Winifred's Sacrifice

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 29, 3 February 1900, Page 6

Winifred's Sacrifice

Sy MRS GEORGIE SHELDON*

ftrUior of "The Magic Cameo," "Little Mh& Whirlwind," "Brownie's TrittmpW' "Stella Kosevelt," "Queen Bess," "The Golden Key," "A Girl i« a Thousand," etc

CHAPTER XXVII. IISTPrrNANT WOODMAN LEARNS sSftvm OM" Hla LIJJ" B IS PRE"

"Peri©;.*:," Roger interposed before 3ie began, "you will kindly tell me' your name. I think"—with a smile —'.'we'haven't been properly introduced as yet, arid I would like to know •who has been so good to me. I feel tthat I owe you a great deal." "Well, possibly not more than I owe '.;yexv my friend," the man returned, >vith a sig-h, but in a kindly tone, "for •you.have helped to shorten the weeks during- which you have been here and which otherwise would have been very Jtedi.ous because of the absence of my \. ■partner. Regarding my name, you i.anay- call me Hawkins."

s Roger knew,' as well as if 'he had /"been told the fact, that "Hawkins'* was -not the man's real name. How- ■ ...ever,, it did not matter.; it would serve a^ well as/.any other by which to ad- :.« civess him and thus remove a certain • ieeSjing of constraint which he had ' liitherto experienced when he 'wished '"rto speak to him. - -■■ !

"Thank you, Mr Hawkins," he obv Served, adopting it at once; "and mine •is Woodman. I have recently been .appointed to serve at the military post "•:at "

-Yes, I found that out, Lieutenant

"Woodman, the' day I ran across you,

for I took the liberty of rifling your ..pockets of papers and valuables lest they come to grief; so, of coiirse, '■' learned your name. Your rank, your '.. straps told me;" Mr Hawkins explain- ; cd. ■ •''

"Now, regarding the last six or set en weeks, which, for the most part, Save' been \a blank to you, is vi story1 ■that is soon told," he resumed. "By

Hvay^of preface I will say this much in/connection with my partner and ajry.self-^—we a-re a couple of recluses; iboth from choice and necessity—or at Jeast have been; what the future may hold for us remains to be seen upon 3iis return. We ibaye t>een living in

ftlllS isolated Spot for about five years1, . ~aiitl-.1. think I may safely say that ' there is not a person living who knows 'the secret of our habitation, although' occasionally it has been necessary for one or both of us "to come in contact •with people and visit certain sections -of the' world. On the day that you <vvere injured I was wandering1 abroad looting after my snares. I heard the yelling of the Indians,.the shouting of the soldiers, the beating of the horses' Ihoofs, and surmised something of 1 -what was happening. I had concealed jnyself in a, cave in the gully just as the redskins-swept by and •3'our company after them. . Then followed thfe engagement, and-1 saw you '; iall after one of those copper devils tired two shots in quick succession at you."

"You saw that?." interposed Roger, ."with a quick, indrawn breath. ""Yes, and I'thoughtit was all over "with you. But I waited until the soldiers got the-better of them." ■"Then they did worst them!1' cried Koger, eagerly. "Did they lose any more men?"

"No; but they wounded several of the Indians, although none were left by the way.. They're a tough set, and sdever make a sign as long as there's a ■breath of life in them. When they

swept out of sight, your men close after them, I crept to where you lay ami fovmd you terribly wounded but stall living1. I felt sure that you would.never stand it to be picked up Jby your comrades, when they _ returncarried miles by them into camp, so I resolved to take you in liand ihyself and see if I could save you. Besides, I was lonely, and the care of you would give me something to do to break the dull monotony of imy secluded life. Your horse had also ■been shot—in the head—and in falling had broken two of .his legs. He, too, IWasl living and suffering greatly, and, as I dare not.fire a shot for fear of (attracting attention to the fact of my .presence in the vicinity, I opened an artery and he was soon out of his misery."" •■'".. . "Thank you!' thank you!" said Bo'ger in a. moved tone. "He was a splendid fellow; I had owned him seyeraj years and loved him dearly. ,1 am glad he was.ndt allowed to suffer." ■ ''Then I shouldered you- and (brought you here to my den." , ' -"How far?" questioned the youhg onan with deep interest', for he realised ■that he had been no light weight at •lihat. time.

