THE BLUE DRAGOONS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 494, 24 August 1912, Page 2

THE BLUE DRAGOONS.

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. AN INDIAN SOLDIER STORY. BY GEORGE MANVILLE PENN. PART a?. CHAPTER XXIV. FLIGHT FOR LIFE. The day of Lawrence's rescue passed very slowly with Jackson, whc had climbed high up in the ruined tower to where he could obtain a good view of the tomb whence the young officer was rescued, keeping a constant watch so as to have fair warning in case of a discovery being made of the broken wall and a search ensuing. To meet such a contingency Melton had raised a strong breastwork across the passage leading to an inner chamber, which contained a well; and here the two men could defy the attack of hundreds, unless they brought fire to their aid so as to suffocate the defenders.

But there was no alarm that day; and the ensuing night was employed in destroying as much as possible all traces of the rescue —a task in which the workers were aided by a heavy fall of rain which washed away the dust and smaller fragments of stone. Jackson watched too, the next day. After that there seemed to be no need, and all that was necessary was to await Lawrence's recovery sufficiently to attempt flight.

There was a strange kind of restraint prevailing in the dark-vault-ed chamber which formed the refuge of the adventurous party. Melton was always cold and respectful tc the ladies, avoiding them on the grounds of the necessitj for watching, saving at such time as he could be useful in adding to their comfort, or in tending their brother officer ; and as for Ella and Laura, they accepted the situation, and tried to devote themselves to waiting upon Lawrence. The latter, however, in a peevish manner, rejected all their ministrations, and accepted service from no one but Jackson, who, while displaying the strength of a man, displayed all the tenderness to his master of the softer sex. " Carry me into the light," said Lawrence eagerly, as soon as he had somewhat recovered from the shock to his system. " This vault seems to press down upon me and crush me. I shall never get strength till I can he in the light." " All right, sir," said Jackson, cheerfully. "You can't go right out, you know ; but I'll take you tc one of the stunningest places you ever saw." Jackson's " stunningest place," was a spot in the passage where half a dozen great etones had fallen through, leaving an opening far above, through which descended a bar of light ; and here, leaning back, with his head resting on a piece ol stone, Lawrence sat for hours, gazing straight up at the sunlit sky, silent and thoughtful. Every night regularly Jackson went to obtain food, and by some means contrived to escape notice ; and so a fortnight passed away—a sad, dreary fortnight full of false alarms and terrors begotten by the sound ol human footsteps. Their escape followed, for after a day or two's rest the horses were mounted, and the fugitives took their departure by night, to be chased by the enemy, who dashed in pursait right into the hands of the British troops on their way to assualt the Rana's town.

Summary vengeance was taken, for relief had come to Colonel Bruce who had now assumed the offensive, reducing the country round rapidly to submission.

Months had now glided away, and the terrible heats of summer had given way to the comparative coolness of the winter season. The two officers were far too: weak to return to their duties, and it had been settled by their medical attendant that they should the next day start on their journey to the hill country, to recover in Simla the health and tone necessary to them, and which could never be attained down there in the hot plains. There were two pleasant rooms opening upon a well-shaded verandah full of plants, in the house where they were staying ; in fact, it was the doctor's, for he had expressed a wish to have both patients under his eye, while the sisters had gladly accepted the offer of the doctor's wife that they should place themselves under her protection. Melton was sitting dreamily outside the window sheltered by plants and a grass tatty which an attenant kept saturated with water. He had been reading, but the task seemed tedious, and he lay back in his cool white dress, half dreaming and thinking of the future, and how he would devote his life to his profession. He should never marry, he told himself. He could have loved—nay, he did love, Laura very dearlj —but she "was loved by Lawrence still ; and by-and-by that trouble about poor Alsa would be forgotten and they would be very happy. Lawrence's morbid feelings on the subject would pass away—in fact, hac done so, for he was never happj without Laura at his side ; and she avoided him, who would have diec for her, for the sake of the younger brighter man, ■whose face had nol been scorched and seamed by war. " Ah, well," 'tie said, bitterly, "lei it be so. Let them be happy, j daresay she's ■with him now." He drew the grass curtain slightli aside and smiJ.ed, for he could jus' see in the darkened room Lawrence'; couch, and by it the graceful folds o a black dress,; while now and agaii

a white hand moved up and down, waving a chowry to fan the weary man's fevered check and drive away intruding flies.

" Ah, yes," said Melton, " why should I step between them and theii happiness ? They are far more suited to each other. Laura, darling," he sighed, " I love you very dearly ; but may he make you a happy wife." He drew in a pained breath, for just then Lawrence spoke ; while, in spite of his bitter feelings and manly desire not to play the eavesdropper, Melton felt compelled by some strange influence to stay where he was to hear every word, to be the unseen listener to their love.

He gave one glance towards the couch, but he could make out only the gently moving hand, and he would not have seen that, so well darkened was the room for the sake of coolness only a faint subdued light came through the doorway of the second room. The next moment Melton's eyes became fixed upon that open doorway as a second blackrobed figure glided forward- and stood there, framed, as it were, so that he could only see the outline from the faint light coming behind. Ella had evidently been drawn there by hearing Lawrence's weak, peeA'isb voice, and she was where she stood invisible to her sister by the couch, while the words that feil seemed to keep her spellbound, too. " Are you there ?" asked Lawrence, feebly.

" Yes," was the whispered reply ; and the chowry was agitated again. " Ah," sighed Lawrence, " then the time has arrived for these pleasant hours to come to an end. I'm very, very grateful to you—no —hush, don't speak—hear me out. I say I'm deeply grateful to you and your sister for your long patient watching by the side of a wretched, peevish man."

