The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1895-05-09

to the wood beyond the fork of the road?
For moment there was a delightful
sense OF relief, but it was soon followed
by the animal instinct Of the savage
chasing an object of prey. Stimulated
by this, or return Of sense of duty,
or both. he was about to ride into the
wood, when, looking down on the long
grass by the roadside, he deserted the
unconscious body, the face apparently
white in death, of the woman he sought.
In moment the corporal was off 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 ye hurt?''
There was agony in the corporal $
voice. He put an arm under her head to
raise it. 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, If not secretly, as illegitimate
warfare. To him she was innocent, not
that he reasoned upon her acts, but be-
cause mysterious something's breath
from spirit land-had made her more to
him than all the world beside. He laid
his head down upon her breast to listen
IT the heart beat; be chafed her hands
and arms; he took off his cap and fan
ned her. Still she lay limp in his arms
without a sign of life.
''Darlin, darlin, come back to life.
Come 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 a bayonet
through me own rotten heart
A slight murmur, something like a
groan, escaped her.
Praise God, there 8 life! If it d only
grow stronger! All, thank heaven,
there's water!"
Laying her head down in the grass,
he went to the side Of the road where
there was a runnel of clear water.
Scooping some of it in his two hands, he
threw it 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 it was received it melted into
one Of tenderness.
"Ah, Rats" she exclaimed family,
chow could you do it?''
He put his great hands-brown from
exposure-before his eyes to shut out
the face which at every glance kindled
that she had come to life another terror
came to him to administer an added
torture. He 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 in
jiffy" he cried wildly. "Tell me
that ye forgive me. Tell me that ye
don't hate me as I hate meself.
"For doing your duty, Rats?''
duty! Is it mans duty to run
down a woman like hare? Don't talk
to me Of duty. If ye 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 ye take it, darlin-I meant
don't know what I'm talkin about. Let
me put it to yer lips. Take swallow.
It'll revive ye MOI" She appeared to
be passing back to Inconsistencies.
"Take it for moi sake, sweetheart.
Only take good swallow, and yell be
ri0hted -
Go be continued.)