Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-07-13
Ie!olned the soldier, with minnloa -.

hr n 80 snot down. But l know Won
brought about the transfer. Yon said aid
YONG QUO. never lose sight o. me- '
-, mats candid, Smiley. So, vou'd
father he shot than hung, ELI ?n "
Lleutenant-"
Oh -, ana you know can have you hung.
Fame Barkis, for Gods sole,n
gaspingly 'N'>e'
= There! shut up and hsten,p tbe
FEDERAL Lieutenant said, sharply but
suafdedly; "Of course l succeeded in
Erecting the transfer in the division to
where L could have you under nv ewes
dld not accomplish this for mere
amusement, Smiley"
No, my life on that" sullen1v
Ever since that wicked trick O nine
TO break my poor old mothers heart
and which no one could prove against
me but you. It's the devils own dirt
I've had to shovel for you, and now
there's more o the same kind on hand.
l suppose. Well, you might as we'll
tell me what's to he done.
Smiley, you are a fairly good villain,
and a guesser-"
/
ITO the point now!'' shortly.
"Let's have it."
II am better posted than the COM
mander himself There will be an as
sault upon us in the morning, [
know"
II wish 1 dared tell it,"
III you do, you dog, you shall diet"
Go on" said Smiley, meeklv.
In the fight which I know to be in
evitable, two things must be accom-
plished. The Captain of my company,
| Warren Gray, must die-shoot him
from behind, Smiley !-and the daugh-
ter OF my Colonel, beautiful Mildred
must be borne away by me, to live as
my bonny bride in sunny Georgia.
Hush, Smiley" for the startled soldier
had not been able to suppress an excla-
nation of startlement, while he recoiled
aghast in the darkness.
Good save us! What's this? The
girl is the Pride OF the Regiment and
is to be the bride of Warren Gray, if
he and she live through the war"
"Silence Warren Gray will not live
even through the coming fight, and
Mildred is for me. Closer, Smiley,
and mark well my plans"
A few minutes later the two separa-
ted. and in those moments diabolical
plot had been discussed.
The ColonePs lovely daughter was
his sole remaining earthly tie. The
brave widower kept her ever by him
from the date of his recall to active
service, and in that division which had
now followed the leadership of Nc
Cllelan to the very threshold of the
enemy's citadel she had become an idol
of worship among the rank and file,
because Of her combined bravery and
tenderness.
! Barkis was native of Georgia,
though the fact was unknown; he was
deeply smitten by the girls pure charms
had wooed in vain; and now, on the
eve of battle, he had vowed and planned
in treachery internal to possess her.
At dawn the boys in blue were work
ing, busy rs bees, in the construction
Of rifle pits and abattis.
Suddenly sound of musketry was
heard on the Williamsburg road, and
picks and spades We're tossed aside as
the Whit of battle was borne on the
dampish air.
Hill had moved boldly forward; the
moment of the Southern leaders ag-
gressive movement was at hand.
The sound of guns grew louder, the
oncoming ranks of gray, with resound-
ing yells, hurled themselves with an
impetuosity Of storm upon General
Naglee's brigade, and the sanguinary
battle of Seven Pines was instantly at
it's height.
Through thunders and smoke,
through reaching flame and whizzing
lead, through aisles of peril that rung
with applauding cheers from the boys
in blue-the figure of Mildred Dare
dashed hither and thither on stall
wart steed, her blonde tresses stream
ing in the wind, her white, brave face
symbol of encouragement to heroism.
Presently fresh and terrible series
of volleys burst; Confederate brigade
had gained the very rear of the re-
doubt; flank fire crumbled away in
serried horrors the heroic division till
those who were left retreated to stand
with General Couch.
In the midst of the disordered bat
tie front again appeared the brave and
beautiful girl who was the pride of all
who fought there on that bloody field /;
but her voice was lost in the pervading
roar, her loneliness and magic presence
were overloaded by the billowing
smoke.
Out from the waves of the red mael
strom rushed two figures. There were
none but the three discernible in the
sulphurous mist, and, with cry Of
triumph, Fame Barkis rudely dragged
the girl from her saddle.
"AIildred Dare!" he cried, exultantly,
"you are mine, now and forever"
Release mel" broke from her indigg-
nant lips, as she struggled in his
grasp
'Never! You shall reign in my
Georgia home, queen my own! You
rejected me for Warren Gray; Behold
have witness that lie is dead, and
he Indicated the s,,llen Smiley, who
stood by. "You are not for Warren
Gray From the ranks of blue in