Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-04-21

the dog lay apparently sound asleep.
But what caused him the greatest sur
prise was another couch, the fac-simile
OF the one upon which he was lying, ON
which was stretched the figure Of man
whose waxen face showed that he was
either very sick or even dead, for his
eyes were closed and his hands were
crossed on his breast. In vain he lis
AS n tomb.
When he tried 10 call out his tongue
Glove TO the roof Of his mouth and words
refused utterancc; but, the effort, slight
as IL was, aroused the faithful dog,
which sprang 10 his side and began 10
lick his hands and face with every man
Hesitation Of JOY. Suddenly the entrance
10 the place was darlsened, and there
entered a young girl lightly clad in ma
tive costume who uttered glad cxcla.
nation and ran 10 his side. How ten.
derby she bathcd his brow, and with
great lotus-leaf famed the flush back
into his wan check.
Where am ~ Who arc you?" he
managed 10 gasp, but she only put her
finger 10 her pretty lips, and motioned
him 20 silence. Then she gave him food,
n sweet cereal broth In yellow earthen
cup, which she held TO his lips, mutter.
ing the while a low sonorous chant in
the tone Of n mother soothing a child 10
sleep.
by degrees the vision faded before
his imagination, and he fell into CRATE
full slumber.
When he awolte, the same sight pre-.
scented itself: The room unchanged, the
silent figure in its place, the girl and
the dog still there Thus the time
passed. II seemed 10 him that he only
opened his eyes 10 gaze upon his strange
surroundings, to receive sustenance at
the hands Of his young nurse, and TO
dozc OF again into a dreamless sleep.
But by degrees he noticed that tho
wakcful periods grew longer, that he
had even vigor enough to raise his
head and gaze around him. The figure
on the other couch sorely perplexed
him. Who was this strange person
who lay so still that he did not seem
even 20 brcathc2 IL was not Capt
Campignon-that he was certain-for
the captains locks were raven black,
while this mans hair was dull yellow,
and not all the disease which ever af-
ilictcd humanity could cause the sail
or's bronze cheek TO fade TO such
CHASTITY hue. 10 could not be a dead
body which was lying there? The
thought was horrible, and he dismissed
1t, for lac we'll knew that in tropical
countries Il very few hours occasion the
putrcfaction Of all dead animal sub
stances.
Once when he awoke II was night.
The lamp swung from its pendent ring,
but the girl and the dog were gone lie
glanced ncrvously at the other couch
and shivcrcd rs he saw that its occu-
pant was still in its place. IL was. he
felt, horrible 10 he alone with this silent
chigy Of manhood lie cried for assist
nncc. His voice funded strangely hol-
low, but his heart leaped with JOY as he
found that he could utter articulate
sounds which weakness had hitherto
rendered impossible. But there was no
to his call. Again he uttered
u low, pitiful wall. Would no one hear
IL? Yes, the sick man on the other bed
heard II, and rs he heard IL he raised
his wasted form upon his hands and
glarcd at Arthur Dunbar with eyeslilto
living jewels set in the face OF marble.
"Who calls me?" he said, In a voice so |
feeble that II was little more than
Arthur Dunbar, terrified at the ghast-
y spectacle, made no reply.
"Who calls?" walled the man, implor-
ngly. "oh, for an English ear TO
listen to my guilty storyl II could |
1nly speak 10 fellow-countryman, Sir |
Harry Grahame might yet be rescued |
and my soul saved from eternal punish |
nent; but no one here can understand |
. word | say and must die uncon-
icsscdln
As the poor wretch breathed tho
words he fell back on his
,ouch senseless. And now a strange |
vitality seemed to possess the frame OF
he young American. He raised him.
iclf from his rough bed, and with tot.
.ering steps stumbled across the room
10 the bedside of the unhappy man.
"SpcalS out, man." he hoarsely cried. |
What have you to say about Sir Harry
II was n siclening sight-one,
ghost of his former self, so weak that
he could with difficulty stand. even
.hough his thin hands nervously |
the side OF the couch-the
other, exhausted 10 the very verge OF |
leath, yet startled from prostration by
.he unexpected appeal.
who are your" gasped the re-
,umbent figure.
lone who seeks Sir Harry Grahame.
Oh, speak quickly, or IL may be too
ate. What have You done with himP"
But though the white lips moved, no
sound came from them, and, Arthur
Dunbar, feeling that his strength was
spent, reeled back TO his couch, on
which he fell, quivering with the re-
action Of an effort which had nearly
cost him his life.
Presently his little nurse and the dog
returned, the former filled with re.
morse at having left her charge for the
brief time that II took her and her four
looted friend TO indulge in a scamper
through the wood In the moonlight.
Thus week passed Every day the
American gained strength and Mt last
was in condition 10 assist the girl in
her ministrations of mercy, tending tho
lying man with solicitude instigated
by the burning desire to secure his
secret as much as by human sympathy
Tor his Affections. But their efforts
seemed futile. His was life in death.
The heart beat feebly, the breath
fingered on his lips, occasionally the