Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-02-28

For tho last hour j had ridden Close u
Brent. saw that Il was almost NJ
with him. He swayed In his saddle
His eye was glazed and dull. But b.
kept his look hxed on the little group ol
Laramie barracks and let his horse carr
him.
lifted mp my heart in prayer that thil
noble life might not be quenched. He
must not die, now that be was enlargei
and sanctihed by truest love.
At last We struck open country. Bill
Armstrong; sorrel took cradling lope;
we rode through camp Of Sioux "tep'
ees," like % many great white fools.
caps; we turned the angle Of . great
white wooden building and halted.
sprang from Fulano and Brent quietly
drooped down into my arms.
"Jrst In time" said . cheerful. manly
voice at my ear.
81 hope So" said L els It Captain
RubyY'
ayes. Well take him into my bed.
Dr.. Pathie. here's Q patient for you"
We carried Brent In. Al we crossed
the veranda saw Miss Clitheroe's meet
Ing with her father. He received her
almost peevishly.
We laid the wounded man In Ruby's
hospital bed. Evidently . fine fellow,
Ruby, and, what was to the point. fond
Of John Brent.
"Critical case" said DR.. Pathie at last.
He had great outrageous eyebrows and
. gentle, pereinptory manner, as OF one
who had done much merciful cruelty In
bis day. "Ugly wound. Never saw a
worse furow. Conical ball. He must
have been almost at the muzzle Of the
pistol. He ought not to have stirred for
Q 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.
III have given Miss Clitheroe my sole
guest chamber" he said. "She has a
lady's maid In the brawny person Of an
Irish corporaless. What transcendent
being she Isl I don't wonder Brent loves
her. as I OWNED he did from what Jake
Shamberlain-shrewd fellow, Jake-said
when he consigned the father to me-"
81 must have o talk with the old gen.
tleman. Oh, there he Is with Arm.
strong"
Armstrong was handing him the
money belt. His eyes cleaned a. he
clutched 1t.
"Troubls In store, I fear" said Cap.
tain Ruby, "for Mr.. Clitheros and all
who care for him."
"Hs ought to be at peace at last"
"He 10 not. DR.. Pathie says he 10 a
case Of drapetoinania."
IL have heard that outlandish word
used to express the tendency-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.
IA desperate malady! At his age al.
most fatal"
$50 Pathie says. When man Of Mr..
Clitheroe's age is not ut peace within,
he goes into war with his circumstances.
He cannot conquer them, 30 he runs
away. He has always before him a
shadow Of . dream Of what he might
have been, and that ghost drives him
and chases him until 1t wears him out.
Eyes; but 1t 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 q reproaching SELF"
"Mr. Clitheroe Is chatting to be gone.
start train for the States tomorrow
the last chance to travel with escort
this season-s small typographical party
going back. He has been for the last
few days In passion Of impatience. al.
most scolding me and your .rty. his
daughter and circumstances, lest you
should not arrive In time for him to 70. :
"To 20 wherel What does he intendy
HE Is full Of great schemes. I do not
know OF course anything Of him eIcep,
what have picked up from his com.
municativeness; but you would suppose
him duke from his talk. He speaks oi
his old manor house, should know II
by sight now-snd says he intends TO 70
purchase II and be q great man again.
lie is constantly inviting me to share biz
new splendors. Really his pictures oil
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 II
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 homo. Hii
daughter Is bis only friend and guardian,
except ourselves"
"He sprasg 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. lsup'
pose she is tested traveller by this time.
"As thoroughly as any man on the
plains"
"She can 90 very comfortably in the
train. Two or three soldiers wives go.
"Ths chance is clearly not to be lost.
donot like to part with my fascinating
comrade. It was poetry to camp with
such q woman. Travel will seem stale
henceforth. I wish we could keep her
for Brent's sake"
"Poor fellowl Pathie looks very doubt
ful. You must tell me your story mor'
fully after supper"
Miss Clitheroe had yielded to fatigue
I did not See her that night. In fact
after all the wearing anxiety Of our triI
I was glad to lie down on white buffalo
robe, with the Sybaritic luxury Of pail
Of clean sheets, and show my gratitude
to Ruby by twelve hours solid sleep.
A drum beat awaked me next morn
ing. Il was not reveille, 1t was mo-
breakfast, II was not guard mounting.
sprang mp and looked from the window
How odd It seemed TO peer from win
dow after the unwindowed wildernessi
The four white hooded wagons OF th'
little homeward train were ready tostart
The drum was calling In the escort. Th'
hfty soldiers Of Ruby's garrison wer'
grouped about, lending hand to thei
luckier comrades, homeward bound
Ruby was taking leave Of his brothel
officers. Armstrong stood little apar
with his horses. A busy scene and busiel
| vheu soms yixenish mack mule shOOl