Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-06-28

turned away, oStensihly to adjust the
folds of Il curtain, in reality 70 avoid a
reply.
Just then Hannah came ii with the
mail. Important news from the army
was expected, there having been rumorS
of an engagement.
Hannah caught the words and passed
on her way out. In her way She was as
much interested rs the squire. Mas
il hot her nursing who was far away
on the battlefield striving 10 win his
spurs?
Hilda took the paper and ran her eyes
over the columns. One pitiiul moan
escaped her lips; the next moment She
lay apparently hfeless on the floor.
The heavy fall looSened her cap, and
her hair rolled III MI its luxuriance
around her-a kindly mantle that hid
her deathly face from even old llamah's
pltylng eyes.
1 dash of cold water soon revived her,
ana rs soon lis the fright occasioned by
her sudden illness had subSided, tho
squire took the paper, and saw facing
him i'll startling letters:
A BoopS ENGAGEMENT.
Great loss of officers and men-Cyril
Atherton, ofthe GrayS, mortall>
wounded while cndcav-
oi'ing to silence
battery.
The letters swan before his eyes. He
could read no more. lie rose feehlv
and dragged his shaking limbs 10 Hi
da's side.
My poor girl" he said, brokenly.
But he did not finish the sentence, for
ut the sound of his voice llilda opened
her eyes and looked mt him, first in n
dazed, bewildered way, then she put
out both hands and motioned him
away
We have killed him between usl
Do you hear You and |! q, my dar.
ling my darling
The squire turned TO Hannah.
Who i the young woman?'
Lord bless us, sir. Didn't YOU
know il was llilda, who has been risking
her own life to save yours"
lilldaS voice interrupted them.
" The grave is the lonely couch we
have given your honny head, and yom
father may think il better one for
You than your lowborn hildah's; ,e;;,n ~,
door in your face, and sent you To your
duty; but you never, never will be the
wiser You have gone forever, and
too that llllda was cruel and
hcart,ss. Q, cruel lIilda! and more
cruel fathcrl'
1t made the Old mans iramc quiver
like an aspen leaf to hear the bereaycd
girl. He felt himself almost Il murder
or, rs the low, phintive tones made
their accusation against him.
My poor girl, forgive me and help
me to bear this bitter, bitter punish
ment From this moment, be Cyril
alive or dead, ! will make amends To
you for my unthinking cruelty both to
you and him. You shall y to me as
much my daughter Us though you were
Cyril's wife But as long IL Cyril was
not reported dead, there may he room
for hope. He may come back to us
yet"
lIilda caught eagerly a'thc ray ofI
hope.
%, tell me truly she SAL, clasping
her hands III hcr intense carrneys, nm
til the nails almost cut intoIhe tender
skin, could it be possiblcthat there
was II mistake? DO they epr put the
wrong name down.
81 have known Of instaIcs OF one
officer being taken for anchcr III tie
haste and confusion Of a batc, and this
telegram was sent while 10 conflict
was still raging"
So they tried Co hopc--vcn while
everyone else wss thinklngDrrowfuIly
that the kind, bright-faced pung mas
ter was lying with his face t the stars,
no longer ignorant Of the. yoiecless
mysteries in his solemn sled.
Hilda remained at the lanor 1t
WAS Il comfort to tire old nhto make,
a. hc thought, this explain for his
fault.
In order that Hildas posIon in his
household might be fully hdcrstood,
he announced her To be Il sons be-
trothed wife and invited hdy Har-
grave, his widowed sister, tdome and
lend tire sanction Of her prdcc % the
young girls residence III hiIome.
The next telegram broug cheering !
news Cyril had lost an aa, but was
doing well, and was as soon he would
he able to bear the journeyD be sent
home, wearing On lis brcaal docOra- I
tion earned hy lis own brayy.
After this there was hay house j
hold at Atherton Manor. ,dy Har-
grave was versed IN all thwomanly !
accomplishments, and she ind Hilda \
an apt pupil. ta
The squire could hardly -k enough 7
fondness for the gentle giryho lad I
been 20 patient and tender care Of I
him through his tedious Ills. The c