Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-11-20


very mirthless smile And then again,
"Cowardr'
1t went through his very marrow But
he took no step forward.
Come" she repeated. "Don't-don't
be-afraldr' She smiled again. Il only
want you to come to Uncle Eden's cabin,
where YOU will be-safe!' Again the smile.
Then he followed her. Once inside OF the
cabin she turned sternly upon him.
Take off your uniform" she said. Il
am going for HautboY. Uncle Eden Will
stay with you"
':What-what are you going to do!'' he
gasped, staring at her.
Il am going in your place. Don't sneer;
mean it. Have OF your uniform by the
time come back"
He did not in the least believe her, but he
took off his clothes as she babe him, more
out of sullen curiosity than any thing else.
He wanted 10 see how far she would go.
In ten minutes she was back. He handed
her the uniform with sort of laugh, and
she took 1t without word and went down
into the copse, lead Hautboy, who was sad
died with mans saddle Half way there
she turned and called the old negro, who
stood the picture of misery just outside the
cabin door.
'Uncle Eden," she said. She took
his horny hand and held it between her soft
palms "Pm really gong. He doesn't be-
lieve it, but I'm going. Tits the only
way My father, Eden. Oil dad-dadr'
Then she went on quietly again. Il want
you to get him off if I'm hurt, you know
well-killed Either way there'll be room
for him to start over. If I'm killed, and
they bring me back, don't tell any one. Have
me buried for-him. If they wonder about
me, never mind The other would kill dad.
That's all. Goodbye, dear Eden"
She put one soft arm about his black
neck, drew down his loyal old woolly pate,
and kissed him twice. Then she went, and
left HIM sobbing as though his heart would
break.
1t was soundless gallop over the new
fallen snow, past so many familiar places
and objects. Now came the old mill, now
the barn, now the spot where she and
Boughton had climbed the straw-stacks
that other December day. Now the leap
over the mill-stream. She noticed that the
marshmallows seemed abloom again, with
their brown cups full of snow.
Suddenly there was flash to one side. A
saber lying on the snow. There was blood
on it Ali the one Dick had thrown away,
of course. She dismounted and took it
into her hand, and got up again. The blood
was stiff with the keen air, and did not
come off when she graSped the hilt. On
and OF. Nearer and even nearer that sharp,
mcessant sound She had ridden as often
on mans saddle in her childish days as on
any other, and she had light, beautiful
seat in her boys clothes.
An, yes there they were. How the
smoke hung in the still air. Some crows
actually flew cawing away, as she rode
under the dead sycamore tree where they
had their nest. Nearer, nearer, nearer.
That was what Hautboy's hoofs, as they
suddenly struck the frozen road, seemed to
say to her.
Then all at once came something close by
her ear. The sound of wasp alighting to
sting Another and another. Then she re-
allied what it was. She was within range
of the rifles. A bullet stung Hautboy's ear
and he reared little.
Suddenly he swerved sharply aside. They
had nearly ridden over something that lay
on the ground Something huddled, and
dark, and small looking in gray uniform.
A sort of horror got hold on her; she looked
back at it again and again as she rode on.
Then came another and yet another.
Then some lying in this way and that, and
across one another, and then, somehow, she
was in a whirl of smoke, and of noise, and
of leaping blades, and Philip was beside her.
And he, too, had lost his cap, and there was
a great ugly cash all across his cheek. and
he was saying:
Dick You! Thank God thank Godl
thought you were killed. Come on-this
once will finish EN-" and then she was
rushing on with Philip, and on, and on, and
on
And then it was red as though blood had
been poured into her eyes, and she could
see it. And then golden as though with a
great sunset. And then came darkness I'M
utterable, and the noise as of a thousand
rivers about, and above, and underneath
her
When Boughton rode up to Carylon with
Dick, as he thought, on the saddle in front
of him, old Eden was the first who met
him, and in spite of all his agony flor he
thought the boy was dead) Philip couldn't
help noticing, with a dull sort of wonder,
how the old man had aged since yesterday.
He shook in every limb, as he followed
them up stairs, and then, when BoughtoA
had laid down his burden on the bed in
Dicks room, turned and shut the door, and
went and fell on his knees beside the bed,
and got hold of the coverlet with both
hands, painting rather than sobbing, like
one who has run long way.
Boughton stood it as long as he could,
walked up and down the room, forgetful of
exhaustion in his tremendous excitement,
then he came and sat down on the edge Of
the bed, and put one hand on the old mans
.,.-..-->--..
''Doa't-don't, Eden" he said, unsteadilv.
He died so gallantly-poor little chap-I
didn't know il was in him." he added, IN a
hushed voice.
Then cried the old man, lifting up his
shaking hands with certain uncouth ma
jt-ty.
''Fo' Cord, sab. you mus know-you nus
know. l cyarn stan tUh h2ah yuh call huh
dat. OH my lit..3 miss CHI my honey!
Mars Phil, sab, she to- nc not tub tell, but
yuh mus know, sab. Hits right-hit's
right OH Marse Phil, dat amt Marse
Dick, OATS Miss Judif herse'f-herse'fr'
"What!' said Boughton.
His blood stood still in his veins There
was one instant of absolute nonentity for
him. And before he could speak again there
rushed in and past him wild figure, and
flung itself on the bed, and moaned and
wept and called the name of Judith" many
times And this pale figure had Dicks pale
gray eyes, and the eyes of the figure on the
bed We're closed. Also there was much blood
in the red-brown curls
And when at last the poor, repentant era