Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-05-02

fendish ye1ls. They think they hive
US now, but will soon learn tlasir error. 2
Alice c,zerted I'll her strength in do
ing as he requested, and again his rife
rang out as the Indians, supposing he
had been killed. were securing their
ponies and preparing for a descent
upon the maiden. Again they sought
shelter behind the rocks and resumed
their desuItory fire.
The effort proved too great for the
wounded man, and he sank back heav-
lily into Alice's arms She now became
almost paralyzed with fright as she
gently let him down upon the ground.
He looked up into her blanched face,
and with :, smile so CHASTITY that it
, seemed TO betolSen the approach of
death said, family:
''Why do you weep. Alice, darling.
| am not badly hurt. feel very-very
-weak-but-it is on1y-only from
loss of blood. will rally in moment
Kiss me, Alice. The pressure of your
dear lips will nerve me-me-me for
one mo-more effort"
She pressed her trembling lips to his,
and moaned:
Ned, you are dying! You are dying!
can see it in your poor, dear eyes.
Oh! must you die so cruelty, and for
me? Don't close your eyes, darling
you Brighten me so! cannot bear it!
Speak to me once again, Ned! Oh! he
is dying-he is dying"
She gave way to her great grief in
the most pitiful sobs. The wounded
man made great effort to rally his
strength, and feebly said:
Alice. do not despair. I-I-I-I am
very-very faint, but L"
A fendish yell from the Indians cut
short his speech, and Alice, a cold gilt
ter of desperation coming into her
eyes, laid his head gently on the
ground, seized his rifle, and, with a
strange ring in her voice, said:
''You defended me to your death, my
lost darling. Now I will defend you
till death calls me to go with you into
the dark shadows"
Raising herself she looked over the
rocks, and to her amaZement saw that
the Indians were hastily mounting and
rapidly retreating. At the same in
slant rumbling sound from the direc-
ton of the fort fell upon her ears, and
casting her eyes in that direction she
observed great cloud of dust raising
in the air. Springing to the side of her
lover she cried:
''Oh. Ned, darling, if you are yet
alive rouse yourself. The troops are
coming from the fort"
But the pale lips refused to move,
and the eyes were closed as if in death.
With wild shrek of agony she raised
her hands aloft and fell across his
body. as a troop of cavalry Numbered
up to the spot, Col. Sanford at its head.
CHAPTER XIX.
When Private Brown regained con-
sciousness he found himself lying on
cot in the hospital, with the post sur
geon bending over him.
''How do you feel now, my man?" the
doctor asked, kindly.
Very weak and faint, sir. How
came here? What is the matter with
me?''
You have been very sick. Brown.
Can you not recall the past? Do you
not remember being wounded by the
IndiaEs?"
Wounded? The Indians? What In
dians?" He looked up at the surgeon
in establishment.
Try to remember. See if you cannot
recall your desperate fight with the In
dams from behind the rocks"
Brown closed his eyes and endeavored
to collect his truant thoughts Slowly,
family and indistinctly at first, but
growing clearer and clearer as his de-
lirium-prostrated brain regained power,
tho fhn 70 %,, q,
and the battle all came back to him.
''Oh! tell me, doctor, was she-was
Alice saved?"
''Calm yourself, my boy. The least
excitement may yet undo all my work
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 been
here, doctor?'
''For 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 q good chance for
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 meT'
''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 heroism in rescu-
ing her from horrible fate, and the
whole garrison is singing your praises.
1t was brave undertaking, my boy
a noble, heroic venture successfully ac-
complished."
A smile of qualification spread over
his pale, wan face. He cared not for
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 plaudits of the
universe.
HAS Col. Sanford asked after me,
doctor?" There was an eager look on
his face as he put the question.
''Col. Sanford calls to see you several
times a day, Brown. You cannot real
ize the dangerous position in which
your care places me- The colonel has
given me the most emphatic orders to
save your life, and says if let you die
he will at once have me taken out and
shot. Now you see the peril which
confronts me, and You must do all you
can to hasten your recovery by implic-
lily obeying my orders. You must not
speak another word. You have talked
too much already. You must remem-
Der my life is at stake. my man."
He smiled knowingly as he referred