Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-01-11

strength of her native mountains.
She acknowledged their cheers with
a sweet, grave dignity; then the leading
officer in her escort whispered some
thing to the major ere he helped her tC
dismount.
She caught the reply. 1t made hei
tremble; but with the suspicion of q
great joy, not sorrow-
''Not deadl'' were the words which
came from her white lips with a 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 almost at
Deaths door"
All mistake-all horrible dreaml
-ohl such happiness was almost i'm
possible to realizel Giving her hand tc
the major. she almost leaped from the
saddle. Her feet seemed like the wing
ed Mercury's, to speed to him.
The major led the way into the tent
where the wounded man lay, motionine
the guards aside. Then he left her,
followed by the young officer who had
been in attendance.
Alone, the girl threw herself on heI
knees beside her lover. But there was
no recognition for her in the deep blue
eyes-thOse proud, brave eyes that
never met her own save in love and
tenderness. He was unconscious, with
the delirium of the fever upon him.
The words he muttered were of the
battlefield, not of ths 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
pressed 1t to her lips; and then for the
hrst time the tears fell from her eyes
fell in hot, binding mist. What pain
and anguish had not done joy now ac.
complished-ioy 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 dsTkened ds she saw the stains ol
blood and the bullet-hole. She took it
IN her hands, examining It keenly.
There were the pans!es, faded and
worn, still pinned inside. The bullet
had passed through just above them.
Had the bullet struck him an inch
lower" one or the men afterward told
her, lit would have proved fatal"
Perhaps the pansles by some subtle
influence had saved him; perhaps her
own spirit in that moment of agony
had passed into them, making them,
indeed, real tallsman to protect him.
She loved to think of this-that God
had answered her earnest prayers by
Investing these, her chosen flowers,
with the power to save his life.
1t was only girllsh fancy, but II
made her happy. She took the dead,
sweet blossoms and Iald them tenderly
away. Until they became as dust.
these faded flowers would scarcely be
cherished.
The next few days brought with
them endless care and anxiety. His
life hung by a thread. \ woman the
men had rescued from an adjoining
ranch came to assist Jeanette, and not
one OF the soldiers but would have
risked his life TO have done her service.
Her patient manners won them all,
and her patient love, so pure and brave
in its devotion, made them feel as
never before the high grace aud worth
of womanhood.
The officers were untirlng In their
attention To the wounded man, aud
gave the girl relief at every opportunity.
Still it was a weary task, and when at
last he was pronounced out OF danger,
she, worn out with incessant watching,
could not arouse her for hours.
All this time the camp had not been
without menace, but the redskin had
been kept at bay until the arrival of
fresh troops. Through all this danger
Jeanette had been unwaverIng. Not
one expression of fear had passed her
lips, though she, like all the rest, drew
a sigh of relief when the troops arrived.
Then followed hot pursuit of the
Indians; they were pushed back to the
reservation.
Jeanette came to Ned's bedside one
day with look of joy upon her lovely
face. 1t was like TRANSPORTATION.
Med" she cried, with a return of
her old life and spirits, ''the war is
over. Peace is declared, and we are
going to 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, 30 beau
tiful and brave
When they reached the Springs, loud
and wild were the cheers given for the
brave boys returning from the war and
not only for the boys, but also for the
brave girl who had dared 20 go TO the
| front for loves sake. Under the glo-
rious sweep of the spangled banner she
/ rode, her cheeks afiAme like the Grim
son slopes and her eyes splendid with
the sunlight of love.
~ know 1t was the pansies that
saved you," she whispered to Ned,
when they stood once more together
under the shadow OF their own, beauti-
| full, royal-tinted mountains. The
pansIes have human faces, and l be-
| iieve God has invested every blossom
with graces and power which we do not
| comprehend"
Her tall lover looked down upon the
sweet face uplifted to his, smiling at
the girlIsh folly, yet touched by the
| pure faith in it.
AMI, after all, who shall say that she
was not rightY-that God had not left
| Ills divine impress upon the beautiful,
wind-tossed blossom, as upon our hu-
man, up-reaching souls? The my5te-
ries OF the spiritual world so clJse TO
/ our own are so Gnfathomable.