The Clovis news. [volume] (Clovis, N.M.) 1907-1929, 1912-03-21

offered her my arm. and silently led
the way to the room designated, the
others following as best they might
The apartment was unoccupied, exhib-
iting no sS2ns Of the late struggle. aud
j found comfortable resting places for
all. Miss Minor was yet sobbing soft
ly. her face hidden upon her moth
er's shoulder. and I felt constrained
to speak with her.
Il shall 60 at once" said kindly.
TO ascertain all can regarding Lieu
tenant Cation. and will bring you
word"
She thanked me with a glance Of
her dark eyes clouded with tears, but
as I turned hastily away to execute
this errand. Mrs. Brennan laid 70
straining hand upon my arm.
Captain Wayne" she said with
much seriousness. you are very IN
selfish, but you must not 30 until
your own wounds have been attended
to; they may be far more serious
than you apprehend."
AS / gazed at her. surprised by the
anxiety she so openly displayed, /
CHANGED to behold myself reflected
within a large mirror directly across
the room. One glance was sufficient
to convince me her words we're fully
justified. MY remains Of uniform lit
orally chung to me in rags, my bare
shoulder looked a confused mass Of
battered flesh, my hair was matted,
and my face blackened by powder
stains and streaked with blood.
Il certainly do appear disreputsble
enough. / admitted; but I can as
sure you It is nothing sufficiently Sc
rious to require immediate attention.
As l stepped without and closed the
door behind me, / was at once start
led by the rapid firing Of shot from
the real Of the house, and the next
moment l encountered the young. red
faced officer h~urrying along the hall
way at the head a squad Of Federal
cavalrymen. Recognizing me in the
gloom of the passage he paused sud
denly.
Il owe you a belated apology, Cap
tain" he exclaimed cordially. "for hay
ing mistaken you for one Of those mis-
c%reants, but really your appearance
was not fiattering."
Having viewed myself since within
a mirror, ! replied, Il am prepared to
acknowledge the mistake a most nat
ural one. However, l am grateful to
be out Of the scrape, and a scarcely
find fault with my rescuers. Five min
utes more would have witnessed the
end.
I'VE rode hard" he said. "snd were
In saddle within fifteen minutes after
the arrival Of your courier. You evil
IDENTIFY made a hard fight Of It; the
house bears testimony to a terrible
struggle. We are rejoiced to learn
that Lieutenant eaton was merely
stunned; we believed him dead at
first, and he is far too fine a fellow
to go Ia that way"
He is truly living, then7" / ex-
claimed. greatly relieved. Miss Nj
nor, to whom he is engaged. is sor-
rowing over his possible fate in the H.
brary yonder, Could not two of your
men assist him to her? She would
do more to hasten his recovery than
any one"
Certainly" was the instant re
Spouse. 'Halnes. you and Mcdonald
get the ofhcer out of tho front room;
carry him in there where the ladies
are. and then rejoin us"
/ left, remembering then my owl
need. By using the back stairway
avoided Unpleasant contact with the
traces Of conflict yet visible at tn,
front OF the house, and finally discov
cred a bathroom which afforded facili
I ties for cleansing my flesh wound
and making my general appearance
more p%resentable. found 1 could d.
! little to Improve the condition Of m,
clothing, but after making sue
changes for the better as we're pos
sible. soaking the clotted blood lror
out my hair, and washing the powde
stains from my face. ! felt / shoul
no longer prove an object of aversio
even to the critical eyes Of the womer
who would fully realize the cause 70
my torn and begrimed uniform.
A glance from the window told M
the Federal cavalrymen we're bearin
out the dead and depositing them bl
yond view Of the house 10 the deser
cd negro cabins. Ebers and one O
two Of my own men we're standin
near. carefully scanning the uncovere
faces as they were borne past, Will
scraps Of conversation overhear
brought the information that the Ion
dining room where / had passed tn
night on guard had been converted Il
to a temporary hospital.
Irresolute as to my next action,
passed out into the upper han. It wa
deserted and strangely silent. seen
ingly far removed from all those te
rible scenes so lately enacted in III
rooms beneath Ny head by this tin
t. throbbed with pain; I desired TO
" alone. to think. to map out my lutul
course before proceeding down Il
stairs to meet the others. With tn
b M view / sank down IN compile
le WEAKNESS upon a convenient 50
tee. My heavy head sank ba'
.e p @ the arm OF the settee. az
m dooD eleap closed my eyes.