Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1904-02-29
CHAPTER XIII.

He pitched forward, and I was
quicker than Ensign Ship. set him
on my knees, and the surgeon poured
a little watered brandy down his
throat.
PAUL" said to him.
stand back" ordered the surgeon
as women followed their children
crowding the room.
DO you know him, LazarrN2" asked
Croghan.
ITS Nine. de Terriers child"
mot the baby used to see at De
Chaumont's? What's he doing at Fort
Stephenson"
The women made up my bunk for
Paul, and laid him In 1t. Each wanted
to take him to her care. The surgeon
sent them to the cook house to brew
messes for him and stripped the child,
finding a bullet wound In his side.
Probing brought nothing out, and did
not ask single question.
The surgeon turned everybody out
but me and looked in by times from
his hospital OF British wounded.
wiped the boys forehead and gave him
his medicine, tanning him all day
long. He lay In stupor, and the sur
geon said he was going comfortably
and would suffer little.
had him all that night for my own,
putting every other thought out OF
mind and absorbing his presence. His
forehead and his face lost their burn.
ing heat with the GOODNESS of dawn,
which blew our shaded candle, flowing
from miles OF fragrant oaks.
He awoke and looked all around the
cabin. | tried to put his opiate into
his mouth, but something restrained
me. ] held his hand to my cheek.
Il like you,' he spoke out. Don't
you think my mother Is pretty?"
! said thought his mother was the
most beautiful woman in the world.
He curled up his mouth corners and
gave me a blue.eyed smile.
my father is not pretty, but he is a
gentleman Of France"
where are they, Paul."
He turned a look upon me without
answering.
Paul" ! said brutally, tell me
where your father and mother are"
He was so far gone that my voice
recalled him. He simply knew me as
a voice and presence that he liked.
with poor old Ernestine," he an
swered.
"And where is poor old Ernestlne?"
He began to shake as If struck with
a chill. drew the blanket closer.
Paul, you must tell mel"
He shook his head. His mouth
worked, and his little breast went into
He shrieked and threw
himself toward me. my pretty little
mother."
held him still in tight grip. my
darling, don't start your wound"
could have beaten myself, but the
surgeon afterward told me the child
was dying when he came into the fort.
About dawn, when mems lives sink to
their lowest ebb with night, his sank
away.
Before throwing myself down in the
dead heaviness which results from
loss Of sleep, questioned
the wounded British soldiers about
Paul. None Of them had seen him.
Struggling bands of Indians continual
ly Joined their force. Captiyes were
always a possibility In the savage
camp. Paul might have been taken
of miles away.
But ! had the padlocked book which
might tell the whole story. With des-
perate haste that could hardly wait TO
open the lids took II out, wandering
at the patience which long self-re-
straint had bred in me. was very
tired and stretched my arms across
the pillow where Paul's head had. lain
to rest one instant, But ! must have
slept My hand woke first, and, feeling
itself empty, grasped at the book. 1t
was gone, and so was the sun.