The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-11
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.
A CASE OF NONE BUT THE BRAVE"
tbs wonderful what day of sleep will
do TO a man. When 1 awoke and found
Low-twas high noon next day-ready to
| take of my bandages and dress my wound,
would for a while sit up, and did so. And
after he had strapped me up again the
baroness came in with my breakfast, and,
| noting something in my face, apologized
| for herself as nurse, saying that the real
\ nurse was out for an airing with Captain
| Atherton-which, to tell good truth, but ir-
/ ritated me-and that shortly she would re-
turn. 1 told her of my gratitude for her
| kindness-more tran kindness-to me, and
! she would have il that twas not for me at
| all, but only on behalf of Mistress Debby
| that L was there.
! 1.-The dear girl began to grow i'll after the
night you disappeared" said She Some
| thing. 1 know not what, was gnawing at
| her heart. And when her brothers letter
! came she was nearly frantic with grief, and
! came then and told me much that 1 had
| guessed before. Then came Captain Ather-
| ton to her aid-and you owe much to him.
! we not ALL she added. smiling sadly
eve are not all tyrants and villains, you
| see."
You are more than kind friends" 1 said
seriously. You and the captain are risk
ing your lives to help an enemy"
She laughed again.
! Twas but to save a young chit's life"
said she. "Of course, we cared naught for
you"
you are good and kind. dear lady, be-
! yond comprehension" 1 answered. and she
! gave me her hand frankly. ''And your lit
| tie daughters brought me back to the world
| in way shall never forget"
"They are nearly as bad as Debby," said
she, with the pleasure showing in her face
that always came there when she spoke of
her children. Eve could do naught with
Debby. Day by day she sat here by you
and watched and listened to your
dreadful rawlings. and heard you
crying out at her cousin. and then
calling out her name, telling her in
vibrant voice"-and she smiled, though
she seemed still startled at the remem-
brance of 1.-THE particular place she held
in your affections, which men usually wills
per, hear, in the silence of solitude"
| did L do sop 1 asked.
For twenty-fOur hours in the day, week
looking at you as if her heart would break,
wringing her hands and begging DR.. Low
to make you hear her and understand
What can l ever do for her to repay
half, or for you, either? 1 wonder that she
kept her health?"J
"Once we tried to get her away" she con-
! tinued. And by DR.. Lows orders she
went to her room. But in the night your
cries nearly drove her mad, and. though
the doctor said twould undermine her
health. I went TO her, and she begged me
on her knees to let her go in to you, and
and" smiling brightly. land she asked me
how would 1 feel if the baron were i'll and 1
shut in another room away from him. That
was a shrewd little argument
The tears stood I'm her eyes and in mine,
! TOO. What had the girl not done for me,
with never a word OF explanation from me
to set her mind at rest?
Where is she?'' / asked. a little huskily
"Why does she not come to me?
With laugh the baroness got up. and.
| saying We were apparently pair, went in
search Of her. But she did not come and
| the day waned. The bright afternoon faded
to shutdown. and still she did not come.
Some one brought i'm lamps, and al last the
| baroness appeared with an amused yet
puzzled look in her face
lis she not coming to say good night to
me?' l asked.
Il do not quite understand her" said she
Poor girl. she's tired and worried"
What is ito" l asked again. us there
something wrong
She smiled again.
Il think she is a little afraid, said the
baroness. Z
Afraid? Afraid of what?' I asked
wei, I scarcely know" she answered
, again q" and then. leaning over to
me. shall I tell you a dreadful secret
about women"
l looked at her in amazement
4 Think am afraid Then she
stopped and a pretty flush went over her
face I'm afraid women Hke-a-little
masterful treatment" And. as am sin
ner, of she went like any young girl with
the fires on her checks.
l lay back in my bed an instant. and then
called her back.
Dear baroness" / said, twill you enter
a little conspiracy with me?"
She nodded brightly.
Il shall be very III again" said l. And
shall shrek some more. VIII you chance
I TO pass by with -"
DO you happen TO have any idea young
man. where she has been these three
hours?'
had not the least. unless out walking
with Captain Atherton
she is sitting just outside that door by
the windows in the hall"
simply signed 10 her to begin the con-
| spiracy, and she passed out. leaving the
door ajar / waited a moment, and then
| began 10 talk. and rambled on getting
| louder and louder, till finally I yelled out
a lot OF idiotie nonsense putting in her
! name. Then 1 paused and heard through