Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-05-06

AS the evening wore on the fever re-
turned and the White Colonel wandered
In his mind. 1t was nearly eleven
O'clock when Il woman robed as sister
OF charity, entered the room and after
listening to the surgeons orders sat down
by the bed. The patient seemed to
sleep and she began to tell her beads
He stirred uneasily and as he opened his
eyes she bent over him to give him the
drink.
'Elodia, my love-" he said slowly,
IAN dead and in heaven Them
The sister started back, pressed her
hand tightly against her heart as she
became deadly pale, and then-Colonel
Sanchez entered the room.
How is hep he asked.
"Pepe," she whispered, trembling like
a leaf as she chung to her brother, ''do
you know who he Isl"
''Elodia, my own, will return famous
to theer murmured the unconscious
man.
NO" said Col. Sanchez in startled
tone. who is hep
Rafael, Rafael, l tell thee-Rafael
come back after all these years to diet"
Rafael! Impossible" said Pope, lean
ing forward.
Who calls Rafaelg' asked the sick
man. Il tell thee, Pepe, it's on the Rue
Jean Jacques-on the left, tell thee,
oh, most obstinate of men!'
There! dost hear that" whispered
the sister wildly.
Col. Sanchez bent over and gazed at
the mans face, great drops of perspira-
ton standing out on his forehead, and
as he looked the eyes were opened.
''Pepe with spectacles; how Don Ra-
fael will laugh" he said. ''Didst get
them from the concierge, Pepe-they are
of his pattern?"
MY GodI" exclaimed Col. Sanchez,
drawing back and passing his hand
across his forehead. The sister sank on
her knees beside the bed and kissed the
hand lying there, weeping passionately.
MY sister," began the patient feebly;
"where has Elodia gone? If my love
We're here she would dry thy tears
There can be nothing but happiness
where she is"
Col. Sanchez leaned over the bed.
''Dost know me, Rafaelito?" he asked
Certainly 1 know thee; why should l
not know thee? But thou art older and
different, somehow. Art for the mas
| querade tonight"
Pope drew back and walked once or
twice across the room.
'Elodia, dost thou know who that
man is"
'Rafael," she sobbed, without looking
up.
THAT is the White COLONEL"
q knew lt!' she almost screamed. Il
| knew it, oh, thank God, knew it!
| never doubted thee, Rafael of my heart;
! knew it was not true;" and once more
she convulSively pressed her lips to his
! hand.
knew WHAT" asked Pepe in amaze
| ment.
KNEW he was not what they said, "
she answered, rising to her feet The
| White Colonel, the hero, the brave, true
| man, the man whose brave deeds have
! thrilled our hearts these twenty years!
i Saints, 1 thank We! Rafael, the White
| Colonel-oh, never did l hope for such
glory for thee, my love! But l knew it,
| / knew it. thanks be to thee, oh, most
blessed virgin; 1 knew it, l knew itr'
and, throwing herself again by the bed
side and stretching out her arms over
the sufferer she prayed.
All that night Pope and Elodia-or
the sister Dolores-watched. At times
Rafaels talk ran on the old days, but
the memory of them seemed strangely
mingled with other scenes of which his
hearers knew nothing, and toward morn
| Lee l,sr l,a NH
into quiet sleep. 1t was Elodia who
thought that perhaps if he saw them
when he became conscious it might
startle him, and so Pope left while she
took her place outside the door. When
he woke he was perfectly conscious, and
after the surgeons visit he asked that
Col. Sanchez be sent for. When Pepe
entered the room, trembling as he had
rarely trembled before, Rafael looked III
with glad smile.
1T will not be very long" he said tax
ing his visitors hand in his, "before the
end comes And now, Pope, dost thor
know me?"
Rafael, my brother" broke from
Pepe's lips as the tears dropped from hi,
eyes. "Oh, Rafael, and thou art u
dier'
eff l had my choice, Pope, it would
have been as it is. In arms for my owl
land and under thy command. God ha
been very good. A captain, too, Pope
forget not that"
The two sat there gazing into eacl
others eyes, and the dying man was tn,
quieter. After short pause he spok'
again.
''Thy father, Pope; he is dead"
''He sent his love to thee, Rafael"
81 knew he would; 1 loved him SO
And my mother and thy mother shall
see them, Pope, and they all know the
truth of my repentance now. And thoI
hast kept the flint and steel all thes