The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-01-14

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She gathered up her clingtng skirts In one
hand and folloeced alter.
Barclay By this time, too. VIM had
succeeded in making his wife hear him,
aud 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
order to VIM to keep away young
Brayton broke loose from him and ran
to assist. As though half stupefed.
Winn heavily moved pace or two,
then sank upon bench and stared. His
wife stood gazing in horror at the trail
of blood that followed the three men
into the hall, then faltered over to
where the young soldier sat, moaning:
"Oh, Harryl Oh, Harry" Reaching.
his side, she laid her hand upon his
shoulder and babe him look at her
speak to her He rose slowly to his
feet, bis face averted, shook himself
free, and with a shudder, but never ut
tering word in-reply, passed into his
dark doorway. The nursegirl, wide
eyed, met him at the threshold. "Go
to your MISTRESS" he said hoarsely. He
stumbled on through the house, I'M
slung the revolver belted to his waist
and laid it on the hall-table, reconsid-
cred, buokled it firmly on, and pulling
his hat down over his eyes drew back
the door bolt and let himself ont upon
the front piazza. Crossing the parade,
he saw the red sash of the officer of the
day. De Lancy was dragging sleepily
back from his reveille visit to the
guard, but the sight of Winn aroused
him, and be quickened his pace and
came striding to him.
Hello, lad," he hailed, full 20
PAGES away, "what luck? Got Mars
den, the sergeant tells me. Why
good God, what's happened?"
Nothing" said Vim, Except per-
haps I've killed Barclay. Take me to
the colonel"
You're daft, man." said De Lancy
while an awful fear almost
checked the beating Of his heart. Then,
Selling VIM by the arm, "What dye
mean?" he asked.
"Go and see," said VIM stupidity
as he buried his face in his arms mo-
ment, then stretched them out full
length, and tossing his head back shut
his eyes as though to blot out hateful
sight. 60" he continued, "then come
and take me to the colonel"
And De Lancy started on the run and
collided with Brayton at the door.
"For Gods sake, 60 and hurry up
'Funnybone, moaned the yorngster.
Here's Barclay bleeding to DEATH
De Lanoy ran his best. Guardsmen
across the parade stopped and stared,
men in shirt sleeves rushed out on the
barrack stoops and stood and gazed, and
\ corporal, with rifle trailed, came run
ming over to see what was amiss, just
as the junior doctor, in cap and over
coat, trousers and slippers, came bolt.
ing out Of his hallway and flying up
The path. In front of De Lancy's one
slipper went HURTING back through
nidair, bnt the doctor rushed on in
foot. The corporal picked up |
he shoe and followed. No one seemed
10 look for the moment at VIM, who
;urned slowly back to the pathway and
ike blind man seemed CROPPING his
way toward Frazier's. The officer Of |
he day passed him by on the run, fol-
owing at the DOCTORS heels with never
mother look at him. Men seemed to
hink only of Barclay. Was it credible |
hat an officer and a gentleman, as
Vim had been regarded, could pur-
,,sely have dealt that honored soldier
Mortal blow, unless-unless-but who
ould find words to frame the thought?
)noe within Brayton's hallway, De
4ancy turned and slammed shut the
|oor, for others were coming on the
I'm from far across the parade. Over at
be guardhouse the men had started for
heir breakfast, but hung there, cluster.
d about the sentry post, gazing over
he crissoross plat Of the parade and
nuttering their conjectures as to the
ause Of the trouble. The sight Of Lieu
enant VIM wandering on down the
ow, turning from time to time, halt
ng as though uncertain what he ought
0 do, while every other officer was
unning to the other end of the row,
vas something they could not under
tand.
Then Mira VIM, in riding habit,
anne suddenly forth upon her piazza,
nd, gazing wildly up and down, ,caught
light of her husband, now some 30
aces away along the gravel walk.
stretching forth her arms to him, she
cyan to call aloud: Harry, Harryi
lease come backp' He never turned
he ran down the steps and ont to-the
ate and called him louder, louder, 10
bat they could hear the voice alb oyer
be- garrison in the sweet, still morning
irs but on he went. dogGedly new,
aster and faster. She gathered up her