The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-05-05

reared that should pine, and you
with me, Horace2" she said, reproach-
fully.
"But you have ever before been
surrounded by so many true, sincere
friends" he answered.
"Of whom my husband was the truest
and the best No, no, 1 never can be
lonely with you
"But I know you must sometimes
sigh for the loved ones you have left
behind, her husband answered. "Do
you think shall be sufficient for you
then 2 Will you not mourn for the
sound of other voices, and your heart
thirst for other love than mine2"
He bent his head slightly forward, and
looked earnestly, almost anxiously, into
her face.
"Horace," she answered, truthfully,
"when 1 promised to become your wife,
I knew full well all that I must forsake
in coming here with you; yet I came.
I knew it must be years before the sight
of father, mother, sister, or brother
would gladden. my eyes; yet I gave
them up for one who should be more
than oil of these. I came here with a
full knowledge of the step 1 was taking,
and do not now, and am sure I never
shall, regret it. That I should mourn
for those have left sometimes, is only
natural; but were it you, instead of
them, from whom Iwns parted, then my
grief would be much the greater. This
parting 1 can bear, but 1 could not
that"
And she nestled both of her small
white hands trustingly into his.
"Then you love and value me more
than all of these. my Gerty9" he asked,
joyfully.
cay, more than the whole wide,
wide world. besides," was answered,
earnestly.
Again he clasped her fondly to his
heart, and, upon releasing her, said:
"See, Gerty, the sun is gaining upon us
while we stand here talking, and the
horses begin to grow impatient. I must
away now, if would return to you be-
fore sunset. Are you sure you shall
not be afraid to stay alone in my alb
sence 2"
oh, yes!" she answered, cheer
fully. &C am. going to be your brave
little wife: you know. Besides, I must
accustom myself to being alone, and
this will be a nice time to begin"
am very glad that you are so
ight-hearted about it, for: I shall 60
away the happier. There, kiss me once
Now goodbye - And he jumped
lightly into the heavy wagon. ..
You will be at home before dark,
won't you, Horace2"
eyes, love!" And the whip cracked
about the ears of the impatient horses,
and with many n backward glance,
Horace Grey. sped along on his jour
ney.
Gertrude shed few quiet tears, which
were soon brushed away, as he disap-
peared in the tall prairie grass far away
to the eastward; and, then, with light
laugh, hummlng gay tune, she culled
q handful of the choicest of the late
flowers blooming around, and then re-
turned slowly to the tent.
Once there, she began to arrange the
few household utensils which had al
ready arrived, in perfect order, against
her husbands return. They consisted
of only plain pine table, two chairs, o
rude camp bed, and few smaller arti-
cles; and, therefore, n a very few mo-
ments they We're arranged to suit her.
Some of the flowers which che had
gathered, she placed in broken pitcher
upon the table, and the rest were woven
NV u iiS hG' '"iest1L, Ilitt Sic uuuS over
the tent door.
This done, to keep her thoughts from
dwelling too much upon her loneliness,
she drew book from her pocket and
commenced to read. Becoming interest
ed, at. last, the hours flew by nnheeded,
until at length she was aroused to n sense
Of her situation by peculiar, smoky
smell, which impregnated the air of the
tent. Rising from her seat, she went
hastily towards the door and looked out.
The sky all around seemed filled by a
thick, dark vapor, and the air felt hot
and oppressive, while peculiar, sound
came from the northward,
With horrible, sickening fear strug-
Cling in her heart, she sprang out away
from the tent, and giving asingle glance
in the direction from whence it came,
staggered suddenly forward, with her
hands pressed tightly over still,
CHASTITY face, from whence every particle
Of color had fled, leaving it like the
snowdrift. In that glance, a terrible
truth, which made her brain dizzy and
her heart sick, had been forced upon her.
Far away to the northward the whole
wide prairie was on fire, and like the
tempest-tossed waves of the ocean, the
mad flames were leaping over the dry,
tangled prairie grass towards her, like
ravenous monsters eager for their prey.
"Great God" she gasped, family,
Thou art all-powerful; Oh, save me
for my Horace's sake !"
At this thought of her husband, re.
newed strength came to the sinking
form of the young wife, and she resolved
to struggle yet resolutely for life, if il
were only for his sake. Suddenly, like
half-forgotten dream, there dawned
upon her confused brain, the remem.
brance of something her husband had
told her long before, and which she had