There was a low sob, followed by a passionate burst of tears, and Melton saw that the figure in the doorway seemed spellbound.

" Oh, hush," said Lawrence ; and from thie motion of the chowry Melton saw that the little white hand was taken and kissed. " You are thinking of the past. Let that be buried. You have both more than repaid any poor efforts of mine. But listen. I say these words because tomorrow our parting may be formal, and we may never meet again upon this earth."

There was another little sob, and after a few moments, with the figure in the doorway still listening, Lawrence went on :

" This is perhaps wrong, but I cannot help saying it. Tell her —tell her from me that I loved her with all my soul —that I would die a thousand deaths for her sake, and ask her sometimes when she thinks of me fn the future, to try and remember me as one who was not weak and false,but who broke his own heart to save her from what he looked upon as worse than death." There was another low burst of Bobbing.

" Don't cry,*' said Lawrence simply. "You are so gentle and affectionate that the knowledge of others' sufferings makes even your heart bleed. But you will tell her this—that she was my one sole thought—and that though we never meet again, the name of Ella —" A wild cry arrested the speaker, followed by a more passionate burst of sobs than ever, and, trembling in every limb, Melton bent more forward but the figure in tbe doorway never moved.

" Oh, I cannot bear this —it is too much 1" sobbed the voice by the sofa. And Melton saw that the black drapery was agitated, as its wearer threw herself upon her knees. " Fred, Fred—dear Fred —it is not Laura to whom you speak." " What !" he gasped.

"It is I—Ella—your Ella, who loves you—who has always loved you with all her heart. Oh, my darling, if it is unwomanly and strange, forgive me, my brave hero."

" But," panted Lawrence— " you—you—forgive—yon—is it possible ?"

" Forgive !" whispered Ella, in a tone of reproach ; and then her head was buried in the sick man's breast.

Melton drew back to let his head fall amongst the cushions of his reclining chair. The flowers in the verandah seemed to swim around him and the grass curtains that darkened the place waved to and fro. At that moment, as through a mist he saw a slight, black-draped figure glide into the verandah, pass the curtained window by which he sat, and stand with clasped hands gazing upwards, her face irradiated with ]oy as she said, half aloud : " At last !"

The next moment she was about to cover her streaming eyes with her handkerchief when she caught sight of Melton, lying back in: his chair, pale as death and gazing wild-eyed at her. She flew to his side, and caught his hands in hers.

" Captain Melton, you are ill—you are worse. Let me run for the doctor. Oh, loose my hands !" " No, no," he panted, clasping them tightly as he looked up in her terrified face. "It is nothing—only weak —a sudden shiock. Tell me —tell me—is it true ?"

" Yes, speak," he panted, "or I shall go mad. Laura—Laura— for Heaven's sake, tell me " hie pointed to the window — " is that true ?"

" True ? Yes," she said, joyfully. the next moment a thought flashed across HBT mind, and she

would have broken her heart." Melton broke into a wild hysterical laugh, and sat back with his eyes closed for a few moments, while Laura stood prisoned before him—for he retained her hand —blushing and yet alarmed at his strange manner.

" Laura," he whispered at last, irc a deep, trembling whisper, and his soul seemed leaping from his great eyes, " I, too, have been listening. I was chained tbese to hear, as 1 thought, Fred—my dear old friendtell you—you—my own love, my darling—that he loved you, and I, the poor, war-scarred wretch, was ready to go away with a prayer upon my lips that you might be happy—that—''

He stopped panting, for his words seemed to choke him. But thsre was no farther need for speech. The hands that had been struggling to escape remained passive for a few moments in his, and then gradually tightened round them, as their owner sank gently upon her knees to lay her cheek upon them, and listen to the wild throbbings of each pulse. How long the time was before the verandah was darkened no one knew ; but Melton, whose lips were pressed upon the wealth of soft dark hair which floated over his hands, started at last, to see that there were two figures besides them, those of Lawrence and Ella ; and the next moment the sisters were sobbing joyfully in each other's arms. It is astounding how quickly Nature mends old havocs when joy comes in to her aid. Both Melton and Lawrence declared themselves too unwell to commence their journey to Simla ; but the doctor said he had never seen them look so well since they had been under his roof.

"You must go," he said, and they had to yield. ; but the pain of parting was softened by the announcement that he would follow in two days with his wife, and the two ladies in his charge. What followed is a simple matter of history. When Melton and Lawrence rejoined their regiment, well and fit, it was as major and captain and the mutiny was nearly quelled ; but they played their part in that which followed in the campaign of Sir Colin Campbell ; and the Blue Dragoons made so great an impression upon the rebels against the British authority that they are spoken of to this day with a mingling of awe and respect. It was not until quite a year after, and on the return to England and her peace, that the two weddings took place upon the same das. and Melton and Lawrence led their blushing brides back to the house ol an aunt, previous to taking them away for ever. It was in the hall of that houseone of the great mansions in Grosvenor Square—that Lawrence said gaily to his servant —who, with a pretty, dark girl, his wife's maid, was seeing to the luggage, ready for the start to Paris for a Continental tour—

" Why, Jackson, you'll have to follow my example now," and he smiled at the blushing maid. "If you please, captain," said Jackson, very demurely, " we thought it would be more convenient on the tour, and " " And what ?"

"If you please, sir," said his wife's maid, curtesying, . "we were married yesterday." THE END.