The Lamar register., 1900-04-25

He walked to the window and noted,
as the mind will note the veriest trifies
at moments OF tense excitement, that
the great adjutant birds were still dos-
ing In the sunshine. and the peacocks
on the terrace. as when last he looked
out upon it from this same window
The oleander, with its clusters Of
pink; the baubel, with its perfumed
bells of gold; the jasmine and acacia,
luxuriant in their wild beauty; the
blue jays and the crested yellow spar
rows, fitting from shrub to shrub; the
brilliant butterflies, sailing through the
voiceless air--all was unchanged, only
the fair Indian home would know its
master never more.
Never more! There was something
terrible in the conviction, something
appalling to Don to remember that
death, chill and stern and awful, lay
beyond this warm young world OF bud
ding beauty.
A sharp groan fell from his lips,
stified even as 1t escaped them; for
the portiere had rustled. and he turned
Lille had come to him just as she
had risen from her siesta. Her golden
hair. let loose for coolness. streamed
over her white muslin robe, and round
her waist was broad sash Of black
ribbon. the sight OF which sent fresh
pang to her lovers heart.
"A great sorrow nobly borne is a
great dignity" As Don looked at her
he realized, almost with feeling of
awe. that such dignity had fallen upon
Lille now. The dire calamity she
had so dreaded had come to pass, yet
she had not sunk beneath the blow.
The passion Of her grief was spent
and resignation had come. Anguish
had left its pallor on her cheek, but the
hopelessness OF despair was not past.
Don looked at her. maryeling at her
fortitude and calm; then the next in
stant his arms were closing round her
Ike a wise and straining her to his
beating heart. for her calm had given
way. and she. had flown to the shell
ter OF his embrace. with tender. sob
bing cry.
"oh. Don. Don, my all on earth
nowi' she cried.
He held her tight. and kissed her
again and again. 1t was as IL he
dreaded the moment might come when
he should never hold her thus any
more. and he was drinking TO the
full this emblttered cup OF bliss. Pres
emily she withdrew herself. for there
was something almost fierce In the
tervor Of his caresses. She sank on
dIvan. and put out her hand to him
| TO sit by her.
Tell me-" she said family. "all
about II"
And Don told her. with low voice
and averted eyes that story which the
press paragraphs, so comprehensive.
yet so cruel in their brevity. had al
ready burnt like a soaring iron into
heart and brain.
I II was shortly before the mess-hour.
/ Several successive shots had been
heard in the valley. and two had
| penetrated one Of the mess tents and
wounded an orderly whilst in the act
/ OF laying a table. Captain Derwent
and himself were returning from a
stroll along the banks of the nullah.
when a bullet whizzed between them
which struck Captain Derwent, and
he dropped instantly at the narrator's
| feet. shot through the heart.
Every effort was being made to
track the perpetrator Of the crime and
avenge the captains death; but so
far the rebels had escaped.
"And you yourself were the only one
near when he diedf" she said. through
the tears which were now streaming
silently down her pallid. lovely face.
Yes. And owing TO the dense un-
dergrowth, 1t was impossible for me
to follow the direction the shot came
from. Directly he fell did my utmost
to stop the bleeding: but 1 saw at once
II was useless, Death had been in
Simultaneous. | got help from the
camp then, and we carried him down
TO his tent. Next night we buried him
close to where he fell" Don's voice
was husky and strained, and suddenly.
at sight of his ill-concealed emotion.
she checked her tears and laid her
golden head upon his shoulder with
a trustful tenderness that went to his
heart
MY poor Don! how you, too, must