Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1892-02-11
neartl he bore un Ilke a Draw.

~@-%ND~
across the spurs Of Laramie peak, the
broad plain Of Fort Laramie.
Brent revived We rode steadily.
just before sunset we pulled up at our
goal.
For the last hour had ridden close to
Brent | saw that it was almost up
with him. He swayed in his saddle.
His eye was glazed and dull But he
kept his look fixed on the little group of
Laramie barracks and let his horse carry
him.
| lifted up my heart in prayer that this
noble life might not be quenched. He
must not die, now that he was enlarged
and sanctified by truest love-
At last we struck open country. Bill
Armstrong; sorrel took a cradling lope;
we rode through camp of Sioux ''tep-
ees,' like so many great white fools
caps; we turned the angle of great
white wooden building and halted.
sprang from Fulano and Brent quietly
dropped down into my arms.
'sJust in time" said cheerful, manly
voice at my ear.
Il hope So" said l. ::'Is it Captain
Ruby"
eyes. Well take him into my bed.
DR.. Pathie, here's patient for you"
We carried Brent in. As we crossed
the veranda / saw Miss Clitheroes meet
ing with her father. He received her
almost peevishly.
We laid the wounded man in Ruby's
hospital bed. Evidently a fine fellow,
Ruby, and, what was to the point, fond
of John Brent.
ssCritical case, said Dr. Pathie at last.
He had great umbrageous eyebrows and
gentle, peremptory manner, as Of one
who had done much merciful cruelty in
his day. ugly wound. Never saw
worse furrow. Conical ball. He must
have been almost at the muzzle of the
pistol. He ought not to have stirred for
month. Keep him quiet. And do not
let him see or hear or feel the presence
Of that beautiful young woman. She is
not his sister, and she will have too
much trouble herself to be tranquil
nurse for him here"
| left him with his patient ana went
out to care for our horses. Ruby, mod
est host, had saved me all trouble.
II have given Miss Clitheroe my sole
guest chamber" he said. s.She has a
lady's maid in the brawny person Of an
Irish corporaless. What transcendent
being she isl don't wonder Brent loves
her. as OWNED he did from what Jake
Shamberlain-shr fellow, Jake-said
when he consigned the father to me-"
II must have a talk with the old gen
tleman. On, there he is with Arm
strong"
Armstrong was handing him the
money belt. His eyes cleaned as he
clutched it.
"Trouble in store, fear" said Cap
tain Ruby, for Mr.. Clitheroe and all
who care for him"
HE ought to be at peace at last
"He is not. DR.. Pathie says he is
case of drapetomania.
81 have heard that outlandish word
used to express the ndency-diseased
Of course-that negroes have to run
away from their masters"
Mr.. Clitheroe is wild to get away
from his proper master, namely him
self"
"A desperate malady! At his age al
most fatal"
$50 Pathie says. When man Of Mr.
Clitheroe's age is not at peace within,
he goes into war with his circumstances.
He cannot conquer them, 50 he runs
away. He has always before him
shadow of dream Of what he might
have been, and that ghost drives him
and chases him until it wears him out
Eyes; but it is not only the forlorn
and disappointed that this pitiable dis
ease attacks. Very rich and prosperous
suffer, become drapetomaniacs, sell
houses and build new, change neighbor-
hoods. travel furiously, never able to
escape from that inevitable companion
of reproaching self.
''Mr. Clitheroe is chatting to be gone.
start train for the States tomorrow
the last chance to travel with escort
this season-a small Typographical party
going back. He has been for the last
few days in a passion Of impatience, al
most scolding me and your party, his
daughter and circumstances, lest you
should not arrive in time for him to CO."
'.To go where? What does he intend!"
HE is full of great schemes. do not
know Of course anything Of him except
what have picked up from his com
municativeness; but You would suppose
him duke from his talk. He speaks Of
his old manor house, should know it
by sight now-and says he intends to re-
purchase it and be a great man again.
He is constantly inviting me to share his
new splendors. Really his pictures of
life in England will quite spoil me for
another winter Of cooling my heels in
this dismal place, with scalp on my
head and hundred Sioux looking at it
hungrily."
HE must be deranged by his troubles.
am sure he has no basis for any hopes
in England Sizzum stripped him. He
has alienated his friends at home. His
daughter is his only friend and guardian,
except ourselves"
"He sprang up when he saw you COM
ing and was frantic with joy, not for his
daughters safety, but because he could
start with the train tomorrow. sup
pose she is a tested traveller by this time" !"
Gas thoroughly as any man on the
plains"
s-ohe can 60 very comfortably in the
train. Two or three soldiers wives go. !"
''The chance is clearly not to be lost.
donot like to part with my fascinating
comrade. 1t was poetry to camp with
such woman Travel will seem stale
henceforth, | wish we could keep her,
for Brent's sake"
Poor fellowl Pathie looks very doubt
ful. You must tell me your story more
fully after supper"
Miss Clitheroe had yielded to fatigue.
did not see her that night. In fact,
after all the wearing anxiety of our trip
was glad to lie down on white buffalo
robe, with the Sybaritic luxury of pair
Of clean sheets, and show my gratitude
to Ruby by twelve hours solid sleep.
A drum beat awaked me next morn
ing. 1t was not reveille, it was not
breakfast, it was not guard mounting.
sprang up and looked from the window
How odd it seemed to peer from win
dow after the unwindowed wildernessl
The four white hooded wagons Of the
little homeward train were ready tostart
The drum was calling in the escort. The
fifty soldiers of Ruby's garrison were
grouped about, lending a hand to their
- l.