The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-07-26

shout hurled hlmself hhlr over, nun
through the hedge like bolt from cat
apult.
Lights shone from only one room In the
house tho library; but as he ran towards
the porch a candle hickered In the hall.
and there came the sound OF voice weep
ing with terror
Al that he called more desperately upon
incredulity to aid him. for the voice was
Mrs. Tanberry's. If 1t had. been any
other than she who sobbed 80 hopclessly-.
she who was always steady and strongl
If he could. he would have stopped 70
pray now. before he faced her ana lne
truth, but his flying feet carried him on.
..Who is IT, she gasped, brokenly, from
the hall. Mamie? Have you brought
hi..,?"
"1t's II. he cried, as he plunged through
the doorway ITS Nanrevel!
Mrs. Tanberry set the Iron candlestlck
down upon the table with a crash.
you've come too late!' she sobbed.
"Another man has taken your death on
himself" az,
He reeled back against the wall. "oh:
God!" he said. "Oh. God. God. Godi
Crailey?'
yagabond that you loved so we'll.
Together they ran through the hall to
tho library. Crailey was lying on me
long sofa his eyes closed. his head IKE
n piece of carven marble, the gay uniform
in which he had tricked himscit out SO
gallantly open at the throat. and his
white linen stained with a few little
spotchcs OF red.
Beside him knelt Miss Betty. holding
her lace handkerchief upon his breast:
she was as white as he and as notion
dess; so that as she krelt there, immov-
hble, beside him, her arm like alabaster
across his breast. they might have been
sculptor's group. The handkerchief
was stained little. like the linen. and
| Ike It, too, stained but little. Nearby.
on the floor. stodd flask OF brandy and
pitcher OF water.
"You!" Miss Betty's face showed no
change, or even faint surprise, as her
| eyes fell upon Tom Vanrevel. but her
| lips soundlessly framed the word. You
Tom nung himself on his knees beside
her.
that had a terrible shake in It, Grail
ley! Crailey! I want you to hear mel"
| He took one OF the limp hands In his
| and began to chafe It. while Mrs. Tan
berry grasped the other.
"There's stll movement In the pulse" "
she faltered.
"stlll." eachoed Tom, roughly. You're
| mad! You made me think Crailey was
| dead! Do you think Crailey Gray Is going
to die? He couldn't. tell you-he
| couldn't; you don't know him! Who's
| gone for the doctor?'' He dashed some
brandy upon his handkerchief and set 1t
to the white lips.
mamie. She was here in the room with
me when 1t happened
/ "IIappened'! 'Happened!" no Knocked
her, furIously. :, Happened is beautl-
full word!'
God forgive mel" sobhed Mrs. Tan
berry. II was sitting in tho library, and
| Mamie had Just come from you. when
| ~ ra Ghntlt fror
cupoa room: Stand away from my
daughter, vanrepel. and take this like
dog. Only that:-and Mamie and l ran
to the window, and we saw through Inc
dusk a man In uniform leap back from
Miss Betty--they were in that little open
space near the hedge. He called ou'
something and waved his hand. but the
shot came at the same time and ne fell
Even then was sure, In spite of wha,
Mamie had said, was as sure as Rober,
g Carewe was, that 1t was you. He came
and took one look-and saw-and ther
Nelson brought the horses and made hin
mount and go. Mamie ran for the doctor
and Betty and carried Crailey In. 1t wa:
hard work.
Miss Betty's hand had fallen from
Craleys breast where Toms took II.
place. She rose unsteadily to her feet
and pushed back the hair from her fore
II ledQ, SHlNc1ltS COHS 10 S''S 'oS'N
cd down at tho motionless figure on tn
sofa.
"Crailey! said Tom. in the same an
cry. shaking voice. "Crailey. you've go
to rouse yourself: This won't do; youv
got to be man! Crailey" He was tryln
to force the brandy through the Tight
clenched teeth. "Craileyl'
"Crailey!' whispered Miss Betty lean
ing heavily on the back OF chair
;. "Crallcy?" she looked at Mrs. Tanberr
with vague Interrogation. but Mrs. Tan
berry did not understand.
"Crailey!''
It was then that Crailey's eyelids hut
tered and slowly opened: and his wan
dering glance. dull at first, slowly grey
clear and twlnkling as 1t rested on tn
ashy, stricken face Of his best friend
TON" he said feebly. ut was wort
, the price, to wear your clothes jus
, once!"
And then, at last. Miss Betty saw an
understood. For not the honest gentle
, man, whom everyone except Robert Ca
rewe held In esteem and affection, not he
, fathers enemy. Vanrevel. lay before he
, with the death wound In his breast fo
her sake, but that other-Crailey Ora!
! the ne Ter do-wel and light-o'-love, Cralle
, Gray, wit, poet, and scapegrace. the vel
J beloved town scamp.
: He saw that she Knew, ana. as n
: Frightening eyes wandered up to her. i
q smiled family. Even a bad dog likes
t have his day" he whispered
!. CHAPTER XIX,
: TIIE FLAG GOES MARCHING BY.
I VIII Cummings had abandoned tt
v pen for the sword until such time a
9 Santa Anna should cry for quarter, an
had left the office In charge Of an In
y ported substitute; but late that nigl
a he came to his desk once more,
\ write the story OF the accident to Co
:. poral Gray; and the tale that he wro
= had been already put into writing
= Tom Vanrevel as 1t fell from Crailey
:; lips. after the doctor had come. so thf
!. none might doubt it. No one q
: doubt 1t, What reason had Mr.. careV
: to injure Crailey Gray? Only five,
= Rouen knew the truth; for Nelson ma
3, gone with his master: and exec
% Mamie. the other servants OF Il
d carewe household had been anon
Z. the crowd In front Of the Rouen hon
g when the shot was fired
a So the story went over the tow