Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-08-14
ASk AND II SHALL Be GIVEN

"A THEL, dear" said Bessie
Ia Brown, with proud eyes, my
~ brother, Philip Estes Brown,
from South Africa"
Lieut. Phil bent over the dainty
hand of his sisters chum, mentally
contrasting her radiant fairness with
the sun-burnt faces of the Boer ladies,
his principal feminine society for two
long years.
81 am pleased to meet you," he said,
simply. Bessie has often written of
you. l can't express how glad 1 am
to be shaking hands with a genuine
English girl again after so many
months of desolation.'
"And l." said Miss Mackay, with
charming seriousness, 'am glad to
meet one who has given up home and
business to uphold his country's flag.
My father fought for it in the Crimea.
Bessie told me-" she continued when
the three had adjourned to the YER
anda, that you received your wound
in saving one of your men. Would
would you mind telling me about it?"
There isn't much to tell," said Phil,
with a fond glance at his sister
+'has constructed quite a romance out
of it, with me for the principal char
acter; but it was the other fellow who
was the hero"
1--WE ran into an ambush about
dozen miles from camp-twenty of us;
myself, the only officer, in command
and only by the greatest good fortune
escaped humiliation. But we man
aged to reach cover with only half a
dozen wounded.
1T was sort of natural pocket in
the rocks, regular little citadel; but
while the enemy couldn't rush out of
it, we couldn't get out. either, for we
were completely surrounded, and they
numbered ten to our one.
'For two days we lay On those brofl-
ing rocks, hoping for the help which
didn't come, till the heat and the want
of water-for that had given out the
first day-began to make the men go
off their heads, and the suffering of
the wounded made my heart ache.
Things looked so black that 1 had
about made up my mind to give up in
the morning of the third day when one
of the men-Rogers his name was,
splendid fellow-came up to me and
saluted.
Lieutenant he said, there's water
out there about 200 yards to the left
of us. 1 saw 1t as we were driven in
1 can take half a dozen canteens, and
when the moon goes down behind that
cloud make a rush. If 1 get back we
can last another day; if 1 don't
well, it's a mans death, that's all
q wrung his hand impulsively.
Spoken like a gentleman and a SOL
dier,' said, for 1 had long known he
was a gentleman, though only a COM
mon Tommy Atkins
HE reached the water safely, but
half way back the Beers saw him as
he crossed a patch of moonlight and
fired; then he fell and lay still, and
and" continued the lieutenant lamely,
st went out and brought him in
HE brought him in on his back"
broke in Bessie, with two bullets in
his own shoulder. And what do you
think, Ethel-the mans name wasn't
Rogers at ALL but Mackay."
Ethel had risen with staring eyes.
What was he like, this man? she
whispered. "Was he tall and fair, and
did he have a scar across his temple
SOP
why, yes" said Phil, wondering at
her agitation. He was just like that
how did you
HE was my brother" she cried.
@'He left home angry with father. 1
can't tell you why now; but father
was in the wrong. He isn't dead-he
will get wellY
.tOh, yes," said Phil; 'the's all right,
and there is a commission waiting for
him when he gets out Of the hospital -
81 must go at once and tell father,
said Ethel, hurriedly. Wont he be
glad-and proud! But you," turning
suddenly; what can l say to you,
who saved my brothers life?"
Perhaps" he said, audaciously,