Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-12

"A rider from Fee with messages for his Excelency
the Kaid Clarke
"Pass, rider, and accept guard"
The two officers walked to the edge of the bluff and
awaited the courier each hoping that he brought news
of the relief that would the fate of the battle The
handed his packet to the Kad and dismissed,
and together they hurried inside to learn what message
he had brought With hasy fingers the Kaid broke the
seal and tore it open contained only two letters one
addressed to Richard Whitney, ESQ.," in the Consus
well known chrography, and the other official docu
ment addressed in Arabic for the Kaid
Dick in the excitement of the moment, held his in his
hand and studied the Kads face he bent far and
decphered its contents His face grew grim and white
as he crumped 1t IN his fingers leaned across the table,
and said:
"From Fee there is scant hope Onlv this: His Mai
esty the Sultan will himself lead the relief He has
overridden his advisers, and will come to ad but
it is impossible for them to arrive in less than thirty
hours. The ministers have tried to whip me- leader
who fast as does Buhammei will have played
his hand before help come, and -"
Its up to u.s." the American finished.
The Kaid jerked his despatch book from his pocket
and reading aloud he wrote, indicted another appeal
for aid, while Dick stood quietly by. The message fin
shed Clarke walked rapidly out of the tent the camp
deciding to select man personally to bear his message
Dick heard his voice awakening Sldl Suleynan, and
then absently looked at the letter in his hand.
CHAPTER XIX.
IN the dim light of the candle Dick tore open the letter
i with the big red seal and read:
"MY DEAR BOY.-1m calling you that still, and that
you re gong to be as long as you Ve as long as live,
and if you outlast me, you probably WILL you'll know
it after I'm dead because I've lived for years with
ideas but for you and the little GIRL and made for
we'll the other. I'm telling you this because
want you to know that what I've got to write don't
easy haven't done nothing in my life that hurt
as badly this I've got to do I've worked at it and
tried for most of the time since you and the Kad pulled
out to find words to make easier and SOS you under
stand. l amt much of letter writer, nohow. You
know that and knowing it will understand what tough
job it's been for me- but there amt in fiddng
around with tooth, because it's better to have
it yanked OUT if it hurts little harder for
instant, and so I'm going to write and hurt you to
you from being hurt
Dick boy, you can't marry our little Charlie. She
don't love you that way.
Last night after you and the Kaid left was all
mighty lonesome and Margaret had bad headache and
went to bed and didn't see her that evening
So and Charlie sat out the front porch all alone and
feeling pretty sober like Somehow another, get
older things always little palmer and
hills away out home. This night found out
I'd been fool for not seeing some things sooner.
Charlie was sitting over by herself and my cigar had
gone out. The cigars get here in this cussed country
lighting them up again threw this away, and as
sat there thinking about most everything had bunch
all of sudden that she was feeling bad. l her
white handkerchief going to her face and suspected
she crying about something. called her and
held her in my lap and patted her. just the used
do when she right small child, without saying any
thing and somehow another it felt as if she just
little girl again. running around in her little pnny
fores and telling me everything she knew. l thought
maybe she was lonely because you'd gone; but Dick, it
wasn't that. The alphabet by which read other folks
feelings is mighty small one, after all, though
most of its letters are very plain.
"By and by, when she'd quit sobbing so hard, said
to her, why, what's the matter little girl? You amt
lost no dolls nor nothing like that, have you, and you
amt old that you can't tell your old dad about it?
'She snuggled up into my arms mite closer and put
hort