Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1904-02-26


from out the midst Of snarl Of ex.
cited children in which he appeared to
be hopelessly entangled His hair was
ruffled. His face was streaked with
perspiratiOn and CRIME. His sleeves
were rolled to the elbows. His white
duck trousers were spotted in numer.
Gus places where they had thought
lessly been brought in contact with the
grass. He grinned.
We're making things sing" he an
nOunced, somewhat unnecessarily,
when they had come nearer "Eh,
kids"
You're rightr' The answer was
given in a shrill chorus of childish
voices.
This is the battle we're going to
fight. and we must wait till we can
see the whites of the enemys eyes"
He looked at Miss Melville, who was
laughing, and the captain, whose flip
was curling with amused tolerance,
and his face became suddenly grave.
alphabetically. I'm surprised and
grieved that you should view it in
spirit of levity. I'll tell you, it's no
ping pong, this fighting battles. Come
kids"
Miss Melville wiped the tears of
laughter from her eyes and gasped for
breath. The captain solicitously APP
preached with a camp chair.
won't yOu-:' he began, then
stepped back quickly, taking the chair
with him.
BERTHE saw the action, and in the
same instant saw its cause. A man.
moth cannon cracker, containing suf-
ficient strength within its smooth shell
to kill a horse if exploded from below,
lay suffering not twelve inches from
Miss Melville's heels. He saw the
horror-st-icken face of the boy, who,
unable to control his zeal. had lighted
the crackers fuse. and had been I'M
able to eXtinGuish it. as he had intend
ed. BERTHE saw the captain retreat for
ty feet or more and heard him franti'
cally tell the girl to jump. And he
dashed forward, scattering children
to the right and the left, his eyes blaZ-
ing.
"Y0u-yOu coward" he cried, indig'
nantly, to the retreating officer. "Why
didn't you-"
He threw the bewildered Miss Mel
vile aside with such force that she
assumed a sitting posture upon the
grass. her hat tilted over one eye, her
sunShade crushed beneath her. He
picked up the suffering cracker and
turned menacingly toward the captain.
His intention was obvious. The crack.
er would have been cast straight at
that heroic gentlcman'S head had there
been time. But, unfortunately or 9th.
erwise, as the matter may be viewed,
there was not time.
Bang
BERTHE. blinded. dcafened, stunned
seemed to whirl. whirl like top. And,
when the force of the momentum was
exhausted, like top he tumbled over.
His ring had fallen from his finger,
and automatically Miss Melville had
taken hold of it. The world turned
black. Her eyes closed. Her con-
seriousness floated away upon u moan.
When it came back and she again
was all things knowingly, her compan-
ion, the voluble lady, was sitting be-
side her plying a fan. Other ladies
were also there. At a little distance,
leaning in Il picturesque attitude
against a tree, was the captain.
"Bertie-brave BERTHE" she muir.
INJURED.
Yes, dear" the lady began, talking
at once Mr.. Netherlands been TAX
en- to the hospital Wasn't it lovely Of
him to do as he did? He's not badly
hurt-nOt so badly as might have been
expected. considering that one Of those
atrocious denominations exploded in his
hand. His eyesight is affected.
though not permanently. the doctors
say. 1t was an awful shock, wasn't
it! SO unfOrtunate's for Mr.. Ware
hams plans. too
Miss Melville struggled to her feet.
Her face was Drawn and white. Her
gown was crumpled and stained with
green.
Il shall so. I think" she said, fore
ing a smile. THANK you ever so much
for what you've done for me. I'm sOr.
ry for Mr.. Wareham. No." motioning
back the captain. who came forward,
rendering his arm. 1t is but little
way home. I'll not incOn-fll not need
you. Captain GortOn. No, nor you la
dies. | should prefer to go alone"
She walked unsteadily across the
lawn. passing through the iron gate
way into the quiet street. At the first
corner she paused. glancing about her.
No one was i'll sight. Slowly, for the
muscles were cramped, she opened her
hand and lifted it to her lips.
Then she placed Bertie's ring upon her
enga cement fnger-Batimore Herald.