The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-04

a little The last time she woke up with
a cry for help. In her dream she had
seen a tall ladder resting in unseen
depths of blackness yet whose top was
in sunlight Her husband was falling.
falling to the ladders foot, to dreadful
darkness, but she and an old man were
looking down at him from above.
20, dear Cod" she sobbed. shuddesing.
Whatever he isz-whatever re has done.
blame not him. but me! I pushed him
down! My God! l pushed him down.
III.
His friend Wyvil and he had ridden side
by side, disarmed after the surrender
Triumphant Beers, from whose lips at
intervals rose hoarse psalms of praise
rode on either side and in front and rear
Some of the ruder Transvaalians. the
young and hot blooded were reused to 4
high pitch of excitement by their victory,
and tainted their prisoners. threatening
them with retrbution as outlawed raid
ers. The unlucky Uitlanders rode gloom
lily on, unanswerng. in a manner stunned
to speechlessness by so overwhelming, so
unexpected a catastrophe. That spirited
dash, that daring gallop to the Rand
that revival of medieval chfvalry which
their hot naught-recking brains had
dreamed would be greeted by an empires
cheer had come to this humiliating de-
feat halfway, and an ignominious process
sion to prison. perhaps to the gallows
Two or three proud hearts, ignorant Of
their captors' real mind, and abhorrent
OF such an end welcoming any fate but
that, made hopeless darts for the open
veldt in a useless effort to escape. These
were shot down-poor, unlucky exiles
from home, who had vainly sought re-
trieval of name and fortune on the rim
Of the deathpit
Young Wyvil stuck fast to the side of
the man whom first he had met at the
n n foe he
vers names, who had introduced himself
"a Lawrence, but had elected to join the
raiders under another appellation The
Wallaber. even in that short space. had
made friends. and, If he were reticent
of his past, that was no uncommon thing
IN ranks wherein few men stood save as
last resource. Wyvil, himself with a
past and Corpl. Dome, now cold upon
the ve!dt, had attached themselves TO one
10 whom their old school and varsity ira
ditions were fraternally familiar. And
now, without the light-hearted outcast's
support. Lawrence could not have finish
ed the dismal Journey to Pretoria. Strips
from a torn shirt bandaged his face
where Boer bullet had plowed his cheek
ana cut away a portion of his chin. He
mad lost blood, but when still miles AWAY
from their stination he swayed in his
saddle more than the wound seemed TO
warrant Wyvil pressed close to him and
thrust his arm under the others.
oId man." said he us 1t bleeding
fresh?'
Lawrence steadied himself resolutelv
and shook his head, but Wyvil. himself
unscratched. looked anxious.
Look here" he said. THAT LITTLE JoI-
lander medicine man don't seem half bad
you know, but he was in a hurry when he
patched you up. think we'd better GET
this Boer fellow to let us drop to the rear
and have the doc make another examina-
tloh Honest you know. you look pref
~ near dead"
Rot old boy" Lawrence almost gaep.
ed THANK you, all the same I'll man
age to Pretoria, but IT hurts-it hurts
Farther on he spoke again. with pain.
"Wyvil," he said. IF they don't shoot
you. you're going home?"
And you, too, hope"
Lawrence laughed with weak grimness.
Il can never go home" he said. But
walt moment-it hurts-it hurtsl Whv
didn't those beggars finish me quick Ike
Dome? Look here. I've lost my rocket
book somewhere. There was an address in
Tiny wife"
"Od chap"
81 want you to see her-her address is
losi-but I can remember it, / want YOU
10 see her and tell her that I-died honora-
bly,, and-and, my God how it hurts"
Wait until we are-wherever they ara
taking us. What makes you talk of dying
from a cut in the cheek? Halloa LOOK
out! Yacht"
Lawrence had turned gray had swayed
had fallen into Wyvils arms, as the la tier
leaped down to catch him. The guard rode
up and the procession moved on passing
them. The doctor gaNoped to the prison.
or and made a quick examination. The
bandaged wound was doing well. The
trouble was not there. The doctor OPEN
ed the coat and shirt, and found a bleeding
wound in the side
"Ye godsp' cried Wyvil. He never mem
toned this! No wonder he looked so
CHASTITY. Why. he must have suffered
like blazes all those milesi"
"Verdamterw the disguested doctor ex-
claimed. HE must be In a hurry to dlel
His clothes are soaked in blood"
The man was patched up, placed In a
polling wagon and so gained the prison al
Pretoria, half dead He tainted az he
was carried in, and, when he came to him
self, he saw that he was in a room
crowded with his comrades-some wound
ed, some utterly miserable, some reck-
lessly Indifferent. He lay In a corner and
next day the faithful Wyvil was by his
side with water
"Why did you not tell OF that bullet
wound?" his friend asked reproachfnlly
mo wonder you nearly fell from your
saddle. It's a wonder you did not die In
it,"
IT'S pity" said Lawrence.
Wyvil looked at him vexedly.
Look here, Lawrence" he said This
is consummate bosh, you know. / have
no right to inquire into your private af-
fairs Most of the men in our ranks have
done something at home, and perhaps you
have. I have. But. OH, hang 1t. nothing
is bad enough to make fellow commit