The Delta independent., 1899-12-22

frr "A which descends q flight OF stepa-
Taking q candle from some lying scat
tered about the floor. she lights II and
proceeds to descend. Round and round
We wind. aud there at the bottom. his
head bound in u blood stained bantlage.
Is PonsOnby. evidently very seriously
hurt. looking deathly pale. but now
peacefully sleeping.
To say that we were thulde- struck
would lie TO put II family. As neither
Agtlcn nor myself can speak Spanish
or Tagnlos. We cannot ask the lady. for
q lady she evidently il. judging by her
manner. her dress and jewels. She sat
on some pieces Of wood. her face rest
ing on her hands. occasionally giving
vent to sob. How the weary hours
passed that night with Agdlen and my
self attending on our injured friend'i
could hardly tell. At length came the
dawn. aud ] went on In search OF a
surgeon. after having assisted Agden
TO get PonsOnby up the steps leading
from the crypt into the church. A
doctor was soon found and came with
all speed with me to the church. His
diagnosis was to the effect that Por-
sonby must have discovered the stair
case by some accident had fallen down
II In the darkness and injured his head.
1t was impossible to say how severe
such injury might bs.. and. although he
had every hope Of rapid recovery. he
would not Try to give us any false i'm
pressions. An ambulance was sOOn on
the spot. our wounded friend placed In
side and we started for town. Ag,len
having kindly volunteered to do my
work in the field during my brief alb
sence. The Journey to town was speed
lily accomplished. and I left Ponsonby
I'm the hands OF the good sisters OF the
San Juan de Dios hospital Meanwhile
had completely forgotten the scnori;a.
and II was not until met Agden at
Malolos some three days after that I
gave her n thought. Then ] learned
that she had vanished AS i.iysteriously
as she Ind appeared.
Meanwhile the campaign went on.
Weeks passed. The insurgents were
day by day being driven back. Pom
sonby had got out Of the hospital and
was recuperafing In town. and as the
rainy season was In full swing and
nothing Of Importance was taking
place In the country Agden and my
self were also resting" We were
one evening sitting on the hotel vcran-
da when Ponsonby walked up. After
few words Of greeting he said:
well. boys. I'm sorry to leave you.
but nm OF tomorrow. My wife Joins
me In 'ch!nchins.' Am hound for Cal
cutta and thence by +. and .. home"
"iour wife, Agden aud myself eAs
claimed simultaneously.
Yes. my wife"
"But we didn't know you were mar
ricd."
NO. don't suppo~e you did. But
you remember the lady vino found me
In the church at Maiiuto"
"well. I'm hanRed.' IL was AgIen
who spoke. was practically dunn
bsoo<1ed and stood staring at Ionson-
~ with all my eyes. Then man
aged to biurt out:
'But how DID she get into town.
- really couldn't tell you. But she
came snd saw me In the hospital.
How she ever found me in the church
don't know and have not yet mus
tered up sufficient Spanish to Inquire"
We were sorry to lore 1'onsonby.
who was always q decent fellow. But
Agden will have II that bis brain was
affected by the fall Into that curious
crypt. And Agden In probably right.
for. n not. why didn't Pon>onby in
vitc us to his wedding ?-Hongkons
Telegraph.