The Irish standard., 1908-01-18

away" 70 r''-''>
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
reduce 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. ooh, Mr.. Gordon, don't
let him! I see such awful things when
! lie down. Please! Please! And
Mr.. Langford said might 81. up till
he came. Mr.. Gordon, you will not
let him put me to bed, will you?"
Il think it would be better to let her
have her way, Lockhart," said Gordon
in a low voice.
Maybe it would, Dick" said the
doctor, with surprising meekness.
I'll stay all night and I'll take good
care of her, Lockhart- There's Moth
er White reckoning to supper. You'll
eat before you go? No, l won't take
any supper now, thank you, mother, 1
will 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 off into
uneasy slumber-always of short du.
ration. When she awakened suddenly
IN W1de-eyed 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 it
would be to ask him in a terrified
whisper if he did not hear hoof-beats.
galloping. galloping, galloping, and
begged him to listen. He could al
ways quiet her, and 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 breathed loudly from an ad-
Joining room. A lamp burned dimly
on the table, 1t grew late-12 o'clock
and after. At last she rested. She
passed from light, broken slumber to
deep sleep without crying out and
thus awakening herself. Gordon was
tired and sad. Now that the flush of
fever was gone, he saw how white and
miserable she really looked. The cir
cles under her eyes We're so dark
they were like bruises. The mantle
of his misfortune was spreading to
bring others besides himself into its
somber folds.
The men were coming back. But
they were coming quietly, in grim ST.
lence. He dared not awaken Mary
for the news he knew they must carry.
He stepped noiselessly to the door to
warn them to a yet greater stiffness
and met Langford on the threshold.
The two surveyed each other grave.
ly with clasped hands.
you tell her, Dick IL can't" said
Langford. His big shoulders dropped
as under a heavy burden.
Must II" asked Gor;7on.
"Dick. IL can't" said Langford.
brokenly. Don't you see?-if l had
been just a minute sooner-and I
promised
Yes, I see. Paul." said Gordon,
quietly. Il will tell her."
"You need not" said sweet clear
voice from across the room. Il know.
1heard. think knew all the time
but you were all so good to make me
hope. Don't worry about me any
more, dear friends. l am all right
now. 1t is much better to know. l
hope they didn't hang him. You think
they shot him, don't your
Little girl, little girl" cried Lang
ford, on his knees beside her, 1T is not
that! 1t is only that we have not
found him. But no news is good news.
kThat we have found no trace proves
that they have to guard him we'll be-
ctuse he is alive We are going on
new track tomorrow. Believe me.
little girl, and go to bed now, won't
Jou, and rest?"
"Yes," she said, YEARLY, as one in
whom no hope was left, Il will go. l
will mind-the boss"
I AS he laid her gently on the bed,
while Mrs. White, aroused from sleep,
futtered aimlessly and drowsily about,
he whispered, his breath carressing
her cheek:
"You will go to sleep right away,
won't your
Il will try. You are the boss"
CHAPTER XII.