Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-10-20

| OF her presence grew uncomfortable, and
[ thought she, too, was glad when we
met. One day, after dinner, the old
count said:
"Laura, you could drive out to-day,
with Gustav; he must drive we'll, iudg-
ing from his riding"
[ bowed, and Laura went to dress.
Meanwhile I determined, the opportr1ni-
ty being so favorable, to tell her about
my love.
The count followed us and lifted
Laura into the carriage; / was about to
follow, when my eyes fell on the horses
they were grays, the same I had seen
hsr driving the first day.
IS Are we to drive these horses 2'' ask
l.
Are they too spirited for you % said
she, smiling archly
| Wlth01t answering took the reins,
and drove away. / did not we'll know
what to say the horses had put me out
of humor and my love-making I could
not begin. Laura, too, was mute, and
seemed embarrassed. At last I spoke
of the first time saw her, Of the i'm
preston her beauty made then, and her
accomplishments later, and how we'll
loved her
I was SO absorbed by my feelings and
SO axious to make them well known to
her, that [ quite forgot the horses.
Only too soon they forced themselves
on my attention in frightful manner;
with one wild plunge the fragile car
riage was thrown against tree, and up
set. Thank God, the frightened horses
stood still one moment, long enough
for me so spring to their nostr1ls and
hold them fast. My next care was for
Laura, she was unhurt; next to see what
had started the horses.
An old gypsy was covering, half
hidden by the bushes on the way side.
| Was it accidental? was it destiny? I
don't know.
The carriage was not broken, we
could drive home; but my declaration
was broken off and could no more be
| continued. l lashed the horses furious
| ly on the road to give them good re-
membrance of that day. [ wanted to
show Laura that [ could drive as well as
| ride, when love did not come between.
L gained my point in this, at least, for,
the next day, my Colonel told me that I
was the town talk; nobody had ever
been seen driving in that way, and
people only wondered that we did not
break our necks. What would they
have said had the secret of my careless
ness been known to them I?
[ brought Laura home without utter
ing another word, led her to her own
room, and kissed her hand passionate
ly; 1 must confess, too, a burning tear
fell on it. She looked full of astonish-
ment at me, for ! hurried from her
presence.
The same evening, asked for leave;
which was granted the more freely, as
our regiment was soon to change
quarters. / left, and have never seen
Laura since
"Now tell me. nephew, did not the
gr0ys bring sorrow and grief to me ?"
(" But tell me, for Heavens sake, why
did you fly 2"
Do you think Laura would ever
have consented to be my wife after that
proof Of awkwardness, heedlessness and
stupidity 3" asked the General, with
frown of Indignation on his brow.
But let it all pass he continued.
6 Even at sixty years. I am not too old
to feel pain in the remembrance. But
war time came on, and [ still had nv
Ali; he bore me safely out of many
fight, and helped me to these trifes.'
and the old man pointed to his power
full chest, which was nearly covered with
decorations. ~ rw rsg
1t was on Monday, [ think when
we fought hard fight; of course I was
leading my men; maybe I ventured too
far; the fact is, [ was surrounded. A
blow fell on my right arm and disabled
it: q second on my head, and fell for
ward on the neck of my horse. / only
saw that the soldier who dealt the blow
rode beautiful gray grasped my
Ais name and became inselsible-butl
that noble animal, feeling that SOME
tnfhg 5awas wong with! Ibis qfaaster;,
feared and plunged through athe- ranks
that were spria aging to seize pae from nary
horse and make Ine al prisoner he
brought 1, me ne to my OWL HI men, Tno bad
1ea ao e ~ ~ rsseg2, sha TEX aftsr
ment. IL was Obliged to 1eaivte. the field
2ofi thonorf before. ithe5 end Of the warSl
this grieNed me, moraIthano oEi can77teH: 1
tor.thei first time T cursed that gypsy
and all her kin, fqr, was if not again 9
s g E The thft 5z9Hght Pr his back il luck
one more fact;aI was CUon,er L Il esn;
them & got newsthat my father wase on
Els ath-bed, andsbeggebmeshastsn to
his side. Ct lltopkso posthofses.g If The
hesitate ct faather was "a two days drive
from the town ,where;we were quar- tered. );
I hoped to, be in time by travelling night
and Day. II could l 1feaay see tidy ha Ia
tive noun tains, over which the rising
moon was lcasting it's qsitveroll fight wwhenI
tine horses sudde1Hg took ffightsat pmes
shadow. and AND {. eff they! went: zqpsettipa
the coach, Which 1puV as dashed to pieces.
/ ! eontfived to disehhtangle myself. What
stood shQriHgi before 4desi Four gfaysjyi
which, had been putaoA at Athe last sta
ton! .ssos
I;sstsWithout a, word Z walked Oh to The
next station; gotta horse and sgallopeI
bdh I had lost Full four hours by Tie
saeeident,i !. was, in. tiMeto, peogiYe NY
q.