Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1895-01-17
CHAPTER XIX.

SclOuSneSS he tOund nllnSaiI lying on
cot in the hospital, with the post SUI
geon bending over him.
Glow do you feel now, my man?" IT,
doctor asked, kindly.
VERY weak and faint, sir. Hc
came here? What is the matter vi
me?''
"You have beer cry sick, Brow
Can you not recaI he past? Do "
not remember being wounded by IT,
Indians?"
Wounded? The Indians? What
dians?" He looked up at the surgeo.
in astonishment.
Try to remember see if you cannc
recall your desperate fight with the II
dians from behind the rocks"
Brown closed his eyes and endeavore.
to collect his truant thoughts. SlowlE
family and indistinctly at first, bu;
growing clearer and clearer as his dc
lirium-prostrated brain regained power
the rescue, the desperate ride for lif,
and the battle all came back to him.
'Ohl tell me, doctor, was she-wa
Alice saved?"
''Calm yourself, my boy. The least
excitement may yet undo all my wor.
in my efforts to save you. Miss SANFORD
Is safe with her father"
''God be praised" he fervently said.
great tears of joy starting in his pain
dimmed eyes. How long have beer
here, 60ctor?"
''Fo four days. You have been de
lirious all that time and very near to
death, but you have now passed the
crisis and there is a good chance foI
your recovery. You are built of good
material, Brown. That shot would
have killed any ordinary man"
''And Alice, doctor, Miss Sanford
has she been to see me?"
"Been here to see you, indeed? Why
the little witch will scarcely take time
to eat and sleep, but wants to sit here
by your side all the time. The young
lady is filed with gratitude TOWARD
you, Brown, for your hcroism in rescu
ing her from horrible fate, and the
whole garrison is singing your praises
It was a brave undertaking, my boy
q noble, heroic venture successfully ac
complished."
A smile of qualification spread over
his pale, wan face. He cared not fol
the laudations of the people of the gar
rison. His Alice had been near him
and that was worth more TO him than
would have been the ploudits of H.
universe.
HAS Col. Sanford asked after mt
doctor?" There was an eager look on
his face as he put the question.
''Col. Sanford calls to see you several
times day, Brown. You cannot real
ize the dangerous position in whicl
your care places me. The colonel h.
given me the most emphatic orders t
save your life, and says if let you dis
he will at once have me taken out anc
shot Now you see the peril which
confronts me, and you must do all yor
can to hasten your recovery by implic-
lily obeying my orders. You must not
speak another word. You have talked
too much already. You mus remem
bcr my life is at stake, my man"
He smiled knowingly as he referred
to the coloncls clustering threat
There was smile of perfect peace ano
satisfaction on the pale face of the
wounded man as he closed his eyes tC
reflect over what the surgeon had TOLD
him. Alice was with him almost con
stantly, and, of course, it must be
with her fathers consent. And the old
commander, himself, called severa'
times daily to ask after him. TIM
knowledge was sweet to his soul, and
he felt supremely happy. Gradualll
his senses grew more and more in
active. and he soon sank into a sweet.
refreshing sleep, the first since he had
been brought into the hospital The
surgeon bent over him and noted his
strong, regular breathing, and softly
felt his pulse.
Excellent! Excellentr' he said to
himself. Brown, my brave boy, you
are worth a whole regiment of dead
men yet"
When Col. Sanford found his
daughter once more safe in her home.
he acted in a manner that at times
almost made her fear he was losing his
reason. He would call her many times
a day to come to him, and clasping her
closely in his arms, as if he feared she
might again be taken from him, would
weep like child and mutter praises
and thanks to Heaven for her deliver
ance from death. The old mans heart
was filed with JOY lmmcasurable, and
:he light of love was never before so
bright as now as he gazed upon her
lovely face.
The day following her return he
called her into his business Office and
said:
Sunshine, that young scapegrace
saved you from God only knows what
fate, and must reward him. / want
you to tell me all you know of him
from your GTst meeting to the present
time"
Papa, dear, may | not give it to you
in writing?" she asked, a slight 1ush
suffusing her face.
"Yes, daughter, that's military.
Make n full report to me in writing
and place it in my hands at the carli-
est possible moment. Give your olG
bear cf father kiss and get to work
on your official report at once, dear"
She kissed him once, twice, thrice
and ran away to her room. Her pen
flew over the paper with great rapidity
rs she fully, freely wrote down every
detail u her retati9ng with tho qpEi,