Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-03-05

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he put the neck Of battered edntecn "a
her lips.
graph stealer that he might turn her
over TO tho military authorities of his
own army to be hanged, and now he
was suddenly plunged into terror foi
fear she had been killed He went ON,
but with new object distinct In his
mind. 1t was not to injure Miss Baggs,
but to succor her.
He soon came to the heap Of splinters
and iron which marked the point of
collapse of Miss Baggs' buggy. Miss
Baggs was not visible Had she taken
to tho wood beyond the fork Of the road:
For moment there was delightful
sense of relief, but it was soon followed
by the animal instinct Of the savage
chasing m object OF prey. Stimulated
by this, or return Of sense Of duty,
or both. no was about TO ride into the
wood, when, looking down on the long
grass by the roadside, ho deserted the
unconscious body. the face apparently
white in death, Of the woman he sought.
In n moment the corporal was of his
horse and on his knees beside her The
chase in which he had been so eager and
the cause were both forgotten on seeing
Miss Baggs lying apparently cold in
death at his feet.
''Darlin, are We hurt?"
There was agony in tho corporals
voice. He put an arm under her head to
raise il. With the other he grasped her
hands
ITO the divil's own keepin with the
war anyway. What's it good for ex-
cept to injure innocent women and chill
dren?"
In that nonresistance OF unconscious
ness he forgot that this woman had been
engaged in what the world condemns
openly, IL not secretly. rs illegitimate
warfare. To him she was innocent, hot
that he reasoned upon her acts, but be-
cause mysterious ssomething-a breath
from spirit land-had made her more 10
him than all the world beside. He laid
his head down upon her breast TO listen
il the heart beat; he chafed her hands
and arms; he took off his cap aud fan
ned her. Still she lay limp in his arms
without sign Of life.
'Darlin, darlin, come back to life.
Como back, if it's only long enough to
tell me ye forgive me for me cowardly
chasin ye olive killed ye Oh know it,
Oi wish some one would run bayonet
through me own rotten heart. +"
A slight murmur. something like a
groap, escaped her.
Praise God. there's life II it'd only
grow strongerl All, thank heaven.
there's waterV
Laying her head down in the grass,
he went 10 the side of the road where
there was q runnel Of clear water.
Scooping some Of it in his two hands, he
threw il in her face.
She opened her eyes.
Corporal Ratigan never forgot the
look with which his prisoner regarded
him when she recognized who he was.
There were two expressions following
each other rapidly-the first, reproach'
but when she noticed the pain with
which il was received it melted into
one of tenderness.
"Ah, Rats" she exclaimed family, |
show could you do it,"
He put his great bands-brown from
exposure-before his eyes to shut out
the face which at every glance kindled
some new emotion to rack him. Now
that she had come to life another terror |
came to him to administer an added
torture. Ho knew that mounted men
were following; that they would soon
appear over the crest just behind them;
that his prisoner would be taken, tried
and condemned.
They're comm! They'll be here III
O jiffyw he cried wildly. Tell me
that ye forgive me. Tell mo that "
don't hate me as / hate meself. "
"For doing your duty. Rats:'
DUTY! Is il mans duty TO run |
down woman like hare? Don't talk
to me of duty. II We suffer for this,
Oil desert and 60 back to Oireland, and |
God be praised If he'll send storm to
sink the ship and me in it, There's a
drop in me canteen-a drop OF whisky. |
Will We take it. darlin-I nean-I
don't know what I'm talkin about Let
me put it to yer lips Take swallow.
It'll revive ye. No?" She appeared to
be passing back to Inconsistencies.
Take it for moi sake, sweetheart.
Only take good swallow, and ye'll be
righted."
She opened her eyes. Evidently she |
had heard There was an expression on
,er face indicating that his words had
produced that effect upon her which |
might be expected in woman who
hears a strong man, unconsciously and
unintentionally, declaring his love.
"Why do you wish me to live, Rats!
Don't let me live. II you do, I'll die
on the gibbet."
"Oh, dariin," he moaned, don't be
talkin that way. Oil die meself first.
Oill raise mutiny. Oi'll"-
He could not so on. His words
mocked him. He well knew heir futil-
ity. "Take drop, sweetheart-only a
drop for moi sake"
What change from the day no had
jokingly asked her to take an oath fof
"moi sake!'
"For your sake, Rata Give it to
me-"
He put the neck Of battered tin can
teen to her lips, and she drank little
of the liquid. It produced beneficial
change mt once. A tinge Of color cane
to her cheeks, and she breathed more
easily.
A Gathering of horses hoofs, a ciank-
ing Of sabers, mounted figures standing
out against the morning sky on the crest
behind them, and three cavalrymen are
dashing on to where lies Miss Baggs
and kueels the corporal