The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1916-08-24

!! time after dina had d<f.ed his vim
their brilliant reckIessness were closed
the black brows smoothed out irto ,
untroubied serenity. Yet the expres
sion was ~ he remembered It.
In the far distance. beyond his rang.
OF vision, . sudden sharp rattle az
artillery broke the silence. His evss
n1ckered with . faint triumph Sid.
bel-Abbes had not been taken nm
awares- Perhaps that daredevil Ger.
man had arrived In time.
He laid . shaking hand on the ou,s,
breast The man still breathed ~
was ike an answer-an accentan..
He opened the tunic with rapid skim,
fngerR The roar Of battle was no..
close at hand. 1t rolled toward ,hs
narrow barrier Of rock in cIoud -
rising dust. from which flashed an n
termittent lightning. Colonel Dest,nr
paid no heed. He had traced the COURSE
OF bis bullet 1t was lodged an inch
above the heart, but its force bad hesn
checked BY an old tattered letter case
which ne tossed on one side. with
strips Of his linen shirt be plugged the
ragged-iooking wound and bandaeed
IT. The whole thing was the work OF
rev minutes Death swept down upon
mem both, but this man was not to die
through him.
he had lifted the unconscious bead
upon one arm; his eyes passed for an
instant to the tattered letter case and
rested there. 1t had fallen open.
Moved by he knew not what Impulse
he touched 1t trembIingIy. A few dried
and faded rose leaves. letter, yellow
with age, sInged and pierced by hIs
own bullet. Suddenly 1t grew very
still about him. The crash of battIe
seemed to have sunk behind a deaden-
Ing veil Of Silence. There was nothing
left in the world but this man and him
SELF
Richard FarquharT'
The name escaped him without his
knowledge. The legionary groaned and
half turned, his unconscious hand
Destinn's arm. and a minute
later his eyes opened. They looked at
each other steadily, and Destinn shrank
back. This was the expiatIon-the
punishment. There was to be no curse
and no mercy, but the grim working
out Of logical merciless law.
You know now, sir7"
The weak voice sounded loud in his
ears-louder than the thunder of the
guns He made a movement Of stunned
assent.
Yes; you are Northumberland Far
quhar, my" He broke on. He was
looking in the eyes Of his Judge; he
awaited sentence.
Farquhar drew himself up with q
desperate effort.
"They're-they're coming on fast
aren't they. sir? | haven't much time.
And have message--from my
Is waiting for you-In
She gave 1t me two
years ago. Can you hear me, sirT
"Yes-yes."
Il was to tell you-that night when
you left her-you won her. She has
waited for you" He dropped back.
sasping. into Destinn's arms "SIr,
hank God-that at the last | have
'ound you. also have my message
understand-and honor-and pity
vou."
Destinn bowed his head. A word OF
release had been spoken. He was free.
The burden OF years dropped from
him. He was gazing down into the
'ace OF a child. In the frank clear eyes
If a memory. He held the wounded
nan closer. shielding him with stern
Il too-thank God. Richard"
The cheering had grown louder.
Within hundred yards Of the rocks
where they meant to make their last
ally the harrled shot-ridden ranks OF
BedouIn cavalry faltered. For an in
Intestinal second OF delay they seemed
o be gathering to face the new attack:
hen the leaders broke away west
ward and with them. in magnificent,
semlcircle. the whole
,eaten. panic-strlcken host.
1t was Goetz Won Berlichingen who
lad led the victorious flank attack.
weeping the retreat far into the west.
lie had had no orders to do 30 and
My a small detachment OF chassenrs
t his command. But he had succeed
d, and now he lay In the sand, cough
ng up blood from hullet-riddIed lung.
General MeunIer kneit beside him. He
ad no great interest in dying legion
ries. but he wished to r,ake sure of
'olonel DestInn's last whereabouts.
You say to the rlght-among the
ocks there?'
Yes"
Then your Ranking movement prob
Diy. saved them. You are a daring
elbow. II you had lived should have
ad the pleasure of court-martlaling
GU. As 1t is-have you any request to
lake?"
(To BE CoNTINUED)