The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-02-26
do not speak Of what Is there.

ing and exhausted. Wells quickly gave
affixed their names as witnesses. a mo-
ment later, Willie the surgeon remained
with his patient, the two young officers
clasped hands outside.
you're weak as child yet, Randy.
What is it. old boy?"
"My God! l can't afford to be weak
-aow," was the fierce answer. i've got
toact-to do as never did before. How
long slorld it take our best rider, our
lightest rider, to reach the railway?
kilograms must go east Mt once"
eff be take the back trail-the one
you came in by from Scdgwick-hvc
days and nights, least count. If he go
around by the environment for fresh
horses, perhaps seven"
"My God! my God!" cried Merriam.
"Ivcn two days may be too long.
You're in command, Billy. can give
no orders, but that courier must start
before moonrise tonight. Don't ask
me to tell You why"
And within the hour. with scaled
packet addressed to Capt. Lawrence
Uaync. TIL infantry, Fort Sc:lgwick, a
slim little Irish trooper was looping, all
alone. iauntily back toward the valley
of the Bravo, smacl<ing his lips in antici-
patton of the good liquor awaiting him
at Santa Fc Junction the moment his
duty was done. Five days and nights
had he before him of lonely ride
through Il desolate, almost desert land,
- 10 foo1
and water and rub down his horse,
build his little fire and cook his slab
of bacon and brew the battered pot of
coffee, and snatch such sleep under the
stars as was possible, Drawing Indians,
rattlesnaltes or mountain lions without
q trclnor. for the sake Of an Irishnan's
pride in his troop, his love Of dangerous
duty and his full assurance Of a good
time at the journeys end.
Another day and rude grave was
dug in the canyon, and the doctor read
the simple service OF the church over
the shrouded form of the young pros
pector; and then, against that doctors
wishes, but not without his reluctant
consent. Lieut.. Merriam, with an escort
of two troopers. started in person to
ride by the shortest trail TO Sr.,owick.
II was now the 9th June. 1t would
take him nearly a week to reach and
him eight days to Scdgwick, and every
hour seemed a day Meantime DR..
Wells set about having litters made for
the two wounded troopers, and by tho
tenth Of the month had them safely in
hospital at the cantonment. He found
Tremaine looking anxious, even an
gered, Mrs Tremainc troubled on more
than one account, apparently, and Flor
ence pale and languid.
"Did Mr.. Merriam send no letter."
asked Mrs. Tronainc. after he had told
something Of their experiences.
'"Ihcre was no time to write. He
begged me TO give you his love and graf
itude. to give it to all. and to say he
would write in full the moment he got
to Sedgwick. Oh, yes. he is better
much better, but the nervous strain
may bring on q return OF the fever"
eaid the doctor. Something of solemn
consequence. Wells knew not what,
had carried Merriam back to the rail-
way. tie might nave 10 go east at once.
But Randy never reached the railway.
Hayre received and read In startled
amaze the contents Of the packet
brought by the courier. and sent at
once from thsUa:nction two tclegra phic
,neeso ,-as-~onn to Mr.. Ned Parry. of the
firm Of Gra"n-. Hayh;,ra & Parry Of
Chicago; TIE other to Mr.. Abraham
Mciien, Nev York city: received from
TIE latter neither aclsnowed~ ment nor
reply. ana f-on, the former the brief
words: ".I';:e marriage took place 4s
hours ego.'
"":hout any delay, taking only
pl,lgle orderly, Capt. Havne rode away
horthwcs'srara> past the Santa Clara,
past the ca Mission. and so mountain-
ward unli! :i.e blue barrier of the Mes
talsin turned 10 gray and green, and.