The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1878-10-02


It was review day at Fort -.
just outside the national capitol; on
this occasion particularly brilliant
event, as the general-in-chief, to
gether with the president, we're to
be present. ..s-.
The sun, sinking in the west a
mass of golden splendor, flashed its
farewell rays upon lines of FURNISH
ed steel and men drawn up in battle
= array, the ladies, rejecting its col
ors in the gay plumage with which
they had ardorned themselves, while
their merry laughter and musical
voices were now and then to be
heard AMID the pauses of the band.
Then all eyes turned upon the
troops. Evolution followed evolu-
ton till the whole field seemed be-
wildering mass, fairly dazzling to
look upon, when to the distant left
the order for cavalry charge sud
denly was given. and IN another mo-
ment men and horses, as though
moulded together in one solid phal-
anx. swept forward to the front.
But now, above the clash OF the
instruments and thud Of hoofs. rose
a woman's cry. shrfit and piercing.
stabbfng every heart with its agoni.
zed expression.
The cause was but soon to be
seen. A little chiId-a fairy vision
with long golden curls floating to
her waist-had. unobserved, darted
from her mothers side. and now was
directly in the path OF the approach
ing horses, her white dress in start
ling contrast to the green swar6
soon perhaps to be dyed with her
innocent blood.
Every face blanched. every lip
trembled. every pulse thrilled. The
poor mother, whose one scream of
agony had proclaimed her suffering,
seemed converted into piece Of
marble. From the bystanders there
was no hope of rescue. Another in
slant and the little form would be
crushed beneath the oncoming hoofs.
Foremost in the rank rode the
young officer who lead the charge.
The tiny figure fiuttering before him.
The baby face smiling in glee,
caught his eye, and his mind grasp
ed the danger, and the one chance
Of averting it.
But few feet separated them.
With his horse at full gallop, he
swung himself from tho saddle, down
almost TO the ground, caught the
child's dress in his firm clutch, and,
ere It's smile has frozen TO terror,
lifted it to his saddle-bow, and swept
on ever the field. It was gallant
deed. gallantly done. Cheer afser
cheer, ia deafening chorus, rent the
air; but the color had not yet fiat
tered back into the cheek of the
beautiful young mother, when, the
charge over, the officer reined in his |
steed before her, and placed her
child, all uninjured into her arms
One glance she took up into the
handsome face bending over, sympa- |
thy and consideration marked upon
it; but the words she meant to ut !
ter died on her lips, while his ex-
preston changed to cold, incredul-
Gus hauteur, and merely with bow
down to his horses name, courte-
Gus raising of his hat. he turned and
soon was but a speck in the distance.
At her writing table sat Constance
Burton-before her the sheet OF pa
per on which her pen had just rest
ed. in her hand aportrait. The let
ter was to the savior Of her child's
Iife-the portrait, Of a man to whom
she had once worked bitter wrong.
Yet strange indeed. though years
had changed the smiles about his
to stern and bitter lines. that
that instant's glance, when he placed
her child back in her arms, revealed
him TO whom the letter was address
/
sed and the picture in her hand one
aud the same. Bitter mockery of .
the fate Would he accept the
flower of peace she offered him? u
d She had written :: II - 4
"WilI you not let me see and J
thank You? What revenge for real
Dr. fancied wrong could you have {
given more noble than that you laid /
yesterday at my feet? Terry. l
dare not say forgive, but oh. forget I
/ will be at home tomorrow at four. /
will expect you at that hour. You
will at least allow me TO thank 10 +
person my child's deliverer'' s
Like voice from the dead the /
srtten words seemed to Terry Ran q
ioiph. How little be had deemed
whose child it was he had saved a
rom instant death, till. like sword. s