The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-07-26

side. STOPPING again. she thought, as
she took the hand in hers, she could feel
some pressure from his fingers. Her joy
was inexpressible, and yet her fear was
greater. Could ii be that he was not
dead, or did she imagine that his hand
had pressed hers? Resting the hand in
place again as If ready to leave, once
more it dropped from his breast. 1t
seemed like gesture from the dead.
Again she lifted the hand and again un-
mistakably she felt the pressure as be
fore, but no other trace of life. Possibly
in lifting the arm the muscle was con-
-tracted not by life but by bending the
arm. Gazing into his eyes not even the
motion of his lids could be detected.
Again remembering the heart, she placed
her ear once more to his breast and list
ened long and breathless and heard, or
thought she heard, one pulsation. In
effable, ecstatic hopei What a supreme
moment to her. A moment in which her
friend and lover was coming back from
the dark shadows of mysterious death
returning from the border land, to cross
which marks the everlasting bounds Of
the last journey. Yes, as she listens
again, surely the heart did beat. Bend
ing over him, patting his face, whisper
ing words of love into his ear. with no
answer but the throb of a heart. This
is love. This is death. Whispering with
passionate affection and answered by
the throb of a heart, and then all Is
still. But now his eyes open and close.
Incapable of longer overcoming her emo
ton, she jumped up and clapped her
hands. repeating over and over again:
He is not dead, he is not dead, and
will save him yet"
Carl Brandon had suffered a severe
shock as we'll as a dangerous injury,
and for the time being, was motionless
and helpless, but perfectly conscious.
He saw Sparkle Brooke all the time, and
hoard felt
touch, that, to him now had become di-
vine. AS he lay there helpless but con-
scious, wounded most severely but
not in pain, saw her gliding In
the moonlight. and heard her en-
dearing words. was conscious of
the pressure of her faithful ear to his
unfaithful breast, he could no longer
think her human: she was some bright,
beautiful angel that had strayed out
through the pearly gates and wandered
TO a sin-cursed world, to hunt up some
wayward traveller and take him back
to the sun-kissed garden of song, and
he said to himself. though he could not
move his lips, THE blessed pleasure -
that joy that passes all human under
standing that he had experienced since
Sparkle Brooke stood by his side, more
than paid for all of his misery. Yes, he
thought he could endure 1t over and
over a thousand times. for such words
and such kisses. To him her love was
stronger than death and the light of
her face would give the midnight of his
misery a noontide of peace.
When he was able TO talk and to bless
her and thank her. she forbade him,
knowing he had no strength TO waste
in words She besought him to let her
go 10 the village and bring friends who
would carry him home. He could
| scarcely bear the idea of her leaving
| him. fearing he might not survive her
return Being fully resigned to his will
she sat by his side again, and, placing
his head upon her knee, repeated many
of the endearing words. She did not
know how badly he was hurt, as he was
unable to rise. Fortunately some be-
! lated villagers. returning from the coun-
try had heard the crash when the We
! hicle went over the bank, and subse-
| quently Sparkles screams, had come to
| the scene. They soon brought more as
| sistance from the town and carried the
wounded, bleeding man back in the east
est possibly way. The physicians dis
| covered that, besides being bruised bad
| " and probably suffering from internal
| injuries. he also had a broken leg.