The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-08-10

to forget everything"
EYES," she said almost lnaudibly.
at is best for him to forget, but not
everything. IL am very sorry for
YOU"
He pressed her hand lightly to his
lips. She knew that this was his char
actcristic farewell to the hopes he had
cherished. Womanlike. she was angry
Mt his silence. And then his wretched
pride. She had enough money for
both. What did his poverty matter?
Hadn't he that delightful gallery of
ancestors. some Of whom. IL report
spoke truly, were little better than the
wicked. You couldn't buy family por-
traits like that. There were plenty OF
dubious old masters in the market, but
few undoubtedly "old mississes," as
Mr.. Egg1eston called them. And hero
was this irrational youth, who loved
her, going Off to be scalped by Paw
neeS or Comanches or Sioux. or
Apaches, or any other outlandish tribe
of Indians with whom fate might con-
front him. Why not stay at home and
have his hnir pulled only in the family
circleY And II was such beautiful
hair. Now, II the Rev. Mr.. Guhlins
were to be scalped by the heather. IL
would not matter nearly so much. A
fringe of dirty gray hair could easily
be removed, but those hyacinthine
locks! 1t made her sick to think of
the scalping knife circling round their
ebon glorles. However, she dissem-
bled after the manner Of women, and
lightly bade him good-by
He disappeared in the darkness, feel
ing that desperate sorrow which only
comes 10 Il man once in lifetime, for
the simple reason that he couldn't pos
sibly Eve through IL twice. "By Jove,"
he muttercd between his toeth, ''it
would 40 hard with any one who
crossed me tonight"
"Har-Harryw gurgled a choking
voice from the shrubs. 'Elp--'Elp!
The next moment Harry had jump
ed into the bushes. A bullet whizzed
by his ear as he did SO, and a coward
ly rufiian, who had half straugled Mr.
EggleSton, fed into the unknown.
'My wife's portrait" cried Mr.. Egg
gleston. "They knocked me down as
l was coming up the walk"
Harry ran swiftly down the avenue,
his pulses tingling with fierce joy, and
all the savage within him revclling in
the prospect of fight.
Just as he reached the gate his foot
tripped against q rope, which was
stretched across the drive. There was
another srot--a red-hot soaring, tear
ing dart in his shoulder-and he fell
forward on his face, while the cracks
men made off across the fields, curs-
ing their own stupidity in beginning
operations so prematurely. Perkins
disappeared with them.
Harry was carried into the house
and laid on couch. Doctors were
telegraphed for right and left. For
hours he remained with pallid features
and closed eyes. The doctors shook
their heads and looked wise. The
wound was a serious one: the bullet
hard to find; II certain things didn't
happen the patient would recover; IL
they did happen, he wouldn't; that
was all that could be extracted from
them as they nodded with sphinxlike
gravity, and returned to their patient.
Sempronia sat beside Harry through
the long night. It was useless TO dis
simulate any more. She was quito
fearless and as white as wax. Every
now and then she moistencd his lips
or smoothed the pillow, but did not
give way to her grief. 1t was only
towards morning on the second day
after the doctors had extracted the
bullet that she betrayed any excite
ment. In the cold, gray dawn, a robin
deluded into momentary cheerfulness
by the thought that spring would sure
ly come some day, began to twitter
his CHEEKY melody TO the easements
glimmerinG square. The song of the
bird smote Sempronia. She shivered,
and bending over the wounded man,
kissed him passionatcly, "Ah," she
moaned, as she flung herself on her
knees by the couch, Il was cold, and
hard, and cruel to you, but | never
meant to let you leave me. l would
have followed you to the worlds end
for one word Of love, but you We're so
proud-so proud-that l could never
humble myself to tell you so. And
now-now you will not know It,
She brushed back her hair and star
ed with wild, wan eyes into the gray
dawn. Then wonderful thing hap
pened. The sleeping man opened his
eyes and smiled. From that moment
he grew better, II seemed to hear your
voice family, and afar of" he explain
ed, when he was able to "sit up and
take little nourishment," as Mr.. Eg-
gleston put 1t. ~ was crossing a gray
river, accompanied by an old man.
who was half clad in skins. AS we
drew near to the opposite shore, dimly
discernible through the gloom, pale
phantoms came down to meet us, and
then-then I heard your voice, and all
Is we'll"
"Yes." she made answer softly, "all
was well. God has been very good to
us. and all Ia we'll"
"And il anybody's got to be scalp
ed" said old Mr.. Eggleston, fondly
surveying the young couple, 'let's 'ope
as it'll be those ruffians rs garroted
me when that sanctimon!ous Perkins
(the butler) helped 'em TO get my
watch. Anyhow, they'll have their hail
cut short at Her Majesty's expense
for some time, bless her. It's refresh
Ing, after all these years OF paying