Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-03-29


starry eyes fixed SO unfinchingly upon
his?
Child" he said, his hand upon hers,
even as her fathers had been, his eyes
full of kindness, his stern voice suddenly
tender, 'your lover is dead. The courier
| just in stated that he died yesterday af-
! ternoon."
Not one word came from her lips. The
! great eyes gave him one stricken look,
| and then she fell-feu just where she
! stood at his feet, like helpless, broken
reed.
He lifted her up gently and called for
assistance. But in a little while she re-
brave determination upon her pale face
aud in those deep, mournful eyes.
II must go to him." she said. They
will bury him there, and shall never
look upon his face again. [ must go!"
| The general did not attempt to dissuade
t her. He Ielt almost reverent in the pres
ence of such devotion. The gruff old sol,
der was moved by this girls heart break
as no scene Of battle had ever moved
him.
"An escort Of my best and bravest men
shall accompany you," he said. ''They
will protect you and bring the body here"
"Thank you" It Was all she could say
| but tears of gratitude rose in her eyes as
she bent low over his extended hand.
And then for the first time she learned
the full particulars of her lovers exploit;
how he had led the scouting party, rush
ing boldly into the very face of the foe,
and by this action saving the military
from the ambush the savages had pre-
pared for than. In moment the battle
had begun, butere his comrades were
hand to hand with the red skins, who
seemed to Turk beh1ndevery bush and
tree, this bold young soldier had met his
fate, falling with his face TO the foe.
cat least he died like hero" her heart
whispered whenever the bitterness of her
woe threatened to overWhelm her.
Two days later, after long and weary
journey, her little party reached the sol
diers camp. The boys had intrenched
themselves behind a small knoll overlook
ing the surrounding country, fOrtifying
themselves with earthwOrks against any
attacks from the Indians. The flag of
truce was up, however, and all things seem
ed for the present peaceful.
At sight of her the boys raised a cheer.
Many of the militia knew her, and they
we're proud of her. They knew her for
what she was brave, heroic girl,
purely, sweetly womenly, yet ready as any
of her brothers to take the weapons from
her pelt and defend her life or that of any
she Ioved-a girl imbued with all the glory
and the strength of her native mountains.
She acknowledged their cheers with a
sweet, grave dignity; then the leading
officer in her escort whispered something
to the maio ere he helped her to dis
mount.
She caught the reply. It made her
trembie; but with the suspicion of great
Joy, not sorrow.
Not deadn' were the words which came
from her white lips with gasp.
''No"-the major came to her side
quickly-"the courier made a mistake.
1t was Ned Sampson who died. Ashby
still lives, though he lies still almost at
deaths door,"
All mistake-alI g horrible dream!-
oh! such happiness was almost impossible
to realize! Giving her hand to the maj
or, she almost leaped from the saddle.
| Her feet seemed, like the winged mer-
cury's, to speed to him.
The major led the way into the tent
where the wounded man lay, motioning
the guard aside. Then he left her, fol-
lowed by the young officer who was in at
tendance.
Alone, the girl threw herself on her
knees beside her lover. But there was no
recognition for her IN the deep blue eyes
those proud, brave eyes that had never
met her own save in love and tenderness.
He was unconscious, with the delirium of
the fever upon him. The words he muir
INJURED were of the battle field, not of the
brave girl who had ridden SO many, many
weary miles just to look upon his dead
face.
Taking up the hand that lay so help
less against the rough blankets, she press
ed it to her lips; and then, for the first
| time, the tears fell from her eyes-fell in
hot binding mist. What pain and an
guish had not done, JOY now accomplish
| ed-joy that he still lived and that she
had reached him in time to give all her
young life to his care and service.
! His coat, the one he had worn when
| parting from her, lay on the bed. Her
| eyes darkened as she saw the stains of
blood and the bullet hole. She took it in
her hands, examining it keenly. There
were the pansies, faded and worn, still
pinned inside. The bullet had passed
|
"Had the bullet struck him an inch
lower" one of the men afterward told her,
| it would have been fatal"
! Perhaps the pansiss, by some subtle in
fuence, had saved him; perhaps her own
spirit, in that moment of agony, had
| passed into them, making them indeed a
real talisman to protect him. She loved
to think this-that God had answered
her earnest prayers by investing these,
her chosen flowers, with the power to save
| his life.
1t was only girlish fancy, but it made
her happy. She took the dead sweet
blossoms aud laid them tenderly away
Until they became dust these faded flow
ers would be sacredly cherished.
All this time the camp had not been
without menace, but the redskins has
been kept at bay until the arrival of fresh
troops. Through all this danger Jean
nette had been unw&vering. Not one
expression OF fear had passed her lips
though she, like all the rest, drew sigh
of relief when the troops arrived.
Then followed hot pursuit of the In
dians; they were pushed back to the res
ovation.
Jennette came 10 Ned's bedside one
day with look of Joy upon her love!.
face. 1t was like transfg uration.
Ned" she cried, with return of hel
old life and spirits, "the war is over
Peace is declared, and we are going tC
take you home tomorrow"
For answer he silently pressed the
small warm hand that crept into his own
| Whenever was there a sweetheart so tender
and true, so beautiful and brave!
When they reached the Springs, LOUD
aud wild we're the cheers given for tn,