Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-03-29
PANSIES.

GOOdDy! LII was Hdun6SS Oh LdE6-
wells.n The two stood looking into one
another's eyes with blanched faces.
Would he ever come back? Her wide
eyes grew desolate as she looked at him.
Then the lashes dropped over them, and
she lay motionless against his breast for
a second, as though the spirit had died
within her.
''Jeannette-is this the girl fitted to be
soldiers wife? Have you no regard for
my honor?" 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
pansies at her throat; royal beauties they
were, with great velvety hearts of purple
and gold.
"They are my colors," she whispered.
'Weg them, my knight, and be true to
your lady always"
Her trembling fingers pinned the N in
slide his coat.
God be with Won" She kept the tears
back, smiling into his face, though the
drum beat sounding IN the street below
seemed like death knoll. It was the
signal to start-the signal for volunteers,
the brave men who were off for the In
dians war, this dreadful war that bad
come like a blight upon he1 beautiful
western home.
"Goodby, and God bless you! The
pansies Will be my talisman."
A last look into the dreamy, lifted eyes,
and he was away, riding down the street
with dash and clatter into the midst of
the excited men who were armed to the
teeth, we'll mounted and equipped, ready
to meet on his own battle ground the In
dian chieftain and his warlike band.
The most intence 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
ordered out, and just as the setting sun
was Illuminating the red buttes 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. And now these plncky
volunteers were to follow. A determined
set they were; most of them hardy noun
taineers, as well trained to the saddle as
cowboys, and as reckless of life and limb.
Among them none was more fearless or
more brave than Ned Ashby. He was
one Of the young pioneers who had struck
bonanza in the mines. More thaD that
Ito use the phraseology of the mining
camp), he had located claim on the
prettiest girl in town and patented it-a
stroke of good luck that had made him
more envied among the boys than even
his mining shares in the MAY Queen"
He shared the universal feeling of all
people upon the frontier, that the red
man must become civilized or ''go." Too
long these untamed citizens had com
mitted their lawless depredations and
their fer dish outrages. The white sett-
lers felt that their wrongs must be aveng
ed. If the government had handled these
savages with gloved hands all felt assur-
ed that the state would not. Hence this
call for volunteers to defend the isolated
ranchmen and their families.
Jeanette, standing at the window, gaz-
ed 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 kiss es
still fingered on her lips.
The tears rose slowly in her eyes as she
looked after him. The world was so
beautiful, why should it be marred by
such thing as war? Her eyes wandered
away from the horsemen, now lost in a
cloud of dust, to the fair mountain that
hemmed her in.
Then came the news of fierce battle
between the Utes and Mai. Thornburgh's
men in which many were wounded Gn
either side. Her father came home at
noon with an open telegram in his hand.
She took 1t from him silently, reading
Edward Ashby was wounded in the
battle OF the til instant"
She did not faint, though he had ex
pected she would, but her face blaIched
-blanched until If was like marble-ap6
her eyes grew large and black, glowing
like stars.
81 must 60" 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 1 will" The color leaped to heI
cheeks again, ard her eyes flashed.
He could not say her nay then. He
knew her nature 200 well. Thwarted IL
this desire, she would die.
Il cannot go with you, Jeanette
Can you go alonef"
''Yes." She drew herself up grandly
1t was the proud right of the western
American girl, She knew no fear
At the next morning her favorite
horse Plato stood at the door.
At nightfall she was at the springs
fifty miles away. 1t was popular sum
mer resort, and many guests had beer
there, but at the first news of war mos
of them had fled to the eastern towns.
AT the hotel many people knew her
but they bad only words of sympath.
and encouragement for the brave girl
In that exciting time deeds of Drawer,
like this, even from women, were no
rare.
The general, who had headquarters a
the Springs and who had heard of her ar
rival and her purpose sent for her in tn
evening. She came 10 MIN with cage
eyes, awaiting the news which he had JUS
received by courier from the scene of bat
tie. Beyond the Springs there were n
telegraph wires, and the couriers rode da
and night over the dangerous Indian
trails to bring the tidings.
'Is there-any of himf" she fal
tered.
"Yes." The generals voice almos