Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1892-08-18
WOODBURY., N. J, THURSDAY, AUGUST 49, 1892

his own name.
Holden was listening eagerly to every
word.
May ask a question, colonel?"
Certainly, DOCTOR
Brewster. did se ever tell you where
his home was-where his relatives now
live"
"Yes-Louisville; and have packet
which, should he be killed or mortally
wounded, have promised to unwrap
and express to the address written with
in. do not now even know what it is. .
well did he never speak of having
lived in st. Louis-having had friends
there
.'Never SO much as mentioned the
place. doctor"
For a moment there was silence,
broken only by the dismal moan Of the
rising gale, the flap of canvas, and the
creak Of straining guyropes Farquhar
was still thinking deeply. AT last he
looked up.
Captain Rolfe has lodged with me
very serious charges against Ellis, and
bases them on the report of professional
detectives. AS you know, gave Ellis
permission to ride over to the railway
on Gorham's report that he had some
important personal matters to look after.
Has he returned yet:7
HE had not up to stables, sir, but his
pass does not expire until tattoo, and I
almost hope he has not started in face of
this wind. 1t looks like blizzard COM
ing"
when did Rolfe get these reports, if
Imay ask" queried Holden. Il sent a
telegram day before yesterday to Mrs.
Holden that ought to have reached her
that very evening--it was to forestall
any sensational newspaper story about
the majors wound-and l certainly
looked for a reply Of some sort yester-
day
.sThe wires are down both east and
west, I'm told-cut by friendlies' at the
reservation, very probably. No dispatch
has passed either way since Yesterday, .
answered the colonel. "Rolfes must
have come before that. Possibly we
will have later news when the sergeant
rides back tonight. Igave him an order
to get any kilograms that might have ar
rived for the regiment. What time does
the train get in from the east-do YOU
know, DOCTOR
Somewhere about three, sir, but
fear there will be no mail for US for
day on two. Old hands here say it is
madness to face Dakota blizzard on
the open prairie, and some of the officers
think we are in for gale, to say the
least
We'll, Brewster, said the colonel
kindly, your statement is all that
was needed to put an end to any idea
that you knew all about Ellis before his
enlistment OF course | shall have to
look into Captain Rolfe's charges against
him; but say nothing about the matter
for the present
The cavalry trumpet, weird and fitful
on the wings Of the gale, was sounding
first call for retreat as Brewster left the
colonel's tent and started down the gen
tie slope to join his troop. Already the
snow flakes were driving almost hori-
zontally with the biting wind, and in
the rapidly gathering gloom the men
came huddling from their raldo shelter-,
and bundled to the ears III their great
coats stood stamping and swinging their
arms, impatient to have roll call over
and done with. The colonel came forth
a moment later. and together he and
Holden tramped over to the turf walled
structure in which their wounded COM
rade lay. The air was now so thick
with snow that objects hundred yards
distant were blurred and those beyond
entirely obscured. Holden softly un-
strapped and raised the canvas flap and
poked his fur capped head within the
aperture.
Sleeping" he queried Of the hospital
attendant.
Sleeping like baby, sir, whispered
the soldier, as he tiptoed to the entrance.
Captain Hazlett was reading to him
over an hour, and then he just dropped
away, and the captain left at first call. ;"
That's capital" said Holden, turning
to the chief. He has worried SO over
the effect the news might have on his
wife that | couldn't get him to sleep.
Now, if we can only tide him over until
morning and if this beastly gale will
only subside, we'll have good news for
him.
'sWell, don't let Rolfe get near him, 2
said Farquhar with quiet smile "There
isn't better duty officer in all the
Twelfth, but somebody has to suppress
him once in awhile
HE ought to be married. laughed
Holden in reply.
That night when the trumpets pealed
tattoo the musicians braced their backs
against the clustering northwest and
blew as best they could, though Boreas
strove to silence their lustiest effort, and
no trooper on the windward side could
hear note Over the whistle and howl
of the gale, far out on the desolate prairie.
far to the southeast, however, the stir
ring, welcoming, hope-reviving strain
was borne to the frozen ears of solitary
and well nigh exhausted trooper, bid
ding him pluck up courage. rouse him
self to renewed effort, and once more
plunge forward into the blackness of the
night.
So long as he kept the gale in his bat
tered face. 50 long would he be strug-
Cling toward comrades and shelter.
Staggering. stumbling, sometimes crawl.
ing few PAGES on hands and knees,
sometimes turning his back to the icy
blast and gasping for breath, sometimes
burying his face in his arms, sometimes
stretching those arms aloft to heaven
and lifting up silent prayer for help.
for strength, he had struggled on afoot
long after abandoning his fallen and
crippled horse. No beckoning light, nc
glimmering star to guide, only the rude
bullets Of the cruel. pitiless blast, the
singing, biting, thrashing Of the snow
pelting him like small shot, TO point the
way, yet savagely to beat him back-to
bid him face and force them, yet furious
to overwhelm and down. Weak and ex
hausted, he had well nigh abandoned the
last vestige Of hope, and wailing cry
went moaning aloft from his cracked
and frozen lips: .sGod in heaven guide
me; bear me up; give me strength. Its
not for myself, but those poor women.
God III mercy hear me. God in pity
answer"
And over the wrath and fury Of the
mad hurricane, triumphing above the
shrek and howl of the temptest, ringing