The record-union., 1892-05-28

come. The rebels were flying in all di-
rectionS.
As soon as the fact of the relief was
certain, Vane stepped out of the crowd
and made his way alone and unperceived
along the deserted passages to a certain
room which lay in the rear of the walled
buildings. 1t was the very room from
which the night before a slender, gray
draped figure had stolen softly out.
Just as he reached the door and was
hesitating at the threshold, Mrs. JeSsop,
who had been called out by the noise of
the cheering, was seen returning in a
state of much excitement. Nane ac-
costed her eagerly, but in low tones.
is she better? Can l see her yet?' he
said
''She is much better. She is dressed
ana sitting up. But the noise alarmed
her. She does not know the cause OF IT,.
Nane followed her INTO the room. In n
large chair next the window, looking
very white and weak, with a bandage
round her temples where the shot had
grazed and stunned her, sat Mary Sui
land.
he had not seen her since, the night be-
fore, he had carried her swooning to her
room. He had heard with infinite relief
that the wound was not dangerous, and,
lnqulring hourly at her door throughout
the night, he had learned that the swoOn
was passing off and that, with some
hours OF rest there would be little to be
feared. Yet now, as he stood before her,
even the great event which had Just hap
pened, was less present to his mind than
anxiety to satisfy himself with his own
eyes that she was safe. The shock which
ne had felt at the moment when he had
raised her in his arms and caught sight
or her white face in the moonlight was
with him still. He had felt at that in
stant certainty that she was killed.
a MD the storm of shot only one had
grazed her; the rest had whistled past her
without harm. But where her slender
ngure had so narrowly escaped, a man,
/ being OF larger bulk, would inevitably
have been struck down.
During the hours of night, while he
had wandered up and down outside her
door, too restless TO seek for sleep, he had
thought Of these things. He thought of
the girl who had riSked her life for his;
he had let his memory go back into the
past and call to mind all that he had
owed to Mary Sulland through the years
that he had known her; how all his no.
DleSt aspirations, dreams, ambitions, had
come from her, or had been fostered and
strengthened by her sympathy; and he
had wondered how it was that he himself
had never realized till now what she had
been to him.
The look Of inquiry on her face recalled
him to himself
( olii AOi uC SdlIi. L dlll idll
! to be the first to bring you the good news.
see you guess it. Yes, relief has come.
| The siege is over"
! She looked at him with eagerness. One
thought filled her mind it forced a pas
sage to her lips.
Then you will not have to go again for
water?"
AS the words escaped her she flushed
| red. Her action of the night before had
hardly been her own-so oVermaStering
had been the impulse that had hurried
her away. And now, like woman, she
! was troubled by doubt-what would he
think OF her? Had she, in thrusting her
sell between him and danger, forfeited
forever his esteem?
He did understand, however-at least
partly. he saw that she was troubled,
and he took the best course possible to
set her at her case. He meant to regard
what she had done as a matter which, be-
tween themselves, required no eXplaDa-
ton. AS for others they knew nothing.
The men who had been at the archway
had only the vaguest idea of what had
| passed. The secret was their own.
NO" he said, smiling, II shall not
have to go again. Nor, what is of greater
consequence, will you, Mary?"
She answered with smile. They un-
dersto2od each other. He was bending
/ over her-she was looking up at him,
Mrs. Jessop was not near them, and it
was almost as if they were alone. From
! the distance came a noise of voices cheer
ing as If they never meant to stop; but in
the room itself there was no sound but
their own murmured talk.
'As soon as you are we'll again." he
said, Il shall be very angry with you,
Mary. had a chance of getting the Vic
toria Cross, but now they will let YOU
have it, suppose"
She laughed softly, for his words were
music to her. But it was not his words
alone that thrilled her blood. She had
won richer prize than the Victoria
Cross, and now she knew it. For in his
eyes. as she looked up at them, she saw
! the flame of love.-Temple Bar,