Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-02-29

was and be grateful. Haste was u
mental and physical impossibility to
him He took his own time. All must
perforce acuuiesce.
You have worked yourself into a
high fever. Miss Williston. that's what
you've done" be said. with profession
al mOurnfulness.
Il know it" she smiled wanly. Il
couldn't help it. I'm sorry"
Gordon drew up a chair and sat
down by her. saying with grave kind
ness. You are fretting. We must not
let you. I am going 20 stay with you
all night and shoe the COLLINS away"
you are Kind" said Mary. grateful
~. May l tell you when they come?
II some one speaks to me they go
away"
Indeed you may. dear child" he
exclaimed. heartily He had been half
Joking when he spoke of keeping
things away. he now perceived that
these things were more serious than
he knew.
The doctor administered medicine to
Seduce the fever. dressed the wounded
arm. with Gordon's ready assistance.
and then called in Mother White to
prepare the bed for his patient: but
he paused nonplussed before the
weight of entreaty in Mary's eyes and
voice
please don't" she cried out. in &C
tual terror. "Oh. Mr.. Gordon. don't
let him, / see such awful things when
/ lie down. Please, Pleasei And
Mr.. Langford said l might sit up till
he came. Mr.. Gordon. you will not
let him put me to bed. viii you?"
Il think Il would be better 10 let her
have her way. Lockhart." said Gordon
in a low voice.
Maybe # would. Dick" said the
doctor. with surprising meekness.
III stay all night and I'll take good
care OF her. Lockhart. There's Moth
er White beckonins TO supper You'll
cat before you 20? no. I won't take
any supper now. thank you. mother. 1
VIII stay with Mary"
And he did stay with her all through
the long watches of that long night.
He never closed his eyes in sleep.
Sometimes Mary would drop OF into
uneasy slUmber-always OF short du-
ration. When she awakened suddenly
IN wide-eyod fright he soothed her
with all tenderness. Sometimes when
he thought She was sleeping. she
would clutch his arm desperately and
cry out that there was some one be-
hind the big cottonwood. Again fl
would be 60 ask him I'm terrified
whisper # he did not hear hoofbeats.
galoping. galloping. galloping. and
begged him 90 listen. lie could al
ways quiet her. ard she tried hard TO
keep from wandering: but after a
short broken rest. she would cry out
again in endless repetition Of the ter.
rors OF that awful night.
Mrs. White and several OF her small
progeny broathed loudly from an ad
joining room. 4 lamp burned dimlv
on the table. II grew late-i2 o'clock
and after. AZ last she rested. She
passed from light. broken slufaber TO
deep sleep without crying out and
thus awakening herself. Gordon was
tired and sad. Now that the flush OF
fever was some, ne saw how white and
miserable she really looked. The cir.
Giles under her eyes were so dark
of his misfortune was spreading TO
bring others besides himself into its
som Der folds.
The men were coming back. But
they were coming quietly, in grim 81.
leuce. lie dared not awaken Mary,
for the news he knew they must carry
He stepped noiselessly TO the door 10
warn them 90 yet greater stiffness
and met Langford on the threshold.
The two surveyed each other grave
ly with clasped hands.
You tell her, Dick. II can't" said
Laugford. His big shoulders drooped
as under a heavy burden.
Must IL" asked Gordon.
Dick, II can't said Langford.
brokenly. Don't you see?-if 1 had
been just minute sooner-and L
promised"
Yes. see, Paul" said Gordon.
quietly. u will tell her"
you need not" said a sweet clear
voice from across the room. Il know.
J heard. think knew all the time
but you were all so good to make me
hope. Don't worry about me any
more. dear friends / am all right
now. II is much better 70 know. 1
hope they didn't hang him. You think
they shot him. don't you?"
Little girl. little GIRL" cried Lang
ford. on his knees beside her. 1t is not
that! IL is only that we have not
found him. But no news is good news.
That We have found 10 trace proves
that they have TO guard him we'll be-
cause he is alive. We are going on
new track tomorrow. Believe me.
little girl. and go to bed now. WON'T
you, and rest?"
Yes" she said. YEARLY, as one in
whom no hope was left, Il W I
will mind-the boss"
AS he laid her gently on the bed.
while Mrs. White, aroused from sleep.
fiuttered aimlessly and drowsily about.
he whispered. his breath carressing
her cheek
You viii go TO sleep right away.
won't your"
Il Will try. You are the boss"
TO BE CONTINUED.