; ■ "Well, n mile or so; and you were something- of a tvg1," replied Mr Haw]dhs with a smile as lie read his .thoughts, "but.l am strong1 and muscular, and I have managed even heavier: loads during my 'sojourn in this •wild, region. I wasn't so much appailecl by tie thought of getting- you here •as I was in view of what lay before me and the responsibility I had assumed, after 1 had, made an examination of your injuries. I found that the ball hid hit your breastbone, glanced upward and broken your collarbone, tearing- through your flesh-in a fright:Eul manner, and finalty lodged just under the skin,on your, shoulder. I have saved the bullet for, you as a souvenir of your experience with the redskins." IRoger drew a long breath, as he realised from this vivid description how .narrow had been his escape; for hewell knew that if that ball had glanced downward instead of upward it' would surely have made an end of him.

"It was very fortunate for you that I happened to know sometMng- about surgery," liv Haiwldns continued.' "My iatl.er :was a skilful physician; and surgeon, and insisted that I should follow in his footsteps. I obediently went through my course, but became so clasgusted wiih my experi-

enees .that! refused absolutely to continue in the profession. I found that Materda Medica instead of being- a 'science was governed extensively by guesswork and experiment, and I could not tamper •with human life in such a way. Surgery, however, I believed, in many instances, to be useful, and my .knowledge of it has helped me out of many a scrape, and enabled me to help others in a good many instances. Thus, you perceive, it was in my power to set your broken bones and care for you more intelligently, perhaps, than, most hermits could have done."

"I certainly owe my life "to you," Roger gravely observed, as the man concluded, "and I am more grateful than I can express—l shall be glad to give 3'ou a more substantial expression as soon as I am able to get bade to civilisation."

"If you mean in the form of money, Lieutenant Woodman, you may leave your bank account untouched; for, as you can readily understand, a man situated as I am has very little use for anything of the kind," his companion returned with a quiet smile. "But, you may wish to go back info the world some time, and then it would not come amiss," Roger pleaded. 1 "Well, if I ever should there would ba time enough when I make up my mind to do so," said the man with the same smile as before. "You may leave me your address when you go away, and if, at any time, I find myself in need of funds, I promise that I will appeal to you."

"But," persisted Roger, flushing, "I want to do something for you now; I

"I understand you,' Lieutenant, Woodman," interposed Mr Hawkins in a friendly tone, "but let me tell you that I have already had ample reward for "whatever I have done for you, in the satisfaction I experience in having ,sayed so fine a fellow for the service of his country. I am you are a West Pointer."

"Yes; I am; but how could you know that?" queried Roger in surprise.

.;."By your form; •no raw recruit or common'soldier is ever developed as you are. /You have a splendid physique, 3'Ou show.your .training—such training as one rarely gets except at West Point—in every bone, muscle and ligament;"

He would not allow Roger to talk any more then, but left him to prepare the nlid-day meal, telling him that it would be well for him to g-et a nap during his absence. -. The young man was becoming deeply interested in • this remarkable recluse. ' It was evident to him that he Was no ordinary person; he showed evidence 'of'having been highly educated, and there was ranch about him, in spite of his rough appearance and rude surrounding-s, which indicated that he must, at some time during- his past, have moved among cultured people. He had noticed that there were quite a number, of books, by standard authors, on" some shelves near him, and which bespoke a taste for good reading; while, as he.glanced about the room, he observed some slight touches, here and there, which indicated refinement of taste. There were some late wild flowers daintily arranged in a glass upon the rude table; there was a fine collection of mineral specimens disposed upon a shelf that ran entirely around the room, while above them were tacked, here and there, sprays of brilliant autumn leaves.

(To be Continued,)