The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1898-11-04
[coNrINUED.l

Mrs. frazler had consulted Collabone as
to the earliest date on which Barclay
could stand long drive, as she wished
to give little fete i'll his honor and
had planned q picnic to Barrier rock,
a romantic spot just within the gorge.
Collabone had referred her to his assist
ant, and that younger officer consulted
his patient before committing himself
to reply.
81 don't care to ride in an ambu
lance, doctor, but 1 do long to get in
saddle. There's no strain on that leg
below the knee. CAM you let me mount
from my back porch here and amble
around these fine mornings before people
are up?" And s'Funnybone' assented.
He and Barclay rode out together very
cautiously next morning at reveille, and,
finding his patient benefited by the gem
tie exercise on such perfect mount as
either of those kentucky bays, the doc
tor said: eco again. Only ride slowly
and mount and dismount only at the
back porch, where you have only to
lower yourself into saddle Be sure to
avoid any shock or jar, then you re all
right. .
Hannibal and Mrs. Winn's domestic
were the only persons besides Barclays
orderly to see the start, but had the do
nestle herself been alone it would have
been sufficient to insure transmission of
the news. First she told her mistress.
Later she learned from Hannibal that
the captain was going out to stables
next morning the same way and had
ordered coffee to be ready at reveille.
This, too, was conveyed to Laura, and
that evening she sent for the veteran
stable sergeant Of the troop to which
her husband was temporarily attached
and asked him if Robin Hood, pretty
little chestnut she used to ride, was
still in the stable. He was, and would
Mrs. Winn be pleased to ride? The
sergeant would be glad to see the lady
in saddle again. Her handsome side.
saddle was, with her bride, always
kept in perfect order, but for several
months Mrs Winn had taken no exer-
else that way.
I'm going to ride at reveille, SER
geant. " she confided to the faithful SOL
der. It's so long since mounted 1
wish to try once or twice when people
can't see me-" And Sergeant Burns
had promised that as soon as the sentry
would release him after gun fire Robin
Hood should be on hand. He'd be proud
to come with him himself.
True to his word, Burns was up at
4:15. Robin was groomed and fed and
watered and saddled in style and ready
to start the moment the sentry was re-
lieved by the morning gun fire from the
imposition of the order to .'allow no
horse to be taken out between taps and
reveille, except in the presence of a
commissioned officer or the sergeant of
the guard. The sight that met the
sergeant's eyes as he cartered around
back of the row OF officers quarters,
leading Robin by the rein, was one he
never forgot.
With pallid face, down which the
blood was streaming from cut at the
temple, Captain Barclay was seated on
the steps striving to bind handker-
chief about his lower leg. Old Hanni-
ba,, forgetful Of the dignity of the Old
Dominion, was actually running down
tie back road in haste, it seemed, to sum-
mon the doctor. On the porch amid
some overturned chairs two athletic,
sinewy young men were graphing, one
of them, Lieutenant Brayton, almost
lifting and carrying the other, Lieuten-
ant VIM, toward his own doorway,
both ashen gray as to their faces, both
fearfully excited, both struggling hard,
both with painting breath striving to
speak with exaggerated calm.
On this scene, wringing her hands,
sobbing with fright and misery. fitting
frst,to Barclay IS side, then back toward
her straining husband, saying wild and
incoherent things to both, was Laura
Winn. Burns had the frontiersman's
contempt for chimneypot hat, and
never seemed one SO homogeneous as
this-her riding headgear which in the
midst Of her wailings Mrs. Winn clasp.
ed to her heaving breast To make mat
tiers more complicated, the neighbor-
hood was waking up, domestics and
STRIKERS were gazing from back
porches farther down the row, and
Blythe's big hounds had taken to bark
ing furiously, until that bulky and be-
wildered soldier himself came forth,
damned them into their kennel, then
fastened in CONSERVATION to the aid of
Barclay. By this time, too, VIM had
succeeded in making his wife hear him,
and was ordering her within doors; but
like some daft creature she lowered,
moaning and wringing her hands and
staring at Barclay, whose eyes were
now beginning to close and whose form
was slowly swaying.
In Gods name, man, what's hap
pened?" demanded Blythe as he seized
and steadied the topping form. "Why,
you're bleeding like an OK. Your boot
is running over. Drop those horses,
Burns, and run for the doctor lively"
he urged. Needing no further authori-
ty, the sergeant turned his chargers
loose and scurried after Hannibal
"Help me carry Barclay indoors"
was the next word. With one warning
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