Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1883-11-29
A SOLDIERS LOVE STORY.


A SOLDIERS LOVE STORY.
We were at Cham when our delayed
mail was received. There was a month
oil letter from my young nephew, Reg
inald Travers, containing sad news.
NV dear old friend Oswald Hamilton
was dead; his affairs left in bad way.
The arrangement of his papers, straight
ening accounts, and settling up of the
estate were left in my hands. A second
was to the effect that Josepha (the only
and motherless daughter of my old
friend, now about twenty-fOur years of
age) had finally refused him. That he
had secured change into the Tenth,
which was soon TO be ordered away to
fight the Zulus, and closed by saying
that the best thing l could wish him
was bullet through the head in the
first engagement.
My poor Reg! 1t was his first taste
of LIES bitter. and it was going down
hard longed to grasp his hand in
sympathy. l cursed the stupidity of
mail-carriers and stormed and swore at
the hundred and one annoying delays
that kept me SO long on my homeward
way. However, in two days l was well
on my journey.
Soldiers are rough of speech. l be-
gan to fashion some soft phrases of
sympathy for my old friends daughter,
but gave up in despair. trusting that, as
in battle, when the opportunity comes,
! should be ready to equal it. And,
after all, to such self-reliant natures rs
Josepha's sympathy held tone of pity
which gave it a distasteful flavor.
A word of myself here. An old SOL
der nearing fifty, but hale and hearty,
I inherited at my brothers death the
pile of stone he called home and his
large business interests. A misanthrope,
he had shown little taste for the society
of his kind. NY visits to him were
few and brief. had taken little notice
of Josepha until came to Deerwood
as its master Her name describes her.
Divinely tail, she had none of the awk-
wardness peculiar in women of her
stature, but her motion was at all times
free, suggesting the fight of a sea-bird.
Better than beauty, her face expressed
dignity and character. Her mouth was
shapcly and red, although a square jaw
and long chin proved somewhat detract-
i've to it.
But her eyes-g' orious! dearest gray
with pupils of velvet, set under a man s
forehead. She had frank, bon CANA
rade way which played sad havoc with
mems hearts, whatever their armor.
Many of the wisest and wariest knelt al
her shrine, but each and all vainly.
Between her and my dear lad there had
been an understanding, based on a
childish attachment. Merely silken
link. I cared little for society Though,
thank God! never unfriendly or cold to
my kind, like my brother). The sur.
rounding country families who would
have liOnized me on account of a few
scars and decorations met with small
encouragement, and but for the flying
visits of my young Lieutenant and ar
evening cigar ON one of the wide We
randas of Hamilton Place, my time wa.
passed in riding, walking and shoot
ing.
Now, will let you into a secret.
was surprised when l found it out my
self. / had fallen in love with Josepha
Preposterous! So l said At any rate
give me some credit Inever dreamed
of telling her, and went away, imme
diately-traveling with party o
friends.
NV old friend I mourned sine ere
ly. Though ten years my senior
we had been friends years and years
He knew | stood ready to lend a help
ing hand whenever it was needed; bu
he was proud to fault, and though
had begged him to allow my assistance
flor Knew he was in sad straits) h
would never take penny.
His reverses were quick and sudden
His indomitable will upheld him in hi
struggle for time. When that brok
beneath the burden of troubles, whic
grew heavier day by day, he died.
Dear old friend! Here lies ma
whom pride brought low" murmured
as stood over his grave.
had arrived at Deerwood late in tn
afternoon, and had stopped in tn
church-yard on my way to JOsepha.
The grass waved to and fro.
fancied the one below stirred uneasily
peace" whispered. Your nam
shall be cleared; your daughter guard
ed we'll"
Josepha let me in. She stayed t
fasten the door, and as she came u
with me in the corridor she slipped he
warm hand into mine and l held
strongly. My eyes fell on Oswald
picture as we entered the drawing room
Together we stood looking at it. The
looked at Josepha in her long. blac
gown, her neck rising like lily stel
from its somberness, as she stood by m
side. Bereavement and harassin
cares had set their mark on brow an
= lips, though she held her head sti
: proudly, and her eyes looked into mir
unmisted.
If L had loved her in the midst of HI
happiness and light-heartedness, no
much more loved her now, pennies