The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-10-02

4
could l never finish a meal in peace?
care you hurt, sir?' asked someboC
behind me.
"'Oh, no; just broken back and T
or two gone answered savagely. Al
then curiosity got the better of me and
looked up and saw"-
WHAT"
"a girl2"
"Ohr'
''But you should have seen herI Tai
graceful. elegant, handsome, mag
Look here, Alburg, if you think wi
believe everything you tell me you al
much mistaken. A lonely mountain,
broken leg. all right; but the beaotift
girl is putting it just little strong, ism
it?"
Don't interrupt" said the count in
very dignifed way You may imagin
that was rather startled; and to tell th
truth l was somewhat embarrassed at tn
steady look of those beautiful
Leave out the adjectives."
"Those gray eyes; but you should hav
heard the wonderfully
eff you please, Alburg."
1.-THE softness of her voice as she knel
down by my side and said, Can not he'll
you, sir?'"
"AhP
Is there any water near at handP
made reply, hastily putting my brandy
flash out of sight.
"'Oh, yes and she ran away, only t,
return in few moments with her pretty
Il mean her hat filled with clear sprine
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 JuliaP
AYES
ut 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 was able to
hobble slowly along with the assistance of
Marsa."
'Marsa?"
"That was her name. she told me-"
"And how about the broken leg?"
"Oh, forgot. 1t was not broken after
all, but only sprained, and though it gave
me much trouble, still Marsa helped me,
and"-
~ see."
my leg did hurt me quite little at
hrst, 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.
1T 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
neigh boring cottage, and then curses and
shouts of delirious laughter 1t seemed as
bedlam, held in allegiance by the lack of
sound, had broken loose. From every
house there issued strange noises, as Of
ouls struggling with their death agonies,
'eals of laughter and curses, till the air
vas rent with the horror of the plague and
lied with the infection of the pestilence.
Never did work as l did in those few
Iwful days which followed. Their memory
can never efface from my mind, for even
low | often wake out of a deep sleep with
starting at every pore, endur-
ng again in fancy the suffering of those
errible hours.
"Marsa showed great courage, and soon
eveloped into an ideal nurse, dreading
othing, constantly by my side, minister
lg to the many wants of the diseased with
IL the tenderness of a true woman. Shrink
lg from no danger of contagion, she never
nee failed in consoling and giving rest.
"And then came a time which 1 can
ever recall without trembling, for Marsa
erself was stricken at last and for days
er life was in the balance Many and
lany time despaired of her life, but
er constitution, though wasted by the
avages of disease, finally conquered, and
had the pleasure of seeing her daily grow
lore strong and healthful. and not long
tier we were able to leave the dismal scene |
sickness, for help had begun to arrive |
om the surrounding villages as soon as |
he news of the pestilence had spread.
We were married here at Geneva some |
avs ago; and now, Annerly, comes the |
JASON have told you this story
My mother, with her ridiculous no. |
ons of our rank, will never forgive her
IN for this mesalIisnce, as she would cali
She was earnestly looking forward to /
y union with the Princess Elsa; in
ct, 1t has been her chief hope for many
'ars past. As yet she knows nothing of
arsa, for l have written her nothing.
lie arrives tomorrow morning. tele-
aphed her. Annerly. have l acted
ghtly!"
Here Annerly took his hands from his
ousers pockets. where they had re-
aimed during the relation OF the story,
ID calmly liz a cigarette.
well. " shouted a young guardsuan Of
e group, what did you tell hin"
Nothing" SAID A2aer!y.
Nothing"
why. ny dear fellow. what would you
we told him; that be had done r!ghsT
'Ot course / wood. reioi2s1 EAa other
sEUsteG.g.
An echo o; Asse7: WEI, around the little
Gle
rhroE:as away bis cigar..re Anaeriy
[ on his hat, walked over % the door,
STATED and ikea said
Gentlemen, my little ruse worked bet
than knew. Ia London the Graf Won
burg figured uader the more romantic
ie OF Tom Anne-,y Ny wife. Mrs. !
lrsa Annerly. looks forward with mach
ias1re 70 her first ball tomorrow aiSht,
{ shall take great pleasure a ineroduc-
, you all"
The door closed, the sound OF Toms foot
ps died slowly away, and the hIJle group
sarced one another IN silence
BY Jove" murmured the little guards
.n.-BoSron Globe.