Connecticut western news., 1880-09-01
"My darling, calm yourself. What

My dafllng, calm yourself. Wnat do you mean ?'
 "Wait here momentp' exclaimed.
 Leaving him transfxed With astonish- ment flew across to the colol Is room.
 He was buckling on his sword as en- tered. ~
 "You have done this thing" Hogan, /" You have seen how happy I am, and you must convert it into agony. Rescind your order-leave me my husband I throw myself at your feet, at your mer- oy."
 "I would have spared him if I could. He is the only officer at the post capa- ble of just this attack. Iaccompany him, Mrs. Lee. The danger is divided and equal for both."
 Go, if it must be, toyour deathl' I answered cruelty. "You have no right to drag my husband with you. He shall not go p
 But words were useless, though I fam cied as he turned away, saw @ tear glimmering in his eye.
 Still I pleaded, clinging to Rogers neck, when he crossed in search of me.
 At last they tore him from my sense less form, and when recovered con- sciousness they. were far beyond the reach of my entreaties, but not my pray CTS, sent to @ higher throne.
 "Punish him, O God p cried in my agony, "but spare my husband and bring him back to me. He said I should suf- fer. An, what was his suffering to this intolerable torture and suspense
 The day wore slowly on. At nightfall, when my brain was bursting, we heard the note of distant bugle. Some, at least, of the little band had returned.
 Like @ white statue I went forth to meet them. They came slowly, bringing with them some shrouded forms. Among the latter knew that I should find my husband, even as finding him, knew I should go mad.
 But, no! leading thevan he came, sit ting on his horse, though in his eyes there smiled no welcome, and on his face was ghastly pallor: but he was here and was not widowed wife.
 I threw myself on the neck of the horse; I kissed his mane, his forehead. I clung to Roger in my wild joy at see- ing him again.
 "You are alive-you are alive !" I said, over and over.
 "Yes," he answered, "but at what 8 cost. A man to-day has given up his life for me.
 He sprang from his horse then, and led me to the litter in the rear. The white, dead face of Col. Lake looked up at us both.
 "We have killed him, Be-you and I, !" my husband said. "He wae the noblest man that ever lived"
 And then he told me all the story. He had ridden on a little in advance of the command, when he suddenly had been surrounded by the foe. Fight desperately as he would, he would soon have been overpowered, but that. the colonel had seen his danger.
 Squirting his horse ahead of his men, he had flown to his rescue, charging down in the very midst of @ shower of arrows.
 "It was deed worthy god," my husband continued. "I Thought we were both unhurt, almost tmiraculously We were beating @ retreat to our command, when one of the willy savages launched his tomahawk at my breast. The colonel saw it glitteringin the air, and throwing himself before me, caught the blow. The next minute we were in safety, but safety gained too late. Don't regret it, he said, pressing my hand. Tell her I did it for her sake. Iloved her, Roger, my boy. I have not cared much for living since and now-now that I have spared her the suffering that I would once have wished her-I am glad to die. Ask her to forgive me for these rash words I never meant them-and let her future happiness buy my atonement.
 I have been Rogers wife many happy years now. He was too noble to re- proach me, though told him all; but through my happiness mingles ever my hearts self-reproach, and the wonder if, at the judgment bar of God, Gains brand will not be upon my brow.