Waterbury Democrat., 1901-01-07

the wood, which lay so dense, dark and mysterious along the lower part of the garden. But on consoling him she put her arms round his neck. T do love you so much-so very much," she murmured.
 But he took her hands down. "You must listen to me-" he said, firmly, his handsome face drawn, as from some great physical pain. "Oh, my God, help mel" 5H.
 The thorns of a spreading rosebush had caught her cape and pulled it from her shoulders. It lay on the turf few yards away.
 Please get it for me- she said. s.I am a little cold.''
 i He went back for it. and was just stopping to pick it up when he heard the sharp ringing report of re- , volver, and saw a flash of light in the edge of the wood.
 Its Jeanne!"g he thought, and then he heard Blanche scream.
 Run, run!" he cried out to her, but she seemed too much startled to stir She stood staring at the smoke emerging from the trees as if turned to stone.
 He ran towards her, but just as he 1 reached her side there was another slasit from the dark ambush. A metal conb in the coil of her hair flew tiHkling to the asphalt walk. The next instant the major had thrown his ] body between Blanche and the direc- tion from whence the shots came.
 Stand behind me, for Gods sake!" he cried out, clasping her slender form ir his strong arms. Don't move for Gods sake, she will kill you!"
 He was trying at once to keep her sheltered behind him and to push her towards the house when there was another shot.
 ''Oh!" he cried out sharply in sud den pain. He started to put his hand to his right side. but he seemed to re- member her peril, and with both hands still on her shoulders he con- tinued to push her on. He heard a chatter of feet in the direction of the house. It was James and Talley com ing at the top of their speed.
 Help! Help" he cried and then his head began to lean forward. "Oh, my God, I am shot and can't help you. Oh. darling, run, run!'
 He feebly pushed her from him. and as he did so fell face downward on the walk. She stopped over him, hard ly knowing what she did. but the movement savedI her life. for there was another shot and a ball passed directly over her head. James and Talley were now quite near. Blanche heard retreating steps in the wood growing fainter and fainter as the assailant escaped, but she was speech less.
 Goddard raised himself on his elbow and, pointing to the wood, cried, faint ly: Police! Catch her!" Then his head fell backward. He had fainted
 Taking him up, James and Talley aided by the butler, bore him into the drawing-room and laid him on : couch. The staring, bewildered maids came to Bianche's assistance and drew her into the house. She fell on he1 knees by the major, and remained 1 there while Talley was telephoning for doctor. His face was colorless his eyes were closed. She unbuttoned his coat, and then the sight, of his bloody waistcoat and shirt turned hel sick with despair. She thought ht was dead. Her head sank to the edg, of the couch. His earnest cry "Stand behind mel" rang in her ears She told herself that he had died fol her as heroically as man had evel died for woman. But there was noth ing to wonder at in his action, for h, had always been her hero.
 For ten minutes he lay motionless It was the sharp ring of the door bel which seemed to recall him to con scfousness. He opened his eyes an, N recegnized her. he put out his hans to hax heAd. Eflx.s moment hie fac weraEed essd sdf Wsre yiin8I Qeun . r il, 1al