The evening Republican., 1902-06-23

fears. She sank down upon the
! window ledge, shamed to the SOU
by the revelation Of his cowardice
l She was reused by the sudden
blast of a bugle, the call to arms
1 that she had heard in her dreaut
so many times. It drew her to hel
feet and she looked down at Alex
der. He coul not fail to respond,
she thought, and then the doctors
voice came up again to her.
''FOrbes!" The doctor had seized
Alexander and dragged him to his
horse. Mount and gow
! But Alexander was past speech.
He stood looking miserahly at the
doctor, and Alice closed her eyes to
shut out the wretchedness of his
face.
She opened them at the sudden
sound of galloping horses hoof-
beats. He had gone, them" No; he
was still under her window, a limp
! heap. But in the weird dusk of the
new day she saw Cough Wallace,
mounted upon Alexander's horse,
dashing rapidly.across the field. The
horse sped on past the ranks B COM
pany straight for the intrenchments
of the enemy. Then, mingled with
the confused sounds of the opening
of battle, she heard tremendous
Shout 60 up:
Forbes! Forbes! Hurrah! Forbes"
Over the uneven fields the men
were scrambling after the fearless
rider, the darkness hiding from
them the fact that he. was not their
captain.
The cry had reached Alexander
Alice saw him rise and listen. The
name rang cut once more, 'Forb-s'
and then broken cheer.
The work OF battle had begun, and
the cheer had brought the soldier
spirit oack into Aiexanders blood.
Alice saw him drop his covering
manner as a prisoner might step out
ot his shackles. She leaned forward
to cry out to him in her eageroess,
but Alexander was running swiftly
over the fields, following the shout
ing voices.
Down through the ranks Of hastily
forming companies he ran, through
trenches and bitches, over rock and
stone and stubble, To where B. com.
pany was drawing together In tile
front. Under the unframed leader
the men were forming wildly, uncer- J
tainly. The uneven re OF the enemy
was finding victims on every side. He ,,
pressed on without stopping until he
seized the bride Of his horse.
Cough Wallace looked down into
the face Of the soldier. 1t was quiet
and resoIutc but the torch OF war
was blazing in his eyes.
There's better work for you back
there Wallace" said Alexander and
then the first heavy volley from
the enemy gave emphasis to his
words.
Cough Wallace did not reply. The
volley had cut into B company and
in the uncertain light, Captain
Forbes saw the doctor plunge head
long from the saddle. An instant
later the music of Alexander's mar
tial commands cut a path through
the noise and B company formed
into firing lines.
Many hours later the doctor open
ed his eyes in the tent of the army
surgeon. The first glance that met
his was that of his chief; then
hand stole into his and Wallace
!ooked up into the blue eyes Of Alice
Forbes.
"Our war correspondent has turn
I'd nurse Wallace, and you're under
orders for the present. exclaimed
;he surgeon.
Il don't know how you managed to
ret yourself into that tangle at the
ront, but that's where the hospital
nen found you. There's not much
wrong with you, only now you'll have
o take that vacation that I've been
'drising. III have you in shape for
he first transport that leaves.
1.-The very first, supplemented Alice
With a tremulous tenderness that re-
lived Il stiled dream in the young
octor's heart.
"l'd like to see your purse 60 with
ou, went ON the surgeon, but of
curse she II have too much to write
ow OF her soldier brothers. doing.
iy soul, but Alexander has made Il
day of this. l suppose. Miss
'orbes, that you'll never wish to
ave your hero now?
Miss Forbes bent low over the cot.
cr lips trembling, her eyes filled with
look that answered Il longing in the
cart of Cough Wallace, although
lie answered the surgeon:
IL shall wish to follow always
hcreyer my hero leads.
Conductors Attend church