Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1892-02-11
WOODBURY., n. J, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY H. 1892

eroe.
1--WE are going she said. Take me
to himF'
Did she love him?
/ braved DIR. Pathie's displeasure and
led her to the bedside of her lover.
Brent was still in a stupor We were
alone.
She stood looking at him moment.
He was breathing, but unconscious; dead
to the outer world and her presence. She
stood looking at him and seeming with
her large, solemn eyes to review those
scenes of terror and of relief since she
had known him. Tears gathered in the
brave, quiet eyes.
Suddenly she stopped and kissed his
forehead. Then she passionately kissed
his lips. She grew to him as If she would
interfuse anew that ichor Of love into his
being.
She turned to me, all crimsoned, but
self possessed.
Il meant you should see me prove my
love, she said. II am proud of myself
for it-proud Of my heart that it can
know and love this noblest and tenderest
nature. Tell him SO. Tell him it is not
gratitude, but love. He will know that
| could not stay. My life belongs to my
father. Where he goes must go. What
other friend has he than me? l 70 witt,
my father, but here my heart remains.
Tell him 50. Please let me write to you
You will not forget your comrade.
owe more than life to you. Do let me
keep myself in your memory. dread
my life before me. viii keep you in
formed of my fathers plans. And when
this dearest one is well again, if he re-
members me, tell him love him and
that parted from him-so."
She bent again and kissed him passion
ately, then departed, and her tears were
on his cheek.
Brent's stupor lasted many days. Life
had been strained to its utmost. Body.
brain, heart, all had had exhausting
taxes to pay. The realm must rest.
While his mind slept nature was gently
renewing him. Quiet is cure to an un-
tainted life. There was no old fever OF
discomfort in his brain. He had regrets,
but no remorses. Others had harmed
him; his life had been sad one; he had
hever harmed himself. No ugly visions
could visit the uncontrolled hours of a
brain SO stored. His trance was peace.
More than peace, for as / watched his
quiet face knew that his spirit was con-
scious Of spiritual presence, and love
was lowering over him, healing ele-
ment.
At last he walked. He threw volition
into the scale of recovery. He was well
in a trice.
Captain Ruby and DR.. Pathie were dis
posed to growl at the rapidity Of Brent's
cure.
II have half mind to turn military
despot, and arrest you" said Ruby. "A
pair of muffs, even, would be welcome
in the winter at Laramie. You have
made wretched bungle Of it, Pathie
Why didn't you mend your man delib-
erately, muscle a week, nerve a
month, and SO make it six months
job:"
''He took the matter out Of my hands,
and nended himself. There's cool, pa
tient, determined vitality in him, enough
tosetup legion or father race. Which
is it, Mr.. Wade, words to say or duties
to 90, that has made him condense his
being on recovery
Both, believe. He is mature now,
and wants, no doubt, to be at his bust
ness of saying and doing"
"And loving, said Ruby.
AYE" said Pathie. "That has had
more to do with it. hope he viii over
take and win, for love the boy. keep
my oldish heart pretty well locked
cell in it, and in that cell he has, sleep
ing and waking, made himself home."
''Ah, doctor" said Ruby, ''you and l,
for want Of women to love, have to con-
tent ourselves with poetic rovers like
Brent. He and Biddulph were balls,
operas, champagne on tap, new novels,
fiirtations and cigars to me last winter.
We were smoking our pipes On the
veranda one warm November day when
this conversation happened.
had not quite forgotten the barrow
night. as Jake Shamberlain pronounced
hila, nor quite forgotten, in grave cares.
my fancy that his stay in Utah was for
/ Miss Clitheroe's sake.
was hardly surprised when, that very
evening, bronzed traveller, face many
shades darker than hair and beard, rode
up to the post with a Delaware Indian,
and was hailed by Ruby as Biddulph.
I'VE were talking Of you not an hour
ago" said Ruby, greeting him. Wish
ing you would come to make last win
ter's party complete. Brent is here,
wounded"
HAS he lady with himy said the
newcomer. His voice and manner were
manly and frank-a chivalrous fellow,
one Of US, one Of the comradery of knights
errant.
ssMr. Wade will give an account of
her"
Come in to Brent" said l, "and we
will talk matters over"
Ruby, model host, cleared the way for
parley whose interest he divined
II will see after your horses. Don't
lose your appetite for supper. We have
potatoesl'
sPotatoesr' cried Biddulph. mot IF'
"Yes, and fiapjacks and molasses,
ready in half an hour"
'sFlapjacks and molassesl Potatoes
and fapiacksl-Y Yes, and molassesT Bid
dulph again exclaimed. "Jewel Of a
Rubyi This is the ossa on pelion Of
gourmandise. How underdone and over
done all the banquets of civilization
seem! charge thee, Ruby, when the
potatoes and the Aapjacks and molasses
are ready, that thou peal a jubilee upon
the bell Now, Mr.. Wade, let me see
this wounded friend, and hear and tell. ("
The two gentlemen met with cor
diality Brent, believe. had never iden-
tilted Miss Clitheroe with the lady Bid
dulph fed from, and | had never men
toned my suspicious.
ssNot one word. Johnln said the Briton,
"until know what you have done with
Ellen Clitheroe. Is she safeg'
Brent comprehended the baronets
heart and mind at the word. The other,
I think, saw as plainly on Brent's face
! that he was a lover, and perhaps the
more fortunate one. These two loyal
men drew closer at this, as wholly loyal
souls viii do, for all the pang of know
ing that one has loved and lost.
n