Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-11-26

Nobody, love, that you would care to
spare Lesley, take my sword in your little
uahu and smlte me on the shoulder as |
kneel, and so confer knighthood upon me-
hlse, Sir Theodore Floyd and 20 forth to
oattie Tor God and the right as Il true and
ioyal knlghtP Her lips curved into a smile,
out her eyes were sweetly serious.
First pressing his mouth against q fold of
her soft dress, he arose and stood looking
down into her flower face.
Thanks, my liege lady. And forevermore
every thr0b Of my heart that is not my coun-
JSSshall be yours. You know Join Her
~bert's company tomorrow, and it may be
many months before | can see YOU again.
Wal you not give me the sweetest of prom
lses to take with me for light and gladnes,
until return, that you will be mine if
come back with Il brave record when we
have vonf'
She stood quite quiet for a little space that
seemed an eternity to the youth whose quick
healtbeats shook his heavy frame Her deep
gaze rested on tranquil Massanutten, moon
crowned.
No, dear" she said at last Mother is
-11sht We are both too young to bind our
selves, too inexperienced even to know our
selves Nor with little imperious gesture,
as he would have spoken Don't urge me
again. Then she laid her hand on his arm
as he turned away with q face of pain.
But, Thee, because have cared for you
all my life next to mother, and you are going
away now, and because my whole soul is in
the cause You may die for-I will kiss you
once before You go
No fairer June than that of 1884 ever Law
ishly scattered her crimson and amber roses
throughout lovely Luray valley Fair as
that same June, and wearing the most fault
less Of those rOses-the crimson TO match her
lips, and the amber her hair-Lesley Lindon
walked in he shadow Of solemn Massanut-
ten at the close Of Il perfect day.
The slim, handsome officer at her side,
with his arm IN a sling, does not wear the
gray that Lesley expressed such moderation
for last June time Nor does she give him
the frank glances and kindly smiles that
met faithful Theo's brown eyes. And yet it
might be safer ii she did.
No. Captain Elmer" she was saying,
''you do yourself injustice and me no honor
in urging such suit Speak of it no more,
and we may part friends tomorrow
=
shall not crush my heart-yes, and mar your
own life-simply because, by an unfortunate
incongruity. the proudest Nirginian blood
flows through your veins, while my pretty
mother trusts knickerbocker descent. 1t is
absurd to let such things separate us WHAT
though today wear the blue and you wor-
ship the gray That does not alter the fact
that we two were destined for each other
from the beginning Of the world Our wisest
men declare that this frauicidal war cannot
last another year 1t must end-and end
soon-in victory for the stronger cause.
Don't turn from me trembling, darling.
Twenty-Five years hence, when We celebrate
our silver wedding, we viii scarcely care
which side triumphedn
Il shall care forever" she passionately
cried. "and we two must be forever apart
Leave me now
Twill not, Lesley, unless you declare that
you do not love me.
Il detesu the uniform you wearr
But you love me-
Il loaghe the government you obey"
But YOU love ne!H
u hate your cruelty to mel7
Tho soft Virginiau morn could not srnil
away the frowu from savage Massanuttel
when, half an hour later. Two figures wake.
slowly up the avenue, and Lesley's yellow
curls were blowing over the blue coat she de
tested.
"Eanburgh must you leave Inc so soonl
she asked with sigh.
Yes be replied, Il must 90 Tomorrow
l shall bless always the southern bullet tia
almost shattered my poor arm, but gave II
you, soul of my scuL But now even the pr
lection OF Lindon Place might not save II
from being made C. prisoner soon. Besides,
beg 10 insist that you and your mother leav
tue valley for few months, at least. | tru
that in the late autumn l can come back
you"
A little tremOr shook her form, but he DIRE
her closer as she would have slipped fro
him.
You must not do that, Lesley. l swei
by the irlinutabllity OF yonder grim mou
tain that neither prejudice, nor pride, II
defeat, nor victory, nor any other thing shI
separate me from you, the one love of IL
whole life!'
The 10Th day Of October, 1864, when t
Virginia valleys wore the soft, Lyacynthil
glories OF late Indian summer, was a fatef
day for thousands OF men there. Exact
one month beforehand not many miles d
tant-had been fought the battle Of &
Apegnon, Winchesters disastrous day.
Capt. Eanburgh Elmer, Of the Fifth u
ted States cavalry, under Brig. Gen. Merit
had cause TO remember that 18th Of SepteI
Der and the Apegnon with unpleasant vivi
ness. For as he pressed on the retreatil
fnyln '-aT a a mi
with close cut chestnut curls and shinil
brown eyes had turned, and, taking steaC
aim. had sent a bullet through bis should'
while Elmer's return shot had only graz
the gray sleeve
But the wound had not been as severe
the officer expected. and by the middle
October be was able TO join his men again
-Four mornings afterwards, in the midst
darkness and t0S, dawned the 18th, when
Union army awoke to hear Kershaw fri
Thoburn's captured guns The reeki
drama Of Cedar Creek had begun. Slow
slowly cold Mass1nutteu lifted his hi
through the heavy mists to the southwest
gaze drearly on a scene from which e,
Lucifer's subjects must turn with sickeni
What did he see during that long day of C
nagei
lie saw thousand souls sent precipitat
before their maker, who must needs be ST
TO them, eurrlmsoned rs they were W
brothers blood. He saw more than 4,
spirits quivering to escape from the agoni
bodies that imprisoned them. He saw c
federate troops first victorious, sweep
every position, Staying capturing, chas
the confused Union forces He saw them
fore noon relaxed in the fatal security O
too easy triumph. Then he saw Phil ST
idan, the idol of his men. dash I'D from
long forced ride, and once more the day
lost and won, and for one side calamity
lowed glory, and for the other glory
plucked out Of calamity.
Near sunset Thee Floyd was reluctar
obeying orders to retreat when his horse
shot down under him, and he narrowly
capped capture by slipping into the tn
sklrting underwood. A few rods With
young federal officer rose to a sitting DOS,
TO face him, and Floyd recognized at c
the enemy with whom he had exchan
shots on the Apegnon. Ahame with the
feat following the hooking victory of
morning, he was about to start the man W
out allowing him to draw, when the la
sroaned and fell back. Theo, asban
s'oe9ed TO examine his wounds, and saw
once lhat undoubtedly they were unto de
Ano "neh the white lips murmured ''wat