Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-03-06


the distance.
4 have accomplished my mission. sir.
This road leads plainly and directly to
Carlinss ford,' she said.
The low, musical tones, the accent of
culture and Retirement caused Charley
Anderson to start with astonishnent
and exclaim:
In heavens name who are you. Sure
ly not the young person with whom |
heard old Chloe discussing my desperate
case; and whom she appointed to meet
and guide me?l
1t matters little who / am. The
girl, Eliza Jane, met with an accident
fell down stairs and sprained her ankle.
In her distress she disclosed to me her
important mission to assist in your
flight, as well as your wretched condi-
ton
As she spoke she turned. With the
action the hood of the shabby mantle
which served as disguise fell from her
head and there was disclosed the face of
Helen Delmar, fair and beautiful in the
moonlight.
In her place have endeayored to
serve you, although against nv con-
science, all save humanity she con
tinued.
You amaze me and | know not how
to thank you, he faltered, removing his
cap and permitting the wind to play fit
fully over his handsome bronzed face
and through the clustering meshes of
his wavy brown hair What can saw?
How express to you my gratitude for
this act of generous sympathy At
least let me think of you by name. that.
If such prisons of mine are permitted to
ascend to heaven, it may be first and
last of my most fervent petitions
i am Helen Delmar But hist! | am
certain | hear the beat of horses hoofs.
There is a company of cavalry. com
manded by my brother, in this vicinity.
pray you may escape them. Yonder
lies your way. Keep to the right and
in the shadow of the trees, and You will
soon reach your destination.
May heaven reward you, Miss Del
mar, and should the fortune of war deal
as unkindly with your brother as it has
with me, may it be in my power to re-
turn the kindness of the present hour.s
In reality, sir, your thanks are due
to the poor colored girl who imagines
you one of the greatest benefactors of
her race and the voice, hitherto low
and sweet, ended the sentence with ac-
cents of scorn and bitterness. But /
have at least done my duty, Adieu,' and
with the words she drew the mantle
about her and disappeared down the
shadowy path they had so recently
travelled:
When morning had fully dawned over
the Delmar plantation, Helen was
awakened by the heavy hand of old
Chloe who exclaimed:
DE Lord Dress yer honey. | knows
yer am tired mos to death Liza Jane
tells me what ye did for her, and de DO
soger boy. But de debbil am rouns like
de roarin' lion, sho.
What has happened 2 questioned
the white lips of the girl.
1T am jess dis air. Kurnal Delmar
dun got home an fetched dat air po'
boy, Charley Anderson, wild him.
"A prisoner in my brothers hands!'
exclaimed the girl, as with trembling
fingers she hastily donned her garments.
Nell said her brother, as she entered
the breakfast room, there are rumors of
defeat in the air and | am ordered i'm
mediately to the 'front.'
And your prisoner? Chloe tells
me
"A stout rope and tree will soon set
tie his case. have no one to leave be- |
hind to look after him and he is to i'll too |
travel
No Harry, you will do no murder.
He is indeed very ILL., Leave him with
Chloe
Well, she is likely to kill as cure with
her roots and herbs, he laughed, 'and |
have no time to waste. Look after
things, Nell, and comfort my poor Mary,
Charley Anderson was very i'll. The
excitement of being captured, the forced
march back to the Delmar plantation
had proved too much for his alread,
over-taxed frame. But he was at length
lodged in one of the ample, cool cham
bers of the house, where for weeks fever
and slow convalesence chained him.
Then he became able to creep out upon
the vine-wreathed veranda and drink in
new life and vigor through the scented
air.
While seated thus one crystalline morn
ing, his fair jailor and nurse came to him
with news of the fall of Vicksburg.
Springing to his feet Charley Anderson
began pacing to and fro and exclaiming
would to heaven But he paused
suddenly as the color faded out of the
cheeks of his young and fair hostess.
i know what you would say she re-
piled bitterly, you wish to be free that
you might be one of the number fight
ing for our subjugation
Indeed you mistake
Our arguments have but one ending
we still differ But you are free. Go
shoulder your musket again. Perhaps
its bullet may reach the heart of my
BROTHER and tear fell from the down
cast eyes upon her white and folded
hands.
IT'S ! who am vanquished,' replied
the young soldier, who was instantly at
her feet. i go because duty calls me,
but leave my heart with YOU and his
voice broke as another pearly drop fell
from the heaven of her dark eyes upon
their linked hands.
The breeze sighed through the vines
and whispered soft nothings A song
bird broke out into a carol overhead, and
the hedges resounded with the voi~os If
insect lfo pt 80