The Iola register., 1901-08-23


in astonishment.
"Try to remember. See il you cannot
recall your desperate fight with the In
dians from behind the rocks"
Brown closed his eyes and endeavored
to collect his truant thoughts Slowly,
family and indistinctly at first, but
growing clearer and clearer as his de-
lirium-prostrated brain regained power,
the rescue, the desperate ride for life
and the battle all came back to him.
"Ohl tell me, doctor, was she--was
Alice saved?"
Calm yourself my boy. The least
excitement may yet undo all my work
in my efforts to save you. Miss Sanford
is safe with her father"
"God be praised" he fervently said,
great tears of joy starting in his pain
dimmed eyes. How long have been
here, doctor?"
"For four days. You have been de-
lirious all that time and very near to
death, but you have now passed the
crisis and there is good chance for
your recovery. You are built of good
material, Brown. That shot would
have killed any ordinary man"
"And Alice, doctor, Miss Sanford,
has she been to see me?"
"Been here to see you, indeed? Why
the little witch will scarcely take time
to eat and sleep, but wants to sit here
by your side all the time. The young
lady is filed with gratitude toward
you, Brown, for your heroism in rescu-
ing her from horrible fate, and the
whole garrison is singing your praises.
1t was brave undertaking, my boy
a noble, heroic venture successfully ac-
complished."
A smile of qualification spread over
his pale, wan face. lie cared not for
the laudations of the people of the gar
rison. His Alice had been near him,
and that was worth more to him than
would have been the plaudits of the
universe.
| Has Col Sanford asked after me-
doctor?" There was an eager look on
his face as he put the question.
"Col. Sanford calls to see you several
times day, Brown. You cannot real
ize the dangerous position i'm which
your care places me. The colonel has
given me the most emphatic orders to
save your life, and says if let you die
he will at once have me taken out and
shot. Now you see the peril which
confronts me, and you must do all you
can to hasten your recovery by implic-
lilly obeying my orders. You must not
speak another word. You have talked
too much already. You must remem-
ber my life is at stake. my man
He smiled knowingly as he referred
TO the colonels clustering threat.
There was smile of perfect peace and
satisfaction on the pale face of the
wounded man as he closed his eyes to
reflect over what the surgeon had told
him. Alice was with him almost CON
stantly, and. of course, it must he
with her fathers consent. And the old
commander, himself, called several
times daily to ask after him. This
knowledge was sweet to his soul, and
he felt supremely happy. Gradually
his senses grew more and more in
active. and he soon sank into "A sweet
refreshing sleep. the first since he had
been brought into the hospital. The
surgeon bent over him and noted his
strong, regular breathing, and softly
felt his pulse,
Excellent Excellent" he said tC
himself. Brown, my brave boy, yor
are worth whole regiment of dead
men yet"
When Col. Sanford found hi
daughter once more safe in her home
he acted in manner that at time
almost made her fear he was losing hi
| reason. He would call her many time
a day to come to him, and clasping heI
J closely in his arms, as if he feared sh,
might again be taken from him, would
weep like a child and mutter praise
and thanks to Heaven for her deliver
ance from death. The old mans hear
= was filled with joy unreasonable, an,
the light of love was never before 81
: bright as now as he gazed upon he
lovely face.
The day following her return h
called her into his business Office anC
l said:
, Sunshine that young scapegrac
saved you from God only knows wha
e fate, and must reward him. wan
t you to tell me all you know of hir
l from your first meeting TO the presen
: time"
: Papa, dear, may not give it to yo
4 in writing?" she asked, slight flus
e sutfusing her face.
"Yes, daughter, that's military
r Make full report to me in writin
and place it in my hands at the earl
I est possible moment. Give your oil
e bear of father a kiss and get to wor
on your official report at once, dear"
= She kissed him once, twice, thrice
!, and ran away to her room. Her pc
few over the paper with great rapidit
s as she fully, freely wrote down ever
q detail of her relations with the pr
l. vate soldier from their first meetin
until the present moment, She told {
his enlistment, being ignorant of tn
l. fact that the colonel had gotten flu
a report of that from Private Lamar
r told of their many meetings, of mutui
love and of her urgent appeal to Brow
70 to go to her father and tell him al
and ask his sanction to their engag;
" ment. Nothing was withheld, an
n when the statement was complete
cba tool ~ 10 ba,. 90 f1,a,.ie oAioo lot