The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-08-24
In her excitement she fired recklesslv

In her excitement she fired recklesslv.
with pain. How brave you were
You might have been-I'H never forget
it-never! Don't stand there, Aunt
Fanny! Quick Get those cushions
Tor him. Hes hurt"
Good Lawdw was all the old WON.
an could say, but she obeyed her mis-
tress.
ut was easier than 1t looked, your
highness," murmured Baldos. Luck
was with me. The knife went to his
heart. l am merely scratched. His
! leap was short but he caught me
above the knee with his claws. Alas,
your highness, these trousers of mine
were bad enough before, but now they
are in shreds. What patching / shall
have to do! And you may well imagine
we are short of thread and needles and
thimbles."
Don't jest, for heavens sake! Don't
talk like that. Here! Lie down upon
these cushions and r"
"Never! Desecrate the couch of
Graustark's ruler? /, the poor goat
hunter? I'll use the lion for a pillow
and the rock for an operating table.
In ten minutes my men can have these
scratches dressed and bound-in fact,
there is surgical student among them,
poor fellow. l think / am his first pa
tent. Ravone, attend me-"
He threw himself upon the ground
and calmly placed his head upon the
body of the animal.
II insist upon your taking these
cushions" cried Beverly.
"And l decline irrevocably." She
stared at him In positive anger. "Trust
Ravone to dress these trifing wounds,
your highness. He may not be as
gentle, but he is as firm as any prin-
cess in all the world"
"But your arm?" she cried. Didn't
you say 1t was your legs? Your arm is
covered with blood too. oh, dear me,
I'm afraid you are frightfully wound
ed"
"A stray bullet from one of my men
struck me there, think. You know
there was but little time for aiming
"Wait! Let me think a minute!
Good heayensv she exclaimed, with
start. Her eyes were suddenly filled
with tears, and there was a break in
her voice. II shot you! Don't deny 1t
don't! 1t is the right arm, and your
men could not have hit it from where
they stood. Oh. oh, oh!'
Baldos smiled as he barred his arm.
"Your aim was good,' he admitted
Had not my knife already been in the
lions heart your bullet would have
gone there. 1t is my misfortune that
my arm was in the way. Besides, your
highness, 1t has only cut through the
skin, and little below, perhaps. 1t
will be well in a day or two. / am
sure you will find your bullet in the
carcass of our lamented friend, the
probable owner of this place"
Ravone, hungry looking youth, took
charge of the wounded leader, while
her highness retreated to the farthest
corner of the cavern. There she sat
and trembled while the wounds were
being dressed. Aunt Fanny hustled
back and forth, first unceremoniously
pushing her way through the circle Of
men to take observations and then re-
porting to the impatient girl. The
storm had passed, and the night was
still except for the rush of the river.
fell now and then from the
trees. glistening like diamonds as they |
touched the light from the cavern's
mouth. 1t was all very dreary, uncan-
~ and oppressive to poor Beverly Now |
ind then she caught herself sobbing. |
more out of shame and humiliation |
han in sadness, for had she not shot |
he man who stepped between her and |
leath? What must he think Of her?
He says yo' all d bettah go to bald.
Hiss Bev-yo' highness," said Aunt
Fanny after one OF her trips.
''0h, he does, does he?" shifted Bev-
.rly. "I'll 60 to bed when I please.
Tell him 80. No. no-don't do It, Aunt
FANNY Tell him I'll go to bed when
no sure he Is quite comfortable. not
'ef0re."