The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-12-15

Iunged at the officers throat. "A Irhe
form had como leaping like panther
up tho path, and even before Helen q cry
had died away Grow Knife had hurled
himself between the mon and the shin
Ing blade was buried out Of sight.
There was momeL1 Of furious struR-
gle, and then the sentry lay, felled like
an OK in his tracks, and Leale's foot was
at his throat. The knife, blood stained,
had dropped in the snow. The Indian,
bis hand pressed to his side, was sway.
Ing slowly back as the sergeant Of the
guard, with brace Of men, came run.
ming to the spot
Take this man to the guardhouse, {"
was the brief, stern order, as they lift
ed Graice, stunned and sodden, to his
feet. Then the captain turned to Grow
Knife. "Did that crazy brute strike
your Are you hurtp" he asked, in deep
ooncern.
"Captain. said the Indian slowly.
IT believe I'm killed"
Lealo sprang to support him. Other
men, running to the scene, linked their
bands and made chair and raised the
poor follow from the ground. Garry
him gently to tho hospital, lads. I'll be
with you in moment" said Leale, and
then he turned to where, trembling,
terrified, Helen Daunton still stood as
though powerless to move.
"Helen-Mrs. Daunton! First let me
see you home. I ask no confidence, no
explanation, but this is something in
which must help you. I have guessed
the truth, have notp That man is your
brotherp"
''My brother, Captain Leale? God
pity me, that man is my husbands"
For moment not another word was
spoken. Lealo had recoiled-staggere
--as though struck mortal blow
Then, in hoarse whisper, SO choked and
broken seemed his voice:
"Your husbandl Your husband, Hell
en-? Oh, my Godl And I had thought
You free to be loved; rs have learned
---as you have taught me-to love you."
Captain Leale," she cried, Sin pity
say you do not believe that. Oh, hear
mol Do not turn from me-" she implor-
ed, for in his misery he had averted his
face. "You shall not think me so vile,"
she went on desperately. "Inever knew
until today that you had learned to
care for me. Thought all that had gone
with my youth-oh, 80 long agol Ionly
asked Of life place where 1 could be
useful and safe and whore, by and by,
perhaps could forget. have seemed
to myself so old and dull and sad, SO
different from tho women mon love that
never dreamed it my duty to say was
not free. Oh, I thought you were my
friend. My heart has beon 80 heavy and
so numbed have thought it dead since
that Christmas eve four years ago. All,
let me tell 1t to you, and you will under
stand. -Four years ago this night my lit
tie sick baby woke and walled with
pain. That man, my husband, was in
a drunken sleep on tho floor. The baby's
cry woke him. He swore dreadful oath
at the little weak, white thing in my
arms and struck it hard across tho
mouth. I don't know what wild words
said to my husband, but told him
would never SEQ his face again. Then
caught my baby to my breast, and ran
and ran through the cold Christmas
streets, and the stars went out, and the
lights went out In the houses, and the
little baby on my breast grew heavier
and heavier, and by and by it was dawn,
and, oh, so cruelty cold, and FL open
ed the shawl and saw''-- Here, over
como by the recollection, the poor woman
covered her face in her hands and burst
into wild sobbing.
And then tho captain. "Holen, Hell
On, my poor, poor grill Hushi spoke
hko brute, but was hit hard. I was
your friend; am your friend. 1t is
late. You must go in. Take my cloak,
you are shivering.''
With that he turned and led her to
.he angle by the colone1's quarters. and
there she looked up one instant into his
sorrow stricken face. "Do not come far
ther with me-" she implored. "You
have been SO good to me-" and, bowling
to her will, he let her 60. and stood,
following her swiftly retreating form
with his longing eyes. And then, soft
and sweet and clear, as though rising
above all surrounding Of crime or sin or
sorrow, there foated on the night the
prolonged notes Of tho cavalry trumpet
sounding the soldier lullaby, "Lights
out.
''Lights out" murmured Leale.
"Lights out. Ah, God help moi For life
and love it is indeed lights out"
The next day Grow Knife died.
TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK