Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1902-12-06

knew the same thought had been in his
mind since he heard L could ecover.
"Balfort," he said in a moment, will
you give me your parole till the end of
the warp"
I knew 1t long before he said 1t, and
leaning back on my pillow, l told him
| could not
Give We his parole, you raving idiot
cried Low-never was such an actor
lived as that same chirurgeon. why,
look, man! look!" and with hat he un-
wound the bandages he had begun to
replace and laid bare the wound. I
looked down at it and my gorge rose
at the sight. IT was q slit, a ragged
cut from my RICH hip up along the ribs
ribs near to my shoulder, a good twelve
inches. Only by the grace OF chance
was 1t that Hazeltine's point had not
caught on a rib n one through me.
And the edges stood even now far
apart and ugly and irregular.
"Parole?" went on the doctor. why,
man, he cannot hold a sword for a
year,"
Atherton looked at 1t and took my
hand again.
Friend" said he, will we give me
your parole for six months? To tell
We the truth, your army cannot hold
out that long, and I am safe"
~ SiialiS Il caught liz uOClOT y eye,
and knew in some way that he bade me
accept 1t, so, lying back again, 1 told
Atherton l would.
Then 1 get you out of here when you
can move"
Again 1 gave him my hand and
thanked him until he swore he'd hear
no more II went off with Low.
And so the days passed on, quickly
enough for a matter of three weeks.
And then, beginning to feel stronger, 1
commenced to fret and worry and Won
der when l would get away and what
was happening at West Point, and
where were my companions in Put
MANS division, and what Of Curtis-or
Philipse, as l should call him-and Ac-
ton. / was up now and walking over
the house, but not allowed to go out.
L talked with Low when we were alone
about the lest way of going, and he had
a plan al! arranged. But / had another
that was worth ten Of his, for hat 1t
had another purpose, which / could
only talk over with one other person,
and that n the baroness. Her hus-
band had been away all the time in the
south with his Germans, and so l saw
much of her-much Of every one, in
fact, except Mistress Debby, who would
talk with me less and less.
So n day l preached my plan to the
good lady. At first she said t would be
impossible, and then, her eyes shining,
she said l should do it, if she could
bring 1T about. And we began the
scheme by her telling my proud mis-
tress that vas shortly going away
When next got a word with her, we
had but just finished tea and were
walking in the great drawing room, she
and l. 1 saw how silent she was, and
with some misgivings began:
Deborah"
"Yes?"
Deborah, Don 1 must get back to my
camp" said 1 gently.
You cannot go! You would not go,
would your" cried she. You are not
well enough. VIII you leave me?"
Il am quite well now" 1 answered,
as quietly as l could.
you are not! you are mott" she muir
INJURED, taking hold of my arm and look
ing at me. You could not stand the
dreadful camp life."
Il must, dear. 1 cannot waste my life
"Waste?" said she, slowly.
You know well what / mean"
She sat down then, and l by her, and
naught was said for a while.
Il cannot let you go!" said she, pres
emily.
There's one way out Of It," said I.
Up came her troubled face and looked
at me.
"Will you come with me?"
The fair face set, and the eyes looked
into mine.
Il would go anywhere in the world
with you But what would you do with
me in a camp"
What did the Baroness Riedesel in
castle in Germany, when her hus-
left her for q camp 5000 miles
across the scar"
And brought her children with her,
she murmured. Then, looking
up, she added hastily, II do not fear
to go, believe me, dear"
Il never once thought you did" And
the baroness coming in then, she ran
to her and threw her arms around her
neck n kissed her. l stood by a mo-
ment, and then the little lady turned
me, laid her two hands il
mine, and, looking at me and at the
baroness, she said:
III go gladly. Wilt take me?"
AYE, that 1 will, Debby dear, and
God less your brave heart. IT will be
a different life from this, and you do
not like the cause"
1T is yours and shall be mine. And
t is Roberts, too"
I'VE have a little PLAN" said the
baroness to her, Merton and /. You
shall be married here in this house,
and Captain Atherton will get you
'Oh! cried the brazen mink. 81 think
I'll go as l am"
WHAT cried the baroness.
I'm married enough now" quoth the
.ady with a twinkle in her eye.
you naughty girl" said the scandal
'zed matron again.
CT is but a FORM" said Deborah,
and I'm satisfied now"
"Lieber Herr Je," cried the Mortified
baroness, raising her hands at the girl
amaZement.
I could stand it no longer, but must
spoil all by laughing.
What have you in your heads?"
asked the mystified lady.
"Naught but this, ma'am," said Mis-
.ress Deborah, and with a sweeping
courtesy she took from her bodice a
paper and handed it to the astonished
natron.
IT was now my turn to be astonished.
going to the baroness, / looked over
her shoulder, and read the scrawling
signature of James Marvin, minister
If the gospel" and Deborah's and mine.
the statement above them. Then /
,urDeu TO ner WIFI something rising In
ny throat:
'You have kept this all the time % 1
She nodded.
And you would not let me keep it?"
asked again.
mo, sir! for 1 valued 1T more than
THAT you did not madam! nor half
is much, them" said 1, defiantly.
THAT / did, good sir! and fifty times
Is much them" said she, with a cour-
Children! children!" cried the baron
stop our pickering, and tell me
What in heavens name this MEANS"
So we sat her down between us and
old her, with much more pickering"
IS she called it, the only part of the
tory she had not already heard.