Rocky Ford enterprise., 1900-07-27
By II. B. Mackenzie

God. is there no help for me. Help
| me. merciful. kind God," Then her
voice sank to \ whisper. III Adair
were here-ah. he would help me. He
is good and brave. But he will never
know now that I loved him" The
voice trembled little. and then ST.
lence-biessed siience-came.
And Adair Rothes. with trembling
hands. and eyes full OF passionate.
longing tenderness. bent over the un-
conscious Girl with an agonized
prayer.
''Merciful God. spare her to me. II II
be Thy Will My dariin.-my own
dariins' And she cried TO me in her
extremity. and did not know OF Il!
Bluebcli. Biucbeli,'
Miss Elizabeth arrived In the spider
twcnty-four hours after. and could
only wiring Rothcs' hand In silence.
her thin. sallow. unioyely face work
Ing convulsivciy.
God Will spare her. Miss Eliza
BETH" Rothcs said huskily. I'VE both
owe a debt We can never repay to the
young fellow who found her. for you
know II was not I who did so. We
might never have seen her again but
for Lieutenant Preston.
Rothcs knew his duty lay In Lady
smith. yet he could not tear himself
from Biucbcii's side until he knew
whether II was TO be life or death.
Mcrcifniiy. the dciirium did not last
long. and on the third day. after n
long sleep. she opened her eyes. that
had full reason In them. upon her
aunt.
"Aun,ic. where am - she asked
fccbiy. oh. what fearful dream
have had'"
when Miss Elizabeth ran for Rothcs
the strong man felt himself ircmblin.
like n child. He returned With her
quickly. but he could not speak when
Blucbcii's eyes rose to his.
II have Ind such fearful dream.
DIR. Rothcs." she whispered. her eyes
appealing with dumb pa,hos TO his
trustfui ones. II am afraid II was n
reality. though. Is my father -dcad'
Did Mr.. Moore carry me away! And
was dying In the vcldt!''
1T is all truc"-holdins the poo.
little weak hand In his own strong one
but. God be thanked. you are safe
now-safc and In good keeping. All
you have 10 do Ia to get we'll"
Did YOU md meT" she whispered.
And h. felt the little hand CULVER
lie had determined not to speak.
but the question upset all his dctcrmi-
nations. He sank on his knees. hold
ing the little hand to his lips.
II was seeking for you six days.
Blucbell; but after all II was yourS
ofYiccr who found you and gave you
to my keeping. oh. Bluebcll. my heart
is torn in two when think Of all you
have gone through and I unable to
help you-not knowing Mt first you
wanted hclp-I. who would give my
life to save you pain. My darling! my
own darling'"
A little wave OF color spread over
her white face: her throat huttercd.
"you-lovc me. them" she whis-
pered.
II have loved you ever since frs,
met you at Maritzburg. Bluebeli; but
1 never dared to hope. Bluebeil. II
seems wrong to speak OF It ut this ter
rib,e time: but you do care little.
after all. about me7-do you?"
The little. wasted hand stroked his
cheek.
"I love you with all my heart. Adair.
knew II that awful night when the
Boers"-she paused. shudderins.
you'll take care OF me. and not let
that dreadful man come near me|
He folded the hand to his breast.
and. bending. kissed again and again
tho male little face. cheeks, and eyes
and lips.
Rothes went back to Ladysmith next
day. The battle of Elandslaagte had
taken place, and the hospital in the
little town was full.
Mr.. and Mrs. Dalziei were kindness
itself, and insisted on the Leslies stay
ing as long as ever they felt Inclined.
On the first day on which Bluebell
was able to get up Adair Rothes ap-
peared. II was two days after the
battle of Ladysmith. Of which WORD
had been brought to the Dalziels.
Bluebell welcomed him with blush
and a smile that made Rothes hear'
throb. But there was something IN MS
face which made Bluebell's heart fret
with mingled fear and anxiety.
you have some news? What is IL
Tell me quickly. Adair!" she breathed'
lifting her face from its hiding place.
"Yes, my darling" Rothes answered
slowly: 81 have strange news Tor you
do not know how you VIII take IT,
Bluebell: something very terrible nap
pened at the battle on Monday. some
one was killed there-some one whom
you knew!" .u
an was Gerald Moore!" said Bluebeii
ouick,v She turned very pale. ana
shiyered a little.