The Red Cloud chief., 1906-06-08

had left the Office in charge or an I'M
ported substitute. but late that night
he came to his desk one more to write
the story of the accident to Corporal
Gray, and the tale that he wrote had
been already put into writing by Tom
Vanrevel as 1t fell from Crailey's lips
after the doctor had come, so that none
might doubt 1t. No 0le did doubt II.
What reason had Mr.. Carewe to injure
Crailey Gray? Only five in ROuen
knew the truth, for Nelson had gone
with his master, and, except Mamie.
the other servants Of the Carewe house
hold had been among the crowd in
front of the Rouen House when the
shot was fired.
SO the story went over the town how
Mrs. Tanberry; how Mr.. Carewe hap
pened to be examining the musket his
father had carried In 1912 when the
weapon was accidentally discharged,
the ball entering Crailey's breast: how
Mr.. Carewe, stricken with remorse and
horror over this frightful misfortune
aud suffering too severe anguish OF
mind to remain upon the scene Of the
tragedy which his carelessness had
made, had fled, attended by his serv-
ant, and how they had leaped aboard
the evening boat as it was pulling out
and were now on their way down the
river.
And this was the story, too. that Tom
told F%anchon, for it was he who brought
her to Crailey. Through the long night
she knelt at Crailey's side. his hand al
ways pressed to her breast or cheek,
her eyes always upward and her lips
moving with her prayers, not for Grail
ley to be spared. but that the Father
would take good care Of him In heaven
till she came. II had already given
him up." she said to Tom meekly In a
small voice. IL knew 1t was to come,
and perhaps this way Is better than
that thought 1t would be far away
from me. Now I can be with him. and
perhaps I shall have him a little longer.
for he was to have gone away before
noon"
The morning sun rose upon a fair
world. gay with bird gatherings from
the big trees of the Carewe place and
pleasant with the odors of Miss Betty's
garden, and Crailey, lying upon the
bed Of the man who had shot him,
hearkened and smiled goOdby to the
summer he loved; and. when the day
broke. asked that the bed be moved so
that he might lie close by the window.
1t was Tom who had borne him to that
room. 81 have carried him before
this" he said. waving the others aside,
Not long after sunrise. when the bed
had been moved near the window. Graf
ley begged Fanchon to bring him a
miniature Of his mother which he had
given her and urged her to 90 for II
herself. He wanted no hands but hers
to touch 1t. he said. And when she
had gone he asked to be left alone with
Tom.
give me your hand, Tom" he said
family. I'D like to keep hold Of it q
minute or so. l couldn't have said that
yesterday, could l, without causing us
both horrible embarrassment? But
fancy I a now because In done for
That's too bad, isn't It? I'm very
young, after all. DO you remember
Whul DOOI hui SIthlCi odiu as AN
went up to be guillotined ?-'There wer,
things In this head Of mine! But
want to tell you what's been the mat
ter with me. 1t was just my being
bad sort Of poet. I suppose that I've
never loved any one, yet I've cared
more deeply than other men for every
lovely thing I ever saw, and there's 81
little that hasn't loneliness In It. IL
be ashamed not to have cared for tn,
beauty in all the women I've made
love to-but about this one-the mos
beautiful of all-I'-
"She will understand" said Ton
quickly.
"She will-yes-she's wise n good
II FanchOn knew, there wouldn't b.
even a memory left to her, and dom
think she'd live. And, do you know,
believe I've done Il favor for Miss Bet
ty In getting myself shot. Carewe will
neve come back. Tom, was ever
mans knavery SO exactly the architec
of his own destruction as mine? Ant
for what gain? Just the excitement o
the comedy from day to day, for sh,
was sure to despise me as soon as sh
knew, and The desire to hear her voic
say another kindly thing to me. an,
the everlasting perhaps In every won
an. and this II the hearts desire o
all the world! All, well! Tell me
want to hear it from you-how man.
hours does the doctor sayr