The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1878-05-10

away. Is Il necessary Gan any othel
sick person need you as much as do?'
Hilda looked at the old man In snr
prise. A cadence, born OF lonelines,
and sorrow, in his voice, touched heI
unspeakably; and as she recalled the
hale, hearty Squire, who often rode by
the farm In the pleasant old days, calling
out cheerful good-morning TO her
uncle In his stentorian tone, tears came
70 her eyes to see what q wreck OF his
former self he had become.
After brief hesitation she said softly :
III you need me l will not 60 away
for the present.
~ do need you very much, /" was the
reply. so that matter is settled.
Now, nurse, want to ask you ques-
ton. Have l ever seen you before
Somehow your face seems familiar, but
! can not place It,"
Hilda felt the blood dying her face,
even to the border of her cap. She
turned away, ostensibly to adjust the
folds OF q curtain. in reality to avoid a
reply.
Just then Hannah came in with the
mail. Important news from the army
was expected, there having been rumors
OF an engagement.
Get che 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 nursing who was far away
on the battlefield striving to win his
spursp
Hilda took the paper and ran her
eyes over the columns. One pitiful
moan escaped her lips; the next mo-
ment she lay apparently lifeless on the
floor. The heavy fall loosened her cap,
and her hair rolled in all its rich luxu-
rance around her--a kindly mantle that
hid her deathly face from even old Han
nah's plying eyes.
A dash of cold water soon revived
her, and as soon as the fright occasion
ed by her sudden illness had subsidized,
The Squire took the paper, and saw fac
ing him In staring letters:
ABLooDr ENGAGEMENT.
treat loss OF officers and men-Cyril Ather.
ton, OF the Grays. mortaly wounded.
while endeavorfng to silence
battery.
The letters swan before his eyes. He
Gould read no more. He rose feebly I
md dragged his shaking limbs to Hill
las side.
/" My poor GIRL" he said, brokenly. /
But he did not finish his sentence: for.
It the sound Of his voice, Hilda opened
Ter eyes and looked at him, first in a
lazed, bewildered way, then she put out
10Th hands and motioned him away.
We have killed him between US, Do
ou hear? You and 4, Oh, my darling!
ny darling!"
The Squire turned to Hannah:
Who Is this young woman?n
Lord bless US, sir. Didn't YOU know
was Hilda? Master Cyril's Hilda.
rho has been riskirg her own life TO
ave yours?r
Hilda's voice interrupted them:
The grave Is the lonesome couch we
ave given your bonny head, and your
ather may think it better one for Won
han your low-born Hilda's arm. Oh.
~ own Cyril, could you but know ,
ow my heart ached when / shut the ,
COR in your face, and sent you to do
our duty; but you never, never will be /
le wiser! You have gone forever, and |
too, that Hilda was cruel and |
eartless. Oh, cruel Hilda! and more
ruel father!,
II made the old mans frame ouiyer !
ke an aspen leaf to hear the bereaved /
lrl. He felt himself almost murder
:, as the low plaintive tones made their 3
,cusation acainsf him .
he took her hand at last, and said: q
My poor girl, forgive me and help q
'e 20 bear this bitter, bitter punish r
ent. From this moment, be Cyril /
i've or dead, will make amends TO '
~ and him. You shall be to me as '
uch my daughter as though you were Z
Urls wife. But as long as Cyril was v
't reported dead, there may be room b
: hope. He may come back to " Il
Hilda caught eagerly at the ray Of \
,pe. i
"Oh, tell me truly" she said clasp 4
9 her hands in her intense eagerness. (,
ltli the nails almost cut into the ten Ii
+ skin, "could 1t be possible that e
ere was a mistaken DO they ever put a
wrong name dOwn?' h
- have known Of instances of one Il
licer being taken for another in the o
ste and confusion Of battle, and this q
Iegram was sent while the conflict was a
II raging" Ii
SO they tried to hope-even while D
cry one else was thinking sorrowfully a
at the kind, bright-faced young mas le
was lying with his face to the stars, Al
longer ignorant Of their voiceless In
ysteries, in his solemn sleep. 81
Hilda remained at the manor. II was n,
comfort to the old man 10 make, As W
thought, this expiration for his fault. W
In order that Hilda's position in his b,
usehold might be fully understood, he 10
nounced her TO be his sons bctrothed Ii,
fe. and invited Lady Harorare - n