Wichita eagle., 1888-09-23
PANSIES.

wells" The two stood looking into one
anothers eyes with blanched faces. Would
he ever come backl Her wide eyes grew
desolate as she looked at him. Then the
lashes dropped over them, and she lay mo-
tionlesS against his breast for a second, as
though tie spirit had died within her.
''jeannette-is this the girl fitted TO be q
soldiers wifei Have you no regard for my
honorF" His voice quivered, but his eyes
looked down upon her proudly.
YES" She reused herself bravely. Your
duty is at the front. l would not hold you
back"
She placed her hand on the bunch Of pam
sizes at her throat; royal beauties they were.
with great velvety hearts of purple and gold.
They are my colors," she whispered
Swear them, my knight, and be true to your
lady always"
Her trembling fingers pinned them inside
his coat.
God be with you" She kept the tears
back, smiling into his face, though the drum
beat sounding in the street below seemed like
death knell. 1t was the signal to start-the
signal for the volunteers, the brave men who
were off for the Indian war, this dreadful
war that had come ike blight upon her
beautiful western home.
''Goodby, and God bless you! The paasies
will be my talisman.n
A last look into the dreamy, lifted eyes,
and be was away, riding down the street
with dash and clatter into the midst of the
excited men who were armed TO the teeth,
well mounted and equipped, ready to meet on
his own battle ground the Indian chieftain
and his warlike band
The most intense excitement ragged in the
mining camp. Ever since the news had
come that the old chief was on the warpath
and the call had been made for volunteers TO
defend the settlers on the frontier the town
had been alive with men anxious to obtain
the scalp Of the bloodthirsty redskin.
Two days before the militia had been Or
dered out, and just as the setting sun was
Illuminating the red buttsS in the valley, the
brave boys had marched away, the strains
Of the martial music sounding sadly in the
ears Of those who had loved ones in the ranks.
Ard now these plucky volunteers were To
follow. A determined set they were; most
Of them hardy nountaineers, as well
trained to the saddle as cowboys, and as reck-
less Of life end limb.
Among them meme was more fearless or
more brave than Ned Ashby. He was one of
the young pioneers who had struck a bo-
hama in the mines More than that Ito use
the phraseology Of the mining camp, he had
located a claim on the prettiest girl in town
and patented ia stroke Of good luck that
had made him more envied among the bows
aIan even his mining shares in the MAY
Queen
He shared the univeral feeling of all people
upon the frontier, that the red man must be-
rome civilized or 'go' Too long these IN
tanned citizens had committed their Iawless
depredations and their fiendish outrages. The
white settlers felt that their wrongs must be
avenged If the government had handled
these savages with gloved hands, all felt as
sured that the state would not. Hence this
cal for volunteers to defend the isolated
ranchmen and their families.
Jeanette, standing at the window, gazed
with dumb despair at the horsemen riding
down the valley. Among them none looked
so handsome or so dashing as her own lover,
he whose warm kisses still fingered on her
lips.
The tears rose slowly in her eyes as she
looked after him The world was so beauti-
full, why should it be marred by such thing
as warl Her eyes wandered away from the
horsemen, now lost in a cloud of dust, to the
fair mountain that hernmed her in.
Then came the news Of fierce battle be
tween the Utes and Maj. ThornburghS men,
in which many were wounded on either side.
Her father came home at noon with an open
telegram in his hand
She took it from him silently, reading:
Edward Ashby was wounded in the bat
tie of the til instant
She did not faint, though be had expected
she would, but her face blanched-blanched
until it was like marbIe-and her eyes grew
large and black. glowing ike stars.
Il must go" she said, and nurse him"
'Dear child" he replied, his hand upon
hers, this is folly, the talk of insanity. You
cannot go, Jeanette
But l viii" The color leaped 70 her
checks again, and her eyes flashed.
lie could not say her nay then. He knew
her nature too we'll Thwarted in this de-
sire. she would die.
Il cannot 80 with you, Jeanette Can
you so slonel'
Yes" She drew herself up grandly. It
was the proud right of the western Arneri-
can girl She knew no fear.
81 the next morning her favorite horse
Plato stood at the door.
At nightfall she was at the springs, fifty
miles away. 1t was a popular summer re-
sort, and many guests had been there, but ut
the first news of war most Of them had fed
to the eastern towns
At the hotel many people knew her, but
they had only words OF sympathy and en-
enlargement for the brave girl In that ex-
citing time deeds of bravery Ike this, even
from women, were not rare.
The general who had Headquarters at the
Springs and who had heard of her arrival
and her purpose, sent for her in the evening.
She came 10 him with eager ewes, awaiting
ice news which be had just received by
courier from the scene of battle. Beyond the
Springs there were no telegraph wires, and
the couriers rode day and night over the /
dangerous lnulan trails TO bring the tidingS !
is there-any-rews OF himF| she fal- I
tered.
Yes" The generals voice almoS. choked .
as be looked at her. How could he break the 4
heart Of this brave young creature, whose /
great love made her 50 beautiful its unseltiSh
purpose shining from every featured How .
could he tel her the cruel truth, with those i
love lit, starry eyes fixed 50 unainchiusly .
upon his.
Child" be said, his hand upon hers. even
IS her fathers had been, LIS eyes full of kind /
ness, his stern voice suddenly tender. your .
lover IS dead The courier j.lSt in states that
he died yesterday afternoon
Not oRe word came from her lips The
great eyes gave HIM one stricken look, and
then she fell-fell just where she stood at his
feet, like helpless, broken reed
He lifted her up gently and called for
assistance But in little while size revived,
rising TO her feet with the old brave SeteI,-
uPon her pale face and in tkos