The Lamar register., 1902-07-09

|
closure meant. This man, rough and
coarse, bearing upon his wasted face
the marks of an evil. wild life. was
the son of the dear old lady who had
been SO much to David. He would
come. in his rough. clustering way. to
the home that she had made so pleas
ant-for Dave; he would reap the
benefit of all that she had planned
for Dave.
| The boy rose, and softly stepped to
the door of the tent. striving to think
clearly. The chill had now given
place to a burning fever. He saw his
home. his prospects and his profess
sion swept away out OF his reach. and
their loss meant the overthrow Of his
life's ambitions. He crushed the let
ter fiercely in his hand. with mad
thought that he would not surrender
to this wretchei outcast; he would
not send the letter. and it was proba-
BILE that Styles would never-then,
suddenly. his upturned eyes caught
sight of the flying folds of Old Glory,
and below 1t the standard of the Red
Cross. and he humbly barred his head
in a silent resolve to be true to the
principles for which those banners
stood.
Then flood of softer emotions
came to strengthen him. 1t was not
so long since he had known the ten
derness of a mothers love. and he
knew what joy 1t would be to this
dear old lady to receive her son again
into her arms. How often she had
spoken. with tears in her eyes, OF
Sammy!
perhaps II we had had more to
make the home comfortable he would
not have gone away from me-" she
would say. but the little cottage was
so barrel"
Well. the cottage was not bare
now; there was enough to give Sam
all the comforts he could desire. Dave
thought, as he smoothed again the
crumpled letter.
A cry from within the tent recalled
him. He stepped to the patients
side, but there was no reason in the
eyes that looked up at him. The man
was babbling a broken string of dis
connected speeches, and Dave bent
over him In deep concern. There was
nothing for it but to send in haste
for Doctor Moore. but when he came
he set Dawes self-reproach aside by
explaining that he had expected this
turn in the case. and that nothing
could have prevented it.
Its most unfortunate. however,"
said the doctor. 81 have orders to re-
port at Kinola, and leave Doctor
Lang here in charge. but none of the
fellows will treat this poor chap as
well as you have. OF course. you go
with me-"
Dave looked up quickly.
"If it's all the same to you. doctor.
I'd like to stay with him for awhile"
"Oh, come, lad, this wreck Of a man
isn't worth it! You've been here too
long as it is. That unhealthful mist
from the moat is making you look
| rather white already. Aren't you
well?"
"Yes, oh. yes! Nothing wrong with
me, DOCTOR" was the reply, given as
cheerily as possible.
The doctors searching glance was
fixed on the lads face.
81 promised Mrs. Tracy to keep my
eye on you, you know. You're all she
has, and"
Not all. DOCTOR" interrupted Dave
in husky whisper. "She has him.
tool" He pointed to the patient.
lying quiet for a moment on the cot.
The doctor looked with a puzzled
frown, from the patient to the young
hospital steward.
"Himy he said-"Styles?"
Dave nodded. Styles" he said. with
an attempt as smile-"Styles is Sam
Tracy"
The doctor uttered an exclamation
of amazement. and stood looking
down at the man.
Dave drew a long breath and
Strengthened up.
"You know how 1 feel about it," he
said, looking steadily into the doctors
eyes. "Pll stay here and pull him
through. If possible-it's-a bond OF
honor"
The doctor laid his hand on Dawes
shoulder in firm, kind grip.
well, try 1t, lad" he said. ~
don't like leaving you here, but II
things go well with Styles, you can
send him on to the city with the rest
of the sick, and then Join me at XII
noIa. Walton and his battalion will
be along here in day or two, any
how; it wouldn't be safe to try to
move these poor fellows under the
handful of men that the Colonel could
furnish for an escort. The natives
around here are becoming very trou-
blesome and you know how much re-
| spect they have for the Red Cross
flag"
They'll scatter as soon as Walton
comes," Dave answered with conf
| dence, as he walked with the surgeon