Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-29

with white hair and white mustache and
wbiskers, and bronzed, lined face. Hi.
wife had much influence over him, for hel
intellectual powers far exceeded his, though
she was quite clever enough to disguise thi,
fact from his knowledge, though everyone
else of their acquaintance knew it.
He was a good soldier, brave, and some
what stern, but respected by officers and
men alike. He was fond of his children,
but like their mother, not very tender in
his manner to them. Here his wife's infiu-
ence came in. She would not allow him to
spoil the girls, she said, and Miriam stood q
little in awe of her father
Nevertheless when Captain Escourt had
repeated his story about the wounded
soldier, and told how brave and clevey
Miriam had been, the Colone's face relaxed
into kindly smile, and he laid his hand on
her shoulder.
"I am glad to hear this, my girl" he said;
stglad that soldiers daughter could be of
some little service to a soldier in his need. I"
81 did very little, father answered
Miriam.
"But the very little did some good it
seems, continued Colonel Clyde. S'I must
20 and see the poor fellow by and by;
thank you for coming to tell me about it,
Escourt."
At this moment the drawing room door
again opened, and the soldier servant an
nounced-
''Dr Reed "
"Ah, Reed" said the Colonel, extending
his hand: ''and how is your poor patient
getting on? 1 mean the man who has been
shot at the target on the sands"
81 hope fairly well, SIR" answered the
young doctor, and as he did so he glanced
as if unconsciouslv at Miriam, who stood
listening to his words with eager eyes and a
fast-beating heart. "He's very low, for
he's lost a tremendous lot of blood, and but
for Miss Clyde here he would have been a
sir, behaved splendidly, if she. will allow
me to say So"
81 am glad she was of some little help"
said the Colonel. "But, doctor, won't you
have some tea?"
DR.. Reed accepted this invitation, and
Mrs. Clyde poured it out for him, and then
rose from the table and began talking to her
husband and Captain Escourt, and for a
moment DR.. Reed had an opportunity of
speaking few words in a low tone to
Miriam, who was sitting near the tea table.
Il have something for you; something
very strange" he said.
In moment Miriam's face had flushed
crimson, and then as quickly grew deadly
pale.
81 don't want the others to hear" con-
tinued DR.. Reed; "best not; in fact the man
asked me not to let anyone see the few
words he has written in pencil to you. How
can l give them to you unobserved?"
"You mean the-man who was shot?"
asked Miriam with clammy, faltering lips
YES" answered the doctor, che is con-
scious now, and as soon as he became so he
asked for paper and a pencil, and begged
me to carry hat he has written to you.
hope you do not consider it liberty, but
the poor. fellow was SO terribly in earnest. " !
"Oh! no, nc" said the poor girl, in terri
BILE distress, with her frightened eyes fixed
on her mother, whose back was turned to
ner.-
'Shall I slip the note into that book lying
there?" asked the doctor, who saw there
was some secret about the wounded soldier
that Miss Clyde evidently knew.
'sYes, half whispered Miriam, and as she
spoke DIR. Reed rose, and helped himself to
sugar with affected carelessress, and at the
same time slid a small envelope between
the leaves of the book he had indicated.
"Do you like this book?" he said, hand
ing it to Miriam, who eagerly clutched the
volume in her trembling hand.
II do, DR.. Reed" said Mrs Clyde, turn
ing round; "it is interesting with certain
amount OF dramatic power, ana Sne put
out her hand as though to take the book
from Miriam.
But with sudden gesture almost of des-
pair Miriam grasped it closer. and then
without word rose, and hnrriedly lett the
room, while her mothers eyes followed her
in grave surprise.
"This affair on the sands seems to have
quite upset my daughter" she said, mo-
ment later, speaking to DR.. Reed.
''That is only natural" he answered;
"many young ladies can't bear the sight of
blood, but there is no doubt Miss Clyde
behaved splendidly.
In the meanwhile Miriam had breathlessly
reached her own room, and locked the door
behind her, and then with trembling fingers
opened the book containing the note the
doctor had placed there.
1t was enclosed in an envelope, which she
also tore open, and then read with starting
eyes the few feebly written penciled words
it contained. They were very brief:-
''For Gods sake. keep nv secret"
This was the message from the wounded
soldier to Miriam Clyde.
ITO be Continued neat SmadaX)