The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-05-30
as well as easier, and the rides


reared, lungcd as if indignant, but the fair CIR
kept her seat composedly until the stee'
quoted down, and then patting his archeC
neck put herself on friendly terms with thu
noble animal
Those rides were long and frequent. Boil
enjoyed them. She was sweetly confidential
in her young escorts life and affairs, ant
every hour the delicious chain of love bounc
the poor boy nearer and firmer to his adora
ton. Small wonder The young girl wa!
simply superb on horseback. The close-ft
ting riding dress seemed part of her supple
graceful, engaging form, while the exercise
and excitement brought delicate, shell
tinted rosiness to her cheeks, that seemed the
one thing necessary to make her pale face
perfect Bob longed to avow his love, but
youth is timid when the precious treasure
may be jeopardized by the avowal. He was
blinded by his passion, and did not see the
game So openly played by the little gambler.
She was a true daughter Of the south, and
her heart was with her poor brothers march
| ing shoeless, with scant raiment, poorly
armed, sleeping without shelter, and dying
by thousands with desperate bravery for
their cause To have that in her possession
that was, rs she believed, Of vital Importance
to them, made her desperate. For such a
cause, she would play the Judith, and had
Bob avowed his love, she was resolved to ac-
cept, let the consequences have been what
they might to the poor lad.
Oh! the golden glory of those sunny days.
They took OF II roseate hue, that made the
blue SUBMITS OF the mountains deeper
blue, as if to bound that Eden that lies about
each life in the golden glow Of youth, whom
love touches the sweet, tender existence, and
the birds sing, and the flowers bloom with
voices and odors that penetrate the very soul,
never again TO pass away. The scene fades,
the birds die and the flowers perish, oft in
the hard realities of life the blue mountains
no longer frame in tho fairy paradise, but
all the same we cling to it through existence.
as our first parents chung to the Carbon to
which they never could return.
Shakespeare tells us, the course of true love
never doe, run smooth. No, indeed, life's
ways are not fitted for the sweet stream.
For little while it murmurs along green
meadows, and then, anon, it falls among
rocks aud rough ways, and oftentimes is
dashed over precipices to be dissipated in thin
mist, over which arches the rainbow, not,
alas! of hope, but memory
There were some little tricks the lovely
girl INDUCED in that exasperated her lover,
who, although blinded by his passion, had not
lost sight of his duty. One of these was to
stop at some mountain hut, AMI persist in
diSmounting ard entering the howell. Bob
dismounted also, and would help her to the
ground and accompany her to the interior.
He kept his eyes aud ears alert, and believed
that he baffiel any designs in this direction
Another fancy INDUCED in was to banter
the Lieutenant to race and dart off on Chan
cellor. at the best of his running pace, and
Bob, on his government horse, would follow
numbering AFTER scarce keeping her in sight,
until it suited the girl to check up. Bob re-
monstrated in vain, and all he could do was
to direct the orderly to keep sharp lookout
on either side Of the road for anything the
girl might drop
One day Corporal Bang, who happened to
be the escort, handed the Lieutenant letter,
tied to stone, that he had picked up from a
gully after one of these races.
Got reminder through my chappo, Lieu
tenant, when picked that up" and he showed
a hole in his hat.
Ellersly looked longingy at tho missive.
1t was directed to q well-known guerrilla Of
the mountains. Bob would have given a
good deal to know its contents But he
quietly handed it, without a word, to the
girl. Her face flushed, and somewhat EN-
barrassed she hurried to her room. In few
minutes, however, she returned, letter in
hand, with her cheeks yet holding the flush
of her excitement.
Lieutenant Ellersly," she asked, in an
even, steady tone, that was forced, why
did you not open this letter r
"Open your letter r he asked in turn
eyes, open my letter. You are not doing
your duty to your government"
"Miss Clara" said tho boy proudly, 81
rendered my life to my country. did not
include in that my honor. When am sunk
so low as to steal, cease to be worthy Of
my commission"
The girl tore open the letter. "Thenl" she
cried, learn who am, and what am try
ing to do"
He took the letter and deliberately tore 1t
into fragments, throwing the bits to the
wind from the porch. Miss Clara" he OK.
claimed excitedly, ~ know all want to
know of you. You are doing your duty, as
you seq il, like brave-hearted woman, for
your side; leave mo to do mine, a. gentle
man, for mine"
''She looked at him earnestly, half In sur
prise and half in tenderness, and said in an
undertone, as if speaking to herself, my
task grows harder than l thought for.'
Then she added, Offering her hand, LET US
bs as kind to each other as we can"
The day after this strange interview she
insisted upon their daily ride, although the
morn opened with thunder storm, aud the
rain came down at intervals in torrents.
Elersly demonstrated, but she laughed, say
ing, eve are soldiers, you know. and must
not DO cowed by little rain"
They started, followed by Corporal Bang,
and after an hours riding gained the SUNNI.