The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-03-19

TO give the word of command. Before the
words had left his lips, there was the CLINT
of rife, glare of hatred from wicked
eyes, a sharp report, and fendish trium-
plant yell
The victim, throwing up his arms, fell
heavily to the ground with dull thud. In
a moment every English officer was off his
horse and knot of blanched and Mortified
watchers waited while the doctor cut open
the victims uniform.
Close by horrible scuf1e was taking
place. Amid yells and oaths, and after
many wound more or less severe, Shaik
Ibrahim was finally overpowered. In his
frenzied blood-shot eyes there was CLEAN
of fury as he was dragged away, for he had
been baff1ed. His work had been hindered;
he had been permitted to shoot lone dog
only instead of two"
There is peculiar dismalness in the sur.
roundings of a sick-bed from nightfall till
dawn in India There is the long night, the
leaden-footed hours of which are marked
by the slow mournful wall of the distant
watchman-"All's well!"-the occasional
| buzz and crackle of flying beetle that has
dashed into the flame of the night-light, the
dismal inquiring howl of horde of jackals
as they sniff about with taeir ''Where-
Where-where- wh-e-e-e-r-e?"-th sudden
chill of the hour before dawn, when rats
| run riot and yTild-coclzs crow. A foul danB
/ air spreads among the trees, and from the
earth chill vapor rises. From out of it
come things innumerable, with faint eerie
rustles and tappings as they creep-scorpi-
| ons and reptiles which feel the sudden cold
| and seek to insinuate their bodies into cosy
hooks, beneath carpets and pillows, or with
! in sponges and boots.
The Colonels face was ashen gray as he
| sat by the bedside of the wounded officer
| his lips were set, his eyes hollow with de.
spair. About his heart there was a deadly
| pain. The doctor had said that Jim Blake's
| hours were numbered.
''Will he live to see and recognize his
wife!" the Colonel asked more than once.
| The evasive answers cut him to the
j heart and the poor rugged old face grew
/ grayer
The Colonel's bungalow being close to the
/ parade ground, the wounded man had been
conveyed thither; and so, after all, it was
fated that Nelly should come there, and not
to the little nest that loving hands had pre-.
i pared for her.
After a little time there was change
eff only his wife would comet" sighed the
doctor. 'sHe frets for her. If only she
could be here in time!"
At last she came-came as he had wished
when the sun was setting, gliding, as she
passed, the background Of palms, and cast
ing long mysterious shadows and gorgeous
| lights round about the old well, the cool
| green pfantains, and the tiny square bunga
| low. And, as she jolted by, she knew not
that all the little scene was planned for her
| and. even had she known, she could not
| have looked at it for the tears that dimme0
| her eyes.
At his own gate the Colonel met her, but
he could find no words of greeting for hel
who was to have been SO royalty welcomed
! His had been the kindly forethought which
arranged that the terrible news should be
| gently broken to her on landing at Bombay
| and in such manner that despair should not
| travel with her through all the long jour
| new up country. And now when he met
her at his gate, he could only lower mis- gray
head over her small cold hands and whisper
hoarsely that there was still hope-for there
was life.
| Then Nelly knew what need there had
| been for her to hasten her coming. Kneel-
| ing by the bed where her husband lay white
| and still, but breathing yet, she thanked
| Heaven for having guided and Quickened
| her footsteps
| Till close upon dawn she watched beside
J the still form She was past thinking,
. but her weary mind was filed with the
| comforting knowledge that jim was still
/ alive.
AS the dawn broke she fancied she felt
the cold wings of the recruiting angel.
With wide startled eyes she gazed at her
husband, and saw that there was change.
Then she cried aloud, with a great sob:
ooh, Heaven, let him speak to me-only
once!"
AT that moment Jim opened his tired eyes
and saw her.
Her hands grasped his tightly Would he
say good-by? They were alone together in
the gray dawn, with the morning star look
ing in. Would it all end like this!
my darling, you have come in time!" ne
said, in a labored whisper.
When the doctor entered few minutes
later, Nelly was told that the Angel OF
Death had indeed been with her. but not to
stay. He had passed on and claimed the
Colonel, who died quite peacefully.
| The old man was found dead in the chair
where he sat watching through the long
night outside Jim's door-"Within CALL" he
| said.
! It is not the extremes of heart and
cold so much as sudden changes in
temperature that cause certain climates
| e. !. %1oO