The Holly chieftain., 1900-09-28
CHAPTER 1x.--tContinued.) J


sister. who, after much pleading and
resolution. had along with DR.. Mar
garet Crawford, come ~ far as Bsr-
ber. I'VE must send him back to Ber-
ber." said the colonel. I'VE are on
the march almost necessarily now. and
he cannot live unless he is properly
: attended to. We shall send him there
at once"
And SO, under an escort Of Arab
boys" Cleland was taken by river
aAd rail to Berber. the Queen OF the
Soudan.''
Adrienne and Margaret were there.
{ the latter attending to a few sick SOL
Acrs who had been left in the hospi-
tai. The time was not up for her en-
tsrinE upon her duties, and she felt
that she could not leave the Soudan
until she learned whether Paul was
living or dead.
Adrienne had told her all Rayburn's
dyinx confession, and now, when prob
ably 1t was too late. Margaret recog-
nixed the fact that the barrier she
had thought insurmountable was no
barrier after all.
AS Margaret was STOPPING over a
:, aick man one day. one of the native
attendants came to tell her Mrs.
6reynton wished to see her. Margaret
went to the door, and at first sight
Of Adrienne's face she grew pale as
death. and leant for support against
the doorway.
p Tell me-you have heard that he is
= dead?" she gasped, rather than spoke.
mo, my dear" Adrienne passed her
brave. unshrinking hand round the
woman Paul loved and supported her
with it
He has been found, he is coming
here: but he is i'll. unconscious, Mar
garet Still, God may be merciful, and
We shall pray until He must hear us.
Margaret
Margaret lifted her pale face, glow
, . ing with . strange joy, and clasped
: her hands.
Il shall nurse him. at least" she
whispered. "Oh, thank God!"
r And she did, until the ebbing life
hegan--very slowly, but quite percep-
ubly-to now again.
It was one evening ah. should Mar
sAret ever forget It a. long ~ she
'vaiysd d?-whils she sst beside him on
her camp-stool, looking through the
open window at the brilliant moon
light making pool OF light for Itself
on the brown sand Of the desert. that
Cleland. quite suddenly and quietly.
u II he were awakening from sleep.
opened his eyes and looked at her.
Margaret, Is that you! Idreamt
you were there Ny darling, are We
both dead. and Is this my arst awak-
ening on the other side?''
mo. no. Paul! You are still on
earth, thank God, and / am here be-
side you. never more to leave you
now. II you wish 1t so. dear. for the
4barrier is gone for ever"
A strange fash came into the sick
mans eyes, but for moment he was
silent. i3F
At last he spoke.
Il do not know II / am still dream
ing or II have heard Alright. Mar
garet. say 1t again. and shall be sat
sisied. You are mine for ever now"
For ever. Paul. II you will have
me-" she answered. with sob in her
ttAroat.
He drew her face to his, and then
their lips met in one long. long kiss
Ssuch q kiss as surely those who have
loved each other on earth may give
when they meet for the nrst time "bs-
yond the bourne Of time and space"
Presently Adrisnnes came In. She
approached the bedside, and as she
came near she paused. strange sx-
preston on her lips and in her eyes;
for she saw then that happiness had
some to Paul and Margaret at last.
Paul saw her and smiled. holding
cut his weak. thin hand.
''You. too. my friend! Surely am
fscompensed for all have suffered
~ knowing that ! have the friend
hip Of one noble woman and the lovs
~ another Yes, 1t Is true. Mrs. BreyA-
Ion. Margaret and are quite happy,
and We owe our happiness she has told
me, to q large extent to you =
'And bless you both" said Adrienns.
/ She held his hand in her own. and
4 fhen, turning to Margaret, kissed her
with brave unquivering lips. 81
CThe End)