Oakes Republican., 1904-03-18

J. oAKRls \ {: IS RHRu i l guBI.fl i / cAs
Iwashsm m curtains. Us , AN elss.nt I, M apart,
fmsIt furnished saftsr European style;
and with every sign of wealth and
luxury around. And two people sit
ting together, talking very earnestly
and In low tones man /, and "a
woman. g y Il y
The man, looking many years oldei
than when we saw him last, though
only two years have actually passed,
whose bronzed face wears an anxious
and serious expression, is Paul Gle
land; and the woman. whose dark,
rich beauty, soft liquid eyes and ex-
Quisitely nodded figure, gowned in
some CONNECTION" from Paris, have
already won for her q conspicuous
place In the European society Of Cairo,
is the widow Of wealthy government
omcial, and has, since her husbands
death, lived with her brother. Colonel
Beauchamp, one Of the most gallant
officers who had gone through the ter.
,rible campaign Of 1885.
A soft-footed native servant had
just brought in the afternoon cup OF
tea, retiring as silently as he had en-
tered; and the two were too deeply en-
crossed in conversation even to notice
that.
II trust matters may not be SO bao
as the Colonel makes out, Mrs. Breyn-
ton," Paul Cleland was saying. These
turbulent Arabs seem to require a lit
tie blood-letting now and then; but
they are no match for European SOL
diery. The affair cannot be more
than mere skirmish at most" "a
Adrienne Breynton's soft eyes me,
Cleland's face for a moment, and then
suddenly dropped.
.'You do not know the fantastic der
wish as I do,'' she said, and her voice
was one Of the sweetest ever woman
possessed. There is. nothing in all
the world will make men fight like
religious zeal, Doctor Cleland, and
they are intoxicated with 1t. They
fight like men inspired. All, have
reason to know how they fght!'
She sighed, but there was not any.
thing deeper than a gentle regret in
the sigh. Cleland had heard the story
Of how Oscar Breynton had been
hewed to pieces in mistake for an OBJ
noxious officer by a horde of Shrek
ing. half-mad Arabs; but he had also
heard how his wife, beautiful and
good as she was, had been strangely
neglected by Breynton for years, and
he guessed that her grief must have
been less than her horror at his, ter.
rible death. ii
Our cause Is one of justice and Of
mercy" said Cleland, after pause:
"and think there is no man. who
would dare to say that we do wrong
In trying to free the Soudan from the
rule of these barbarous, bloodthirsty,
massacreing hordes. confess to shar-
ing the enthusiasm Of the war spirit SO
far. I have made up my mind to go
on to Atbara, Mrs. Breynton.''
| A strange expression fitted sudden.
ly over Adrienne Breynton's face. It
was like a CULVER
You are not going to the desert?"
she asked, a little pantingly.
eyes. They require a doctor, and /
have offered my services. I am going
next week.
| Adrienne's white hand moved the
fan it held to and fro gently. Cleland
could not see that her cheek was grad
ually growing as white as that hand.
You don't know the Soudan,'' she
said at last, in low tone. 'It has
killed our best and bravest men. It is
a man-eater, sucking the life out Of
strong men, not by battle or murder
or sudden death, but by slow, ignoble
disease. Think Of the days of weary
march through storms of sand, be-
meath sweltering sun! And the
nights, sometimes icy cold, sometimes
hot and close as an oven. Think Of
sickness there!" She shuddered.
II shall not think of it at ALL" said
Cleland, quietly. Others do not, and
why should Z? could not stay here
and lead this life Of ignoble ease
while others are bravely facing dam
ger or death. You would not think
the more Of me for doing so, I am
sure, Mrs. Breynton."
A lovely color, soft and warm like
the blush of a pale damask rose.
swept over her face for a moment.
Did Cleland notice It? It was not
likely. For two years only one wom-
ans image had dwelt in Paul Gle
lands mind, and he had never even
imagined that any other could obtain
an entrance there. .
Vet there waa M womon fr,. .ur.,,,,