Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-02-28
ACROSS THE MERIDIAN.
How a Philanthropic Young Physi-
cial Won his Pretty but
WnlfuI Wife.

hOTlldHub uIGW MS morse 10 II ldIb as
he breasted the brow of the hill, and
lifted the cap from his head that he
might enjoy to the full the soft. deli
cious breeze Perhaps only one who like
himself had newly come from the
crowded amphitheatre of the lecture
room of medical college, and from
daily witness of mental and physical
suflerings by the bedsides of its hospit-
al wards, could have felt, as did he, in
tens fed by powerful contrast the still
ness, beauty, and peace of what he
looked on.
1t was the field Of one of the great
battles of the late war. ground made
holy by heroic blood heroic, whether
the hearts which throbbed it forth were
bursting with triumph or breaking with
defeat.
So thought the young physician as
his eyes wan Tered over the scene, dis
covering few marks to indicate that
once this valley had seethed with fire
and smoke and struggling human
forms, and the whole air had been a
rick Of agony and strife. Twenty
wears had done their work, and nature,
which permits no desolation, had sown
the furowed land with grass and
blooming flowers which swaved and
swung in the spring air as if in unison
with the humming of the bees above
them. But as he dismounted and led
his horse down the hill he discovered
traces of the battle which had escaped
his eve from above. Now and then
his horses hoof struck the rusty metal
of a dismantled gun, buried beneath lis
bramb es. and further on he found
himself in a wilderness of little mounds
marked here and there with u wooden
slab, its inscription etfaced by the rains
of wears.
As Kortandt rose from vain at
tcmJt to decipher one OF these. a figure
appeared from the woods near by, and,
after the m mcutarY pause OF the first
surprise Of seeing him, continued stead
ily to advance along the path which led
within few Yards of his side. The
figure was that OF u woman, poorly
clad, but tail and graceful, aud moving
with peculiar strength and freedom OF
notion Kprtlanlt waited until she
was near linn and then i'll:
Il beg your pardon, but can YOU in
form me what graves are theseP'
The woman stopped abruptly rs the
tones OF he clear northern voice reach
ed her. and suddenly turned upon him
her face, until then concealed beneath
the broad bum OF the broad straw nat
which she wore. was mat 81 glr''
brunette amt DrIllan.' Illuminated Wltl
par OF owing et'S, winch now hNed
tncWap upon D'U.
fou III" nave come from very l"r
aW not 10 KNOW whose are 'he graves
tut you are atand NJ on she said III
a vo.ce winch di, not owe ITS peculiar
IN Qua on To me southern ulaIecI III
whcn she sroa
~ on are II az nc repHeo' Surpfis-
cd al hef ueau'y ana manners ~
home l. as lar away as me SHOWS OF
winter from these southern flowers
y look OF intense bitterness ehleteu
the girls face. '1uu are from me
north, she SAID. II n eyes HisAea'
81 will tell you whose are lAe graves
upon winch you are .fsad'n l8el
are those oil the 'feoels you ueiea'eu'
proudlyi "lhey are those OF INC mar
tyr, the heroes, who starved ana IroAe'
who rave up nome ialilIy' "eI''u'
and lie IN attempted protection OF 'Aclr
gits and freedom ana whom you Oh
the north lnyour oYerpowerlng sIreh2l4i
o wealth and numbers conquered anu
kil.ea- Aonie upon the MAJ are lhose
OF my father and molhef-he klileu ol
your bullets and she 10y the agony OF
his death. And all these are NINE
NINE. since | own the sacred eatlh "a
which they rest o! that possessed
The power to protect thelr restlnl 9-place
from Inc insult OF Yankee IS pres
ence!'
kortIandt looked into the girl ilush-
ed and flashing face in very maze oil
aston shment. But her cohcluulhS
words aroused his anger and he Ore"
himself up with the color mounting 70
his brows. Controlling hlmseli win
an effort he lifted his cap, and DOW
ing, said with cold courtesy IN singular
contrast to her fire, That beng the
ease, Mademoisolle, snail not niger
to bid adieu. But permit me TO reaS-
sure you; you possess power to protect
YOUR heroes resting place-ln LWO-