Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-05-07
Copyright. 1897. by A. NJ Kellogg Newspaper Co.
CHAPTER lI1.-CorruxuEp.

Copyright. 1901. by A. NJ Kellogg Newspaper Co.
CHAPTER lII.-CoNrINUED.
'Here, you, Aunt Chloe and Lucinda,
help this gentleman to carry his wound
ed friend to the guest chamber"-for
already Charles Fuller was showing
feeble signs OF animation-"Andy you,
Oorothea, fetch me some brandy, q
sponge and a basin Of warm water"
Even at that eventful moment young
Besant may be forgiven If he felt
pleased that notwithstanding his pri-
vate uniform the courtly old lady had
alluded to him as a gentleman, for he
knew that the Southerners never ap-
piled the term to others than those they
considered their equals in culture and
position.
Now" said the hostess, graciously,
when the sick man had been laid upon
the bed You two"-meaning the
young lady and Frank-''had better go
downstairs and wait results. If my
simple appliances fail to effect cure,
physician must be fetched at all haz-
ards, though the disturbed state of the
streets compels US to look at that as a
last alternative. The women are too
frightened to venture out. and your uni
form would attact undesirable atten-
ton" @~
Thus it happened that Frank found
himself once more tete-a-tete with the
charming Southern girl, who, as soon
as they reached the luxurious parlor,
set herself about inquiring after his per-
sOnal injuries, which, in the hurry of
attending to the more serious state Of
his friend, had been ignored. He was
Oh yoa6 he
the unpresentable condition he was in
clothes torn, face swollen and bleed
ing and hands literally black with dirt
The girl smiled as she read his
thoughts.
''It is soldiers lot" she said, land
yours are honorable scars; do not be
discounted"
IF could only secure little soap
and water" Frank said. with lugu-
brious air.
There was no affectation about her, no
fine ladyism to freeze him into a sense
of seeming troublesome.
Come with me, she said, cheerfully,
land we will see what Aunt Matte the
cook can do for you. 1t is useless your
waiting until a chamber can be pre-
pared
He followed her into the kitchen
where Aunt Matte, stout, motherly
colored woman, speedily made prepare
items for his additions, while his con-
ductress tripped back to the reception
room, promising to wait his arrival.
But when, with Matties assistance,
he strove to take off his coat, the wound
in his arm panied him so intensely that
he could not bear to raise it, though in
the excitement of the past quarter of
an hour he had been unconscious of his
hurt.
''Fo' de Lord, chile. Yo' arms
broke" cried the excited woman, as,
notwithstanding Franks remonstran-
Ses, she ran to the parlor to call the aid
OF her young mistress.
Deity and coolly as an experienced
nurse, the girl set to work to relieve
him. with a half-amused smile at his ILL
repressed establishment at her action.
''Now," she said to him, 'sit on this
chair; rest your arm on the table-so.
Matte, give me my scissors" And be-
fore he could realize what she was 60
ing to do. she had ripped the seam of
his coat sleeve and barred the bruised
but sinewy limb.
Aunt Matte had shrewdly guessed
what was about to follow, and already
d
young lady's elbow.
Does it hurt you much?" the girl
asked in tone of exquisite sympathy
the infiamed muscles.
1t seemed like Heaven to him-the de-
icious GOODNESS of that magical appli-
cation-the tender touch of that we'll
shaped hand on his burning flesh.
81 o 10 Iax1
fully with lint bandages, and, taking a
silk scarf from her own neck, hastily
fashioned it into a sling
There" she said, merrily, ''that will
do for the present-almost as we'll as
grandma could have fixed it. Now let
us 60 to pleasanter quarters"
As soon as they reached the parlor,
Frank managed to express somewhat
aamely his thanks for the services she
had rendered him; but she was in a
Emery. mood now, and would not let
him lihger on the theme of his obliga-
tions-e Presently. but as it seemed to
Frank quite naturally. considering the
interest the girl had manifested in him,
the current of conversation turned on
the military movements.
After asking many questions, which
Trank was unable to answer, she casu-
ally remarked, as though it was mat
ter of no Importance:
Il suppose you are on your way to
help Lyon redeem General Sigefs de-
feat at Carthage?''
Really, ! do not know. The COM
manders of the expedition have not dis
severed sufficient merit in me to let me
share their confidence. private sol
aier. young lady, is the mere cog of a
wheel in the machinery of war, and
knows about as much of the why's and
Wherefores of things as that senseless
piece of mechanism does of the reason
OF its rotation"
Yes l know all that, but even a man
On the ranks need not be quite fool"
There was such a flash of insolence
in her manner that Frank started in
pained surprise.
~ am really very sorry to seem so
stupid" he said. coloring crimson, "but
think you are little hard on me-"
$50 do L." she said. with light
laugh. for her moods were as change
able as an April sky, land very rude
and unladylike also. Pray. forgive me-"
May" he declared, heartily; ST