The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-06-27
TIE PRINCETON UNION: q THU RsDAY ,JU 81 b 81. 1eo1.

earth and sky, when some outline still
du l than the dusky shadow caught
MS sight. It was the body of a horse
standing on guard over the fallen body
of man.
Another moment and he was beside
them. - < m
My God! Are, you hurt?"
lie could see nothing but an indis-
tlhct and shapeless mass, without
form or color to mark it out from the
brooding gloom and from the leaden
earth TT But the voice he knew so well
answered him with the old. love and
realty in it, eager with fear for him.
w men did you miss me, sir? 1 didn't
mean you to know. I held on as long
as could, and when I couldn't no
longer l thought you was safe not to
see ia knocked over, so dark as it
was"
Great heavens! You are hurt. then 2"
Just finished, sir. Lord, it don't
matter! Only you ride on, Mr.. Cecil,
Ride on, 1 say. Don't mind me. I
never meant you should know. sir T
meant just to drop behind and die on
the quiet You see Sir. it 1tas Just
this way: They hit me as we forced
through them. 1 hoped you wouldn't
miss me in the darkness and the noise
the Wind was making, and you didn't
hear me then, sir, was glad.''
A great sob shook Cecil as he heard.
NO false hope came to him; he felt that
this man was lost to him forever, that
this was the sole recompense which
the cruelty of Africa would give to a
fidelity passing the fidelity of woman.
Don't take on about it, SIR whis-
pered Rake, striving to raise his head
that lie might strain his eyes better
through the gloom to see his masters
face. 1T was sure to come some time,
and l amt in no pain-to speak of.
DO leave me, Mr.. Cecil-leave me, for
Gods sake, and save yourself!'
"Did you leave me?"
The answer was very low. and his
voice shook as he uttered it, but
through the roar of the hurricane
Rake heard it,
THAT was different, sir,'' he said
simply. LET me lie here, and 20 YOU
on. It'll soon be over, and there's
naught to be done.'
The morning had broken. now, but
the storm had not lulled. By the it,
full CLEANS of day he could see the
blood slowly ebbing out from the great
gap where the lance head was still
bedded, with its wooden shaft snapped
in two. He could see the dropped
head, and Rakes eyes, smiling so
brightly and so bravely still, looked up
from under their weary lids to his.
I'D never let you take my hand be-
fore, sir. Just take it now, will you,
While l can see you still?'
Their hands met as he asked it and
held each other close and long. All
the loyal service of the one life and all
the speeches. gratitude of the other
told better than by all words in that
one farewell. A light that was not
from the stormy, dusky morning shone
over the soldiers face.
Don't grieve that way, Mr. Cecil. If
could just have seen you home again
in your place. should have been glad,
that's all. You'll 60 back one day, sir.
When you do, tell the King I amt
never forgot him.
There was long silence, a pause in
which the windstorm ceased and the
clouds of the loosed sands sank. In
that momentary hush as the winds
sank low the heavy eyes, half sight
less now, sought with their old visit
full, doglike loyalty the face to which
so soon they would be blind forever.
would you tell me once, sir-now?
l never asked-I never would have
done-but may be might know in this
last minute you never sinned that sin
you bear the charge on?''
God is my witness, no.
The light, that was like sunlight,
shone once more in the aching, wan
dering eyes.
II knew, knew! It was''-
Ceci: bowed his head over him, lower
and lower.
Flush! He was but child, and r.
With a sudden and swift motion,
as though new life were thrilling in
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