The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1906-11-10
CHAPTER xxXri.

CHAPTER xxxH.
1.-THE NobIest Death That Man Can Die"
1t was morning in Wynberg. The
hospital that had been prepared for
the wounded by the provident care OF
the Colony was already getting full.
The committees of relief had their
hands occupied, and the ladies of the
place were pleasantly employed, with
great interest to themselves in dolins
out garments to refugees and talking
over cases of need that must be at
tended to. Mrs. Belmont, Ursu1a's
hostess, was among the busy and
talkative. This morning she had
called to Ursula as usual to go with
her to the hospital, and take the sister
the fruit and clothing she had pledged
herself to supply with a favish hand.
Ursula was ready-her basket filled
with comforts, *and herself as eager to
go as was Mrs. Belmont. It was the
thing that made her happiest in this
time of suspense and waiting-to be
able to help the soldiers In however
small degree.
There had been fresh batch of in
valids sent down the night before. and
the sisters and the medical corps were
busy over their new cares. Ursula
stopped one of the sisters to give up
the things she had brought and to ask
If there were anything more she could
bring. The sister looked at her hastily.
Miss Hamilton!" she said. One OF
the men just brought in must be
friend Of yours; he asked If you
weren't in Wynberg."
That leap of her heart seemed to tell
her before she could get out the words.
asked for me? Do you know who 1t
is-an oficer?"
''Yes, one of the irregulars-
Winstanley. He is not really bad
as she saw the alarm In Ursula'S eyes.
He was wounded in the arm-they
thought at first it might be amputa-
tion, but he's going on splendidly and
can walk about now It was in that
skirmish at Breitmann's Farm. I'll
tell him you're here, presently: 1
dare say you'd like to see him. Per
haps you'll 90 out and wait under
that tree; he ought to take turn out
side to get the air"
With heart that beat with joy and
fear and suspense all in one Ursula
obeyed She hardly saw the world
around her as she made her way to
the seat beneath the tree. Noel safe,
though he had been wounded, down
here, and asking for hert The world
seemed suddenly alive with glory, and
the songs of invisible birds rang in her
ears as she stepped out into the broad
sunshine and looked up at the blue
sky.
There was not long to wait. tall
figure with weary step came out from
the house and turned toward where
she stood, with a step whose ianguor
frock. She did not wait for him to
reach her; she ran forward from the
patch of shadow, her face radiant and
tender as she held out both her eager
hands. He caught them in his own
strong clasp-only one hand to close
over them alas! for the other was in
sling, and bandaged to the finger
tips. He drew them together TO his
breast and held them there, looking
down at her with a smile that spoke
more than a thousand words could
do. There was no kiss, no. cry of
greeting, but they we're not needed, as
each looked into each others face.
"Ah, you are hurt, and l did not
know it,"
"Only clean bullet wound; it is all
right. wouldn't have let them bring
me down here only for the hope of see-
ing you. Ursula, there is great news
for US. Can you guess it? You partly
know. What is the only thing that
could make me come back to you. and
say we shall never part again?"
"You are cleared!" she breathed.
"Then he told you? He kept his prom
1se to me-"
did he promise you? It is to you,
then, that I owe it all? Darling, r
might have known! He did not say
a word to me, but he saved my life:
II it hadn't been for him I wouldn't be
hero now. was to be shot as a. spy,
and he found out. somehow, and man
aged my escape. III never forget 1t
OF the fellow, no matter what he. had
done In the first instance: .,< There.
must have been some deep, .scheming
in that business that went far below
his instrumentality" ! III e..55:...
1T was Countess Hka and others
no told me as much. Some people he
talked Of ~ they ): Do you think Sc