The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-07-19

g
both prompt and decided. The house
keeper was to see the young woman put
comfortably to bed. She herself fetched
brandy for her. The footman was to ride
of for Dr. Landfeid and, If possible
bring him back.
All this was carried out with the
swiftness that money could procure The
doctor. after visiting his queer patient
who had not spoken a word since being
installed in her comfortable quarters,
pursed his lips curiously. This young
woman is very III, Mrs. Stanton. he said
4 recommend you to send her to the
work-house at once
Mrs. Stanton frowned slightly would
it be safe to move herr" she asked.
''Well-er-hardly,' said the medical
man. But if you don't get rid of her
you may have her on your hands for q
month or two"
For moment Mrs. Stanton hesitated.
II can't help It," she said. with a sudden
decision. Here she is, and here she must
remain
The doctor shrugged his shoulders and
smiled cynically. You know nothing
about her. my dear Mrs. Stanton" he
said. Isn't 1t rather eccentric TO take
a strange woman from the road into
i n2"' mouse IKE 'n'S' why GO you DO
I hardly know" said Mrs. stanton.
Perhaps it was a mad impulse, perhaps
II was an inspiration. l was wondering
what Fred was doing now. whether he
was in any danger. Then I began to
hum the .Absent-Minded Beggar. and
now don't laugh, doctor. because feel
very serious about it-just as 1 got TO the
line, The girl he married in secret my
eyes fell on that poor creature. and
thought 10 myself, suppose she is the
wife of some poor Tommy. and isn't on
the strength Of the regiment; and some
howl couldn't help bringing her home. 20
The doctor looked rather amused. But
when Mrs Stanton suddenly burst into
tears he pronounced it hysteria' and rec
commended port wine and Quinine.
However. the unknown wanderer was
tenderly nursed and cared for. and a
few weeks later another little life was
horn into the world. and with much diff
Guilty nOurished and coaxed into active ex-
istence.
Then at last the white-faced woman
told her story.
She was. in fact. the wife Of a Tom
my" and in dumb faithfulaess. which
was foolish and pathetic enough she had
believed she ought TO keep her marriage
secret until Private John Little claimed
her before all the world. To be sure. Che
poor creature could have had help from
some Of the public charities. but she was
too ignorant and tinlfd. and perhaps too
proud 10 ask. So she staggered out into
the world with her sad burden. 20 live OF
die. as Providence directed; for Hr. John
Little had gone Of joyouslT enough %
the var. without realizing the misery he
hid left behind him, an "absent-raind ed
begrar.T II YOU Ike. but he was doing
his courtrv's work" and. ~ amt the
time for sermons.
A few weeks later came the f1I par
tfculars q the battle of Cnieaso. and
the two women read them together
For the details II the battle they cared
little. there was one paragraph thst. r.
their ewes swallowed % everything
-Reco-uended Tor the Victoria Cross. ="
e ran. With military brevity. Prvats
John Little O. the East Survey, for saw
frr the life OF CAPTAIN Frsd stanton.
FIELD ArtfHerv. AdvaucinE under e heavy
fire. Little plckea Up Captain Stanton.
who was severely wounded AID carried
him 70 place q safety
The two women locked AZ each Other -
auazerrent-
'eyVhst p-ss the dsts. ma an q The hsz-
IeE- askes the young nz0ther. VITA q
Sudden light in her eyes.
The 1Ftn OF December s1l1 Mrs. star
ter tre--hlsrz Efsh sudden excitement
-T-re very 5ar that 7 brought ror here
and .--fter e moments fhCgEht--'it hap
peres az almost exactly the sarle 1nus-~
-Aa' there's some a. says there aint
no Gzw5.f said TIE worzaa usieE hsr
breath Z reckon re Sc what rs Jack
done. ard the1 re remembers. ne Sal
as he'd married secret
Tnen the taT1 vorren-ths hlE1 bern zrL
the low har1- na5ngie5 ttrlr tears E11
.helr prayers Bar the Doctor descri1e1 8
as az -.extrsrrasv cd colzc4cezca- '-AEo6-
srn Society.