The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1903-03-06
~ Il. 3. Mackenzie

YOU die a thousand times rather! O:
\ God, IS there no help tor met Help
me. b merciful, kind God!" Then her
voice sank to- whisper. II Adair
were here ali. he would help me! He
Is good and brave. But he will never
+ know now that I loved him." The
/ voice trembled little. and then 81
lence- blessed silence came.
And Adair Rothes. with trembling
hands, and eyes full Of passionate,
longing tenderness, bent over the un-.
conscious girl with an agonized
prayer. t.Gs i
'Merciful God, spare her to me, II It
be Thy will! Ny darling my own
darling! And she cried to me in her
extremity. and did not know Of It!
Bluebell. Bluebell!' 51 s5sa
Miss Elizabeth arrived in the spider
twenty-four hours after. and could
only wiring Rothes' hand in silence,
her thin, sallow. unlovely face work
ing sconvulsively.
God will spare her. Miss Eliza
beth" Rothes said huskily. 1--WE both
owe debt we can never repay to the
young fellow who found her, for you
know It was not I who did so. We
might never, have seen her again but
for Lieutenant Preston
,Rothes knew his duty lay in Lady
smith. yet he could not tear himself
from Bluebell's side until he knew
whether it was to be life or death.
Mercifully, the delirium did not last
long, and on the third day, after a
long sleep, she opened her eyes, that
had full reason in them, upon her
aunt.
"Auntie, where am I? she asked
feebly. Oh. what a fearful dream 1
have had!"
When Miss Elizabeth. ran for Rothes
the strong man felt himself trembling
like a child. He returned with her
quickly, but he could not speak when
Bluebell's eyes rose to his.
IT have had such a fearful dream,
DR.. Rothes,' she whispered, her eyes
appealing with dumb pathos to his
trustful ones. II am afraid it was a
reality, though. Is my father dead
Did Mr.. Moore carry me away? And
was dying in the veldt?''
'It is all true''-holding the poor
little weak hand in his own strong one
-"but, God be thanked, you are safe
now-safe and in good keeping. All
you have to do is to get WE'LL
did you find me?" she whispered.
And he felt the little hand CULVER.
He had determined not to speak,
but the question upset all his determi-
nations. He sank on his knees, hold
ing the little hand to his lips &
II was seeking for you six days,
Bluebell; but after all 1t was young
officer who found you and gave you
to my keeping. Oh, Bluebell, my heart
is torn in two when think of all you
have gone through and I unable to
help you-not knowing at first you
wanted help-I, who would give my
life to save you pain! My darling! my
own darling!" u
a little wave Of color spread over
her white face; her throat futtered.
"You-love me. tLen?' she whis-
pered.
IT have loved you ever since Il first
met you at Maritzburg, Bluebell; but
never dared to hope. Bluebell, it
seems wrong to speak of it at this ter
rible time; but you do care a little,
after all. about me? do you?"
The little. wasted hand stroked his
cheek. 5ssss II sss q. Il
II love you with all my heart. Adair.
] knew it that awful night when the
Beers she paused, I, shuddering.
s. You'll take care sof me. and not let
that dreadful4man come near meg"
He folded the hand to his breast,
and, bending, kissed again and again
the pale little face cheeks, and eyes
and lips. .5s
Rothes went back to Ladysmith next
day. The battle of Elandslaagte had
taken place. and the hospital In the
little town was full. So /,
Mr.. and Mrs. Dalziel were kindness
itself. and insisted on the Leslies stay
ing as long as ever they felt inclined. /:
On the hrst day on which Bluebell
was able to set up Adair Rothes APP
peared ~ was two days after the
battle of I.adysmith Of which word
had been bronght to the Dalxiels. ~
iBluebell Me1comed him with al blush
md . Ssnils that made thsss 1, heart
I throb. But there was sonnet thing iii his
face which mad b Blusbell.s heart fret