The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1904-04-08
BY II. B. WELSH...

'oH - itNiS, bNb II 4 " -
death, Addy-no brave fellow could
desire a better. A thousand timls
better than to be taken prisoner;
that's the fate a man breads. And that
reminds me there's II poor fellow
whose fate may have been that for all
we know. / mean poor Cleland."
"Yes?" said A%drienne, quickly. She
passed her hand over her lips. Ct
| heard something about him. Ned.
Tell me what you know
Little enough said the colonel; 81
wish we knew more. We didn't miss
him until We reached a place called
Hudi, that was a day before the bat
tie; then we found be had disappeared.
His boys told a cock-and-bull story OF
his having been attacked by a hyena,
and instantly after disappearing. They
thought the spirit of the animal had
carried him off. But Rayburn had a
still queerer story to tell. 1t seems he
had been up very late the night before,
and had gone out for a stroll down by
the river. AS he approached he saw
a boa shoot swiftly down. There
were two men in it, and one he was
ure vas an Englishman, though he
did not recognize him. He shouted.
but no answer was returned. and the
next minute the boat had disappeared
from view. AS soon as the news got
abroad about Cleland's disappearance
he related what he had seen: but OF
course he gave us no clue. Vanburgh,
however, told me some time after that
Rayburn had limited to him he-Ray-
burn-had reason to think Cleland was
rather a queer customer, and that he
had several times spoken Of the injus-
tice Of the English in forcing their
rule upon the ~Soudanese, who had
previously been we'll enough satisfied
with that of their own Khalifa."
1T is a falseheod!" cried Adrienne,
suddenly. She turned towards her
brother a face pale as death, in which
her dark eyes burned like two Goals.
Ned, you do not believe such a mani
fest lie?"
The colonel looked at his sister in
surprise.
II can't say l do. Addy. I always
found Cleland a straight fellow
enough, and he had no reason to join
us If he felt like that. The truth is, l
had a kind of idea Rayburn didn't
like Cleland-was jealous of him, in
fact; but we can only hope the poor
fellow will turn up all right. He did
not get into Mahmoud's clutches, any
how, that is certain; and if the Khal-
ifa has got hold OF him we shall find
him in the next campaign-when we
fall on the Khalifa's traces-if he Is
still living"
Adrienne drew in her breath a little
pantingly; her hand went swiftly to
her side. Her brother looked at her
a~nxiously.
I'll tell you what 1t IL. Addy-you
must see a doctor. There's a lady
doctor, they say, staying now with
Mr.. Crombie, the Scotch clergyman,
you know. She is on her way to Mad
agascar as a medical missionary. Why
not see her? She comes from Edin-
burgh, I believe. Will you allow me
to send for herr"
Adrienne shook her head, saying she
was all right; but the colonel was not
satisfied.
That very day he invited Mr.. Crom-
bic, his wife and the Scotch lady doc
tor to dine with his sister and himself
in the evening and Adrienne found
herself later on awaiting her guests
in her elegant little drawing room.
When the servant announced them
Mr.. and Mrs. Crombie and Doctor
Crawford'-she went forward to re-
ceive them with her usual gracious
sweetness; but her eyes dwelt longest
on the face of the lady doctor, and
during the evening she found them
again and again wandering to that
pale. pure face, with the expression OF
strange, deep peace stamped forever
upon it.
1t was Margaret Crawford, indeed
Margaret, whom two years OF devoted
work, of unselfsh living for others,
had enabled to crush down that old
pain that still lived In her heart.
Only q few weeks ago she had ap-
piled for and obtained the post of
medical missionary in Madagascar.
rendered vacant by the death OF the
holder of IL. Mr.. Crombie was an old
acquaintance Of Edinburgh days, ana
he had begged Margaret to stay . few
weeks with him on her way.
And sOmething-ah, that longing
that years could not kill to see once
more q beloved face. to hear once
more = dear voice. now lost to her
forever-had impelled Margaret to
yield.
"She looks a noble woman thought
Adrienne to herself: but thsre is .
story Of suffering behind that face, l
am sure. She makes mi think of the
words, somehow. Perfect through
suffering"
At dinner of course the principal
topic OF conversation was the late
campaign. Presently Cleland's name
was mentioned.
"Ah, yes, poor fellow! l heard
something Of that" said Mr.. Crombie.
I'm afraid he must have fallen into
the hands of the enemy" He turned
suddenly to Margaret. "By the by.