The Penn's Grove record., 1888-01-07

hand.
She took 1t from him silently, read.
ing.
battle OF the -th inst"
Che did not faint, though he had
expected she would, but her face
blanched-bIanched unAil 1t was like
marDle-and her eyes grew large and
black, glowing like stars.
~ must co. sue said, land nurse
him."
0Dear child" he replied, his hand
upon hers, this is folly, the talk OF
insanity. You, cannot 90, Jeanette. u
But 1 Wilt The color leaped to
her cheeks again and her eyes flashed.
He could not say her nay then. He
knew her nature too we'll. Thwarted
in this desire, she would die.
"I cannot 50 with you, Jeanette.
Can you go aloaer'
Eyes" She drew herself up grandly.
1t was the proud right of the Western
American girl, She knew no fear.
At 6 the next morning her favorite
horse, Plato, stood at the door. He was
a noble fellow. her faithful companion
In every mountain adventure. Mounted
on this splendid creature. her slender
figure had long been a familiar one to
the mountainAers. Her fearlessness,
her womanliness and her gracious acts
of kindliness and goodwill had en-.
deared her TO every "inhabitant of the
camp.
my dear philosopher-he will carry
me safely Through" she said, patting
his arched nedS a~ffectIonately and lay
ing her small head for a moment
against his owb.
The sun WAS just lighting the far
peaks. He hid not peeped over the
high mountains yet into the little valley
where the quiet towTy-iay asleep. All
was in .shaddw-all save the golden
aspens, whose 1 uivering leaves cleaned
fitfully in the glowing light,
At nightfall she was at the Springs,
fifty miles away. 1t was q popular
summer resort, and many guests had
been there, bsbt at the first news of
war most Of tAlem had fed to Eastern
towns.
at the hotA many people knew her,
but they had bnly words of sympathy
and encouragement for the brave girl.
In that ~excitir,g time deeds OF bravery
like this, eveiaa from women, were not
rare.
The general, who had headquarters
at the Springs. and who had heard of
her arrival anil her purpose, sent for
her in the eveAing.
She came 10 him with eager eyes,
awaiting the NEWS which he had lust
| received by cburier from the scene of
the battle. Iseyond the Springs there
were no Telegraph wires, and the cou.
riers rode daI and night owe the dan
gerous Indlaik trails to bring the it'd
,ngs Els Tiers ASv-my-uewy Of nim7,,
she faItered.
Yes" Tile generals voice almost
chOked as he lboked at her. How could
he break the fAbart of this brave young
creature. who e great love made her SO
beautiful, its tfnselfish purpose shining
from every fkaturep How could he
tell her the cruel truth, with those
love-lit starry eyes fixed so un6inch-
ingly on hisp
"Child, " he said, his hand upon hers,
even as her fathers had been, his eyes
full of kindneds, his stern voice sudden
ly tender, "ykur lover Is dead. The
courier just III states that he died yes
terday afternoon"
Not one w4-dl came from her lips.
The, great ey$s gsvs him one stricken
look, and their she fell-fell Just where
she stood at his feet, Ike a helpless,
broken reed.
He lifted her up gently and called for
assistance. Hut in a little while she
revived, rising to her feet with the old
brave determination upon her pale face
and in those dkep, mournful eyes.
II must go to him. - she said. "They
will bury hinA there, and / shall never
look upon his face again. / must gol''
The general did not attempt to dis
suade her. lie felt almost reverent in
the presence of such devotion. The
gruf old soldier was moved by this
girls heart break as no scene of battle
had ever moved him.
IAN escort of my best and bravest
men shall accompany you," he said.
body here."
"Thank you" 1t was all she could
say, but tears Of gratitude rose in her
eyes as she bent low owe his extended
hand.
And then for the first time she learned
the full parT n1lars of her lovers ex-
plot; how S5 had led the scouting
party, rushi1s boldly into the very face
Of the foe, IND by this action saving
the military from the ambush the saw
ages had ltepared for them. In a
moment thetbattle had begun, but ere
his comrades were hand to hand with
the redskins, who seemed to lurk be.
hind every bush and tree, this bold
young soidisf had met his fate, falling
with his facd to the foe.
Sat leasthe died like a hero" her
heart whispered whenever the bitter
ness of her woe threatened to over
whelm her.
Two days later, after a long and
weary journey, her little party reached
the soldIer'si camp. The boys had IN.
trenched themselves behind a small
knoll overlooking the surrounding
country, terrifying themselves with
earthworks against any attack from the
Indians. TIE flag of truce was up,
however. and all things seemed for the
present peaceful.
The soldiers looked with astonish-
ment as thesmall cavalcade came upon
then, that girlish figure in their midst,
her fair face tinged by the sun and
wind into a)warmer beauty, her dark
eyes resplen lent with dauntless cour.
age. For MANY, many miles back her
straight folIn had dropped. not as
though with physical WEAKNESS, but as
though the spirit within her were
slowly dying Next to her heart she
wore his letfr-the last words his dear
hand had pehned. She did not need to
read them, DOR every word was craven
upon her memory, but the burden OF
their warm Hove, now dead to her for.
ever, was pressing more and more
heavily upcll her tender heart.
But now at sight of these soldiers.
all her pridi uprose. She sat erect in
the saddle, tie color coming and gong
In her facl, her eyes glowing. She
raised her Head nobly, as became the
woman whd had been loved by a hero.
At si0htkof her the hovs raised n