The Red Cloud chief., 1901-06-07


but failed to detect the faintest beat.
She drew her fingers across his fore-
head-cold and damp with the chii'ing
wintry wind-but to her II seemed
touched by the cold hand OF Death.
A terrible feeling took possession OF
her. Was he dead? Was he speech
less. deaf, blind. beyond love, iife'
hope, for evermore?
Lifting his head onto her lap ana
pushing back the hair from his beau-
tiful forehead. she murmured to him
tenderly, almost reproachfully, half
believing the cruel voice he had loved
so well on earth would recall him even
from the grave But there was no an
swer.
She looked I'D wildly. Would nobody
ever come? How long they were
how long! And, when they did come
would 1t, perchance, be only 10 tell
her that help was needless-that ne
was indeed dead, as he appeared
lifeless within her very arms.
Oh, to speak with him once more,
IL only for moment-just for so long
as It would take to let him know how
well she loved him. and to beg on her
knees for his forgiveness.
Why did he lie 80 silent at her feet?
Surely that calm, half smile had no
sympathy with death. Was she never
TO hear his voice again-never to see
the loving tenderness that grew in his
eyes for her alone?
Was all the world dead or insensi-
BILE that none would come to her call,
while perhaps each precious moment
was stealing another chance from his
life? This thought was maddening;
she glanced all round her. but as yet
no one was in sight And then she
began to cry and wiring her hands.
"Denzil, speak to me-" she sobbed
"Denzil-darling-
Lord Lyndon, shortly after the acci-
dent had occurred, turning round in his
saddle to discover whether Miss Ire
vanion was coming UP with them. and
not seeing her, raised himself In his
stirrups to survey the ground behind,
and beheld two horses riderless, ana
something ne could not discern clearly
upon the grass.
"Sir George, look" he called to his
companion. What is it-what has
happened? Can you see Mildreds
He waited for nothing more, but
putting spurs to the astonished animal
under him, rode furiously back, leav-
ing Sir George to follow him almost
as swiftly.
And this was what they saw.
Lying apparently lifeless, with one
arm twisted under him. In that horri-
BILE, formless way broken limb will
sometimes take, lay Denzil iounge,
with Miss Trevanion holding his head
upon her lap and smoothing back his
hair, while she moaned over him words
and entreaties that made Lyndon S
heart grow cold.
Mildred" he cried sharply, putting
his hand on her arm with the inten-
tion OF raising her from the ground
but she shook him off roughly.
Let me alone" she said: what have
you to do with us? loved him. Oh
Denzil, my darling speak to me-speat
to me-"
What is the meaning OF this?'
Lyndon asked hoarsely. "Trevanion
you should know"
Sir George, who was bending owe
the PROSTATE man, raised his eyes TO
moment
Il suppose, as she says II, 1t is true.
he answered simply. But ] give 20,
my word OF honor as a gentleman,
was unaware Of 1t. All | know is tina
she refused him long before you pro
posed for her-for what reason | an
as ignorant as yourself. II has bee
: her own secret from first to last"
As Sir George spoke, Mildred locke
up for the first time.
rs he dead?" she asked with terri
=, BILE calmness.
"a NO, mo- hope not; broken arr
n seldom kills" answered her fatheI
-s hurriedly drawing the broken lin
u from beneath the wounded man wit
n great gentleness. Lyndon, the brar
"a dy."
N Lyndon, who was almost as white a
* Denzil at the moment, resolutely pu
ir ting his own grievances behind hi,
pr for the time being. knelt down besit
t. Sir George, and, giving him his flas
lg began TO help in the task OF resusc
c. tation.
I'd How will 1t be?' he asked in
IN whisper.
or IL cannot tell" answered Sir Georg
IN 1--WE can only hope for the best. b
n I don't like the look on the poor lac
face. | have seen such a look befol
DO you remember little Polly Stuart
IL the Guards? ! was on the ground VIII
et he was killed very much in the sal
We manner and saw him lying there W
" ~ just that sort OF strange, calm, h
- smile upon his face as though defyi
ha death. But he was stone dead at