Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1892-12-02


nrnn the left hanks of the Parnn had
come upon human being in the bush
The mans clothes were reduced to the
merest shreds, and so near deaths door
was he through hunger and exposure
that he had lost consciousness. But
fortunately his enlistment papers as an
officer in the American merchant ma
rine informed his finders who he was,
namely: Harry Shelton, the mate of the
clipper ship Dreadnaught. Where did
he come from? From what distant and
unknown portion of the Australian con-
tinent had he made his way here? For
how long a time had he wandered about
In the awful solitudes of this central
desert? Had he been a prisoner among
the natives, and had he succeeded in
making his escape? Where had he left
his companions, il any Of them were
still alive? Could it be that he was the
last survivor of the Inflated ship
wrecked fourteen years ago? Up TO
this moment not one of these questions
had received an answer. There did not
cease to be, however, a great desire
everywhere manifested as to where
li&e had been since the wreck of the
Dreadnaught on the reefs of Browse ISL
and, in a word, to have the mystery
cleared up.
Harry Shelton was carried to the near
est point in railway communication with
Sidney and thence to that city The
news of his arrival In the capital was
first made public by the Morning Jour
nal, extracts from which article have al
ready been given, from which it ap-
peared that the mate of the clipper ship
had not as yet recovered consciousness
sufficiently to reply to questions put TO
him.
Mrs. Allaire never would have recog-
nized Shelton, so changed was he. AL
though only forty-six, he had the ap-
pearance Of a man Of sixty. This man.
or, rather, this pitiable wreck Of hu-
manity, was the only human being able
to tell what had become Of Capt John
and his crew. Up till now the most
tender nursing had been Intellectual to
bring about improvement In Shelton's
condition, a condition due no doubt 10
the terrible fatigues undergone during
the wcclss-who can say, possibly
months-of his wandering across CEN
tral Australia. A sinking flt might at
any moment extinguish the spark Of
life still aglow within him. Since he
had been in this hospital 1t would have
been impossible for him TO open his
eyes without the attendants knowing
whether he had regained consciousness
or not He took no notice of those who
administered nourishment to him as TO
a sick child. IL seemed as IL the awful
sufferings to which he had been ex-
posed had SO weakened his mind as to
destroy all recollection of companions
Seated by his bedside, with her gaze
riveted upon his face. Mrs Allaire
watched every movement OF his eyelids,
listened to every faint murmur Of his
voice in hopes TO catch one single word.
Standing behind her was Zach French,
intent upon noting some glimmer of in
telligence, as sailor watches for the
first ray Of light through the lowering
gloom Of the horizon. But no glimmer
came that day The lids Of Shelton's
eyes were not lifted save by Molly's
fingers, and then only TO find the fixed
stare Of inconsistencies. Still she kept
despair from her soul, and Zach, too.
still had hope.
If Harry recognizes his captains
wife" said French, ''be will find way
to make himself understood even II he
| can't talk"
Yes, it was important for him TO rec
ognize Mrs. Allaire, for by SO doing his
enthralled senses might be set free. II
would be necessary 10 aot with the
greatest prudence until he should be-
come accustomed TO her presence. Lit
tie by little his memory would take up
the lost clew, and he would be able to
| express himself by signs, IL he could not
by words.
Although Mrs. Allaire was counseled
| not TO remain too long on watch by
| Shelton's bedside, yet she refused to
| quit the room for a moment. She clung
perslstently to the head of his bed
| shelton may die" she murmured,
: