The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1878-03-20

as she thought, asleep. Then the paper
dropped listlessly in her lap. Her
thoughts. unmindful of time and space,
were with him she loved 30 faithfully
self. sacrifcingy.
A trembling voice suddenly reused her
from her reverie
"Hannah tells me you are going away.
Is it necessary Can any other sick
person need you as much as do ?"
Hilda looked at the old man in sur
prise. A cadence, born of loneliness
and sorrow, in his voice, touched her
unspeakably and as she recalled the
lale, hearty squire, who often rode by
the farm in the pleasant old days, call
ing out q cheerful good-morning to her
uncle in his stentorian tone, tears came
to her eyes to see what a wreck of his
former self he had become.
After brief hesitation she said softly:
eff you need me 1 will not go away
for the present"
81 do need you very much," was the
reply. $50 that matter is settled. Now,
nurse, 1 want to ask you a question.
Have ever seen you before Somehow
your face seems familiar, but 1 cannot
place it,"
Hilda felt the bio cd dyeing her face,
even to the border of her cap. She
turned away, ostensibly to adjust the
folds of a curtain, in reality to avoid
reply.
Just then Hannah came in with the
mail. Important news from the army
was expected, there having been rumors
of an engagement
"Get the paper, nurse, and run over
the war items"
Hannah caught the words and passed
on her way out. In her way she was
as much interested as the squire. Was
it not her nursling who was far away on
the battlefield striving to win his spurs ?
Hilda took the paper and ran her
eyes over the columns. One painful
moan escaped her lips the next mo-
ment she lay apparently lifeless on the
floor. The heavy fall loosened her cap,
aud her hair rolled in all it's rich lu1uri-
ance around ..her-a kindly mantle hid
her deathly face from even old Hannah's
pitying eyes.
A dash of cold water soon revived her,
and as soon as the fright occasioned by
her sudden illness had subsidized, the
squire took the paper, and saw facing
him in staring letters {:
| BLOODY ENdAGEMENT.
Great loss of officers and men-Cyril
AthertOn, of the Grays, mortally
wounded, while endeavor-
ing to silence bat
/ terry.
The letters swan before his eyes. He
3 could read no more. He rose feebly
and dragged his shaking limbs to Hilda't
l side.
"My poor girl" he said, brokenly.
But he did not finish his sentence for,
at the sound of his voice HildI opened
. her eyes and looked at him, first in &
dazed, dewildered way, then she put
out both hands had motioned him away
a "We have killed him between us
5 Do you hear? You and L Oh, my
: darling my darling II
|, The Squire turned to Hannah:
Q "Who is this young woman p
"Lord bless us, sir. Didn't you know
s 1t was Hilda? Master Cyrirs Hilda
8 who has been risking her own life tt
r save yours ?"
r Hilda's voice interrupted them:
y "The grave is the lonesome couch w
d have given your bonny head, and you
d father may think it a better one for yol
|: than your low-born Hllda's arm. Oh
II my own Cyril, could you but know hoy
/. nv heart ached when shut the door il
20 your face, and sent you to do you
y duty; but you never, never will be tn
wiser You have gone forever, an
te thinking, too, that Hilda was cruel an
At heartless. Oh, cruel Hilda and NOR
le cruel father !"
Is 1t made the old mans frame quive
is like an aspen leaf to hear the bereave
girl He felt himself almost murderer
of as the low plaintive tones made their az
le cusation against him.
er He took her hand at last, and said:
"My poor girl, forgive me and hel
bh me to bear this bitter, bitter punisl
ly ment. From this moment, be Oyr
he alive or dead, will make amends
an you for my unthinking cruelty both
1d YOU and him. You shall be to me
ch much my daughter as though you we
a Cyril's wife. But as long as Cyril vi
not reported dead, there may be roo
ly for hope. He may come back to I
ne yet"
pit Hilda caught eagerly at 'the ray
hope.
ia hOh, tell me truly" she said clas
Iul ing her hands in her intense eagernes
III. until the nails almost cut into the te
ep der skin, "could It be possible tn
is. there was a mistaken Do they ev
rt put the wrong name DOWN."
II, "I have known of instances of one Of
of Ger being taken for another in the has
ana confusion of battle, and this te
5he gram was sent while the conflict v
tile still raging"
of so they tried to hope-even VIII
cal every one else was thinking sorrowfu
rec that the kind, bright-faced young mas
He ives lying with his face to the stars,
longer ignorant of their voiceless m
BILE teries, in his solemn sleep.
the Hilda remained at the manor. 1t '
.ins a comfort To the old man to make. as