Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1891-09-25
set my WIS to work to discover where

set my WIS to work to discover where
was.
81 was very sure of one thing; was
on the ground. Have you ever lain upon
the ground for several hours with broken
leg? No? 1t isn't very pleasant. Pretty
soon l began to remember little about
my nights adventure. and then it all
came back to me.
'Well, was not dead surely. That was
some consolation, and SO, opening my
knapsack, | took out my brandy flask
After taking deep draft felt consid-
erably revived, and next fished out OF my
bag a confused mass of cold chicken, rye
bread and sausages.
81 had just begun my meal when heard
a voice calling me from behind Heavens
could never finish meal in peace?
'''Are you hurt. STRIP asked somebody
behind me.
"'Oh, no; just a broken back and rib
or two gone answered savagely. And
then curiosity got the better of me and
looked up and saw"-
"What?"
"a girl?'
"Ohp'
''But you should have seen herl TALL
tlCSdIlu, uduOSOIuc, mag
"Look here, Alburg, if you think [ will
much mistaken. A lonely mountain, a
girl is putting it just little strong, isn't
it?"
s'Don't interrupt" said the count in a
very dignified way. You may imagine
that was rather startled; and to tell the
h T bot ,l,or.r At he
steady look of those beautiful
Leave out the adjectives."
'"Those gray eyes; but you should have
heard the wonderful
eff you please, Alburg"
1.-THE softness of her voice as she knelt
down by my side and said, Can not help
you, STRIP"
''Ahp
"'Is there any water near at hand?'
made reply, hastily putting my brandy
flash out of sight
"'Oh, yes and she ran away, only tt
return in a few moments with her pretty
Il mean her hat filled with clear spring
water. She propped me up against rock,
gave me some to drink, and when l had
quenched my thirst bathed my head, which
was really aching terribly"
"Of course"
"And then she told me how she was
going to Erlachen for the doctor, as the
man who had gone last night had not re-
turned, poor fellow, and how she had seen
me lying there and had come to my aid"
"'Then you come from Sena Julia?'
"sYes.'
SIT was my turn then to tell her of the
occurrences of the past night, and when
had finished this and we had made lunch
off the poor remains of my breakfast,
felt so much recovered that I was able to
hobble slowly along with the assistance Oh
Marsa"
'sMarsa?"
'sThat was her name, she told me-"
"And how about the broken Lego"
ooh, | forgot. 1t was not broken after
all, but only sprained, and though it gave
me much trouble, still Marsa helped me.
and"-
81 see."
"My leg did hurt me quite little at
first, but with frequent rests we had gone
good distance, when suddenly the path
made sharp bend to one side and widened
out. We were in Sena Julia.
SIT was as if all life had suddenly de
parted from the place, and my ears were on
the alert to catch any sound of joy or note
of welcome. None came, however. Spell
bound we stood and watched the melan-
choly aspect.
"All at once loud groans came from a
neighboring cottage, and then curses and
shouts of delirious laughter. It seemed
if bedlam, held in allegiance by the lack of
sound, had broken loose. From every
house there issued strange noises, as OF
souls struggling with their death agonies,
peals of laughter and curses, till the air
was rent with the horror of the plague and
filled with the infection Of the pestilence.
"Never did work as l did in those few
awful days which followed. Their memory
l can never efface from my mind, for even
now / often wake out of a deep sleep with
perspiration starting at every pore, endur
ing again in fancy the suffering of thost
terrible hours.
'Marsa showed great courage, and soon
developed into an ideal nurse, dreadin2
nothing, constantly by my side, minister
ing to the many wants of the diseased with
all the tenderness of Il true woman. Shrink
ing from no danger of contagion, she never
once failed in eonsaliRg and giving rest.
"And then came time which can
never recall without trembling, for Marsa
herself was stricken at last and for days
her life was in the balance. Many and
many time despaired of her life, but
her constitution, though wasted by the
rayages of disease finally conquered, and
l had the pleasure of seeing her daily grow
more strong and healthful, and not long
after we were able to leave the dismal scene
of sickness, for help had begun to arrive
from the surrounding villages as soon as
the news of the pestilence had spread.
1--WE were married here at Geneva some
days ago; and now, Annerly, comes the
reason have told you this story.
my mother, with her ridiculous no.
tions of our rank, will never forgive he1
son for this mesallianee, as she would cali
it. She was earnestly looking forward TO
my union with the Princess Elsa; in
fact, it has been her chief hope for many
years past. AS yet she knows nothing of
Marsa, for have written her nothing.
She arrives tomorrow morning. 1 tele-
graphed her. Annerly, have I acted
rightly"
Here Annerly took his hands from bis
trousers pockets, where they had re.
manned during the relation of the story,
and calmly lit cigarette
"Well," shouted a young guardsman OF
the group, "what did you tell him?"
Nothing" said Annerly.
"Nothingl"
"Why, my dear fellow, what would you
have told him; that he had done rightsh
"Of course 1 would" rejoined the other
disgustedly.
An echo of assent went around the little
circle.
Throwing away his cigarette Annerly
put on his hat walked over to the door,
hesitated and then said
'Gentlemep, my little ruse worked bet
ter than knew. In London the Graf Won
Alburg figured under the more romantic
title of Tom Annerly. My wife, Mrs.
Marsa Annerly, looks forward with much
pleasure to her first ball tomorrow night,
and shall take great pleasure in introduce
ing you ALL"
The door closed, tho sound Of Toms foot
steps died slowly away, and the little groun
regarded one another in silence
"By JoveP' murmured the little guards
man.-Boston Globe.
Getting Rid of IA Nuisance.
First Little Bird-Here comes a boy with
a gun. Shall We fy away9
Second Little Bird-No. He'd only fol
low us.