore
Leaping to the bank she beached the boat
half its length, and then reaching him said
Are you much hurtl'
Il believe So" he answered, as half
crawling, he worked his way out and fell
upon tie ground. second shot from the
same quarter struck the ground within an
inch OF his body.
throwing herself upon him, IF he kills
you, he must kill me-"
Poor Bob gave a grateful look and a
weak smile in return for this act of devo.
ton. At that instant the clatter of a
horses hoofs We're heard upon the pike.
Corporal Bang appeared. Taking in the
situation at a glance, he diSmounted, push
ed the girl to one side, and picking up Ell
lerSley as he would a child, carried him
round the bend of the road, that made a
shelter from further shots. Placing the
Lieutenant tenderly upon the grass he ask
ed:
"Are you hit bad, Lieut. enant9'
bad enough, Corporal" he gasped and
then added, water"
Clara started hurriedly to the river. AS
she approached the brink she took the
beautiful leather sack Bob had SO often
eyed suspiciously from her belt, opened it,
drew out package of papers, threw them
into the stream, and then STOPPING, filled
the sack with water. When she returned
Bang was cutting the blouse from the boy s
shoulder, exhibiting wound not larger
than pea from which the blood spurted
ly tainted, but rallying, administered the
draught to his eager lips.
Again the girl hurried away. Throwing
off her riding dress she took her linen
underskirt, tore it into strips, and, without
waiting to put on her dress, handed them
tn Bang. and then assisted him in binding
up the wound. She presented strange
sight to the two men, in her short skirt, for
the collar and linen cover were displaced,
and the white column of neck and snowy
precipiee of shoulder were exposed. She
did not seem to be aware of her exposure,
and started, blushing crimson, when Bang
said
Vow, miss, get on your toggery aud sit
here while 90 for an ambulance. Give
him sip Of this times along he con-
tinued handing her his canteen that SEEM
ed full of commisSary whiskey. Chan
cell0r, as the best horse of the three, he
mounted, without waiting to change
saddles, and rode off at gallop.
The girl, once more in her riding habit,
seated herself and putting her arms about
the wounded man, drew his head upon her
shoulder, like a little mother, all care and
tenderness. The storm had passed, the
sun came out above the mountains, warm
and bright, and the mocking bird in the
cedars near poured out its flood of joyous
melody. The poor boys passion found
utterance at last, and, in words made
eloquent by gasps and pauses, he told his
love. She listened in silence, responding
only in tighter grasps. and sobs she could
not repress.
Her heart, in a strange agony of grief,
was communing with itself She found in
this sad event a revelation and revolu-
declaration from the one she had courted
and intended playing upon. And up
through the new-found love in her heart
came the cry, You have murdered him"
A long silence followed, and Bob, feel
ing the hot tears falling on his brow, tried
to smother down the groans the fierce pain
wrung from him, and looked up with an
expression of loving tenderness no words
could express. She saw his increased pale
ness, heard his shortened breathings, and |
clasping him to her she said:
"Ob! Mr.. Ellersley-Oh! Bob, don't die
1t is killing me-"
Vain appeal Deaths higher claim was
closing in upon his heart. He gave one |
more look, shut his eyes, shudder quiver- !
ID through his frame, then all was still
The sun glimmered brightly on the wet
laurel leaves the moeking birds sang in
oedars near, and the great world rolled on
n endless life, as it ever does, regardless of