Daily Yellowstone journal., 1889-08-14

gagement been made known when the
summons Tom expected came. Viva
was almost frantic. II was the first
time in her life that her will had been
useless; but now it beat against a rock.
Tired with the vain struggle, repeat
ed until Toms heart ached TO its
depths. she at length recognized that
his strength of character must domi-
nate ncrs md after a long, wild flood
of tears and a CONFUSION of sobs she
said at last;
If you will golf you must
promise me TO live, to come backl"
II promise to come backif lido live,
Viva. How can | say | will live!
That is the chance of war and the will
of God"
Promise, promise!" she shrieked.
"You must promise me to live! |
shall die here, right in your arms, un.
less you do"
Her pallid face, her streaming eyes,
the sobs that seemed TO reud her slight
shape, the piteOus curve of her red
lips, took linn by storm. the lovely,
unreasoning, willful creature, torn by
a passion OF love and grief all for him,
shook his strong soul 10 its center.
What man ever resisted such over
whelmiug passion. or thought it fool
ish when he was its obiecti Tom
Creighton's soul blazcd IN his eyes rs
he held that tiny figure close TO his
breast.
Il promise" he said.
So he went. and she STAYED. The
fortunes of war bcfell him; but in bat
tie he seemed To dodge the bullets that
rained about him, m~anfully as he
fought, for he felt Niva's imploring
eyes upon him. ''Creighton's luck"
was the jest of the decimated regiment;
but no man charged him with cow
ardice. The thrill and splendor of this
new life swept off his conservatism;
the war justified itself by its dash and
valor. He reioiced in the clangor of
trumpets. the roar of its guns, the rush
Of its charges; and when the miasma
Of the marshes where he lay encamped
detied his will and scared his flesh with
fever, when he lay half conscious for
many a week in the hospital, the will
to live, the intent TO keep his word TO
Viva, saved him. The nurses won
dered TO hear but two words in the low
mutter of his delirium: Il promise-I
promisel" but those words were his
talisman.
Once in the field he became a won
der of alertness; hairbreadth escapes
seemed TO be his forte. One day,
when the battalion were entrenching
themselves, and the commanding gen
eral, weary with the march. had dis
mounted and thrown himself under a
tree for a moments rest, Col. Creigh-
ton-for he had been promoted
dashed up on his black mare and sa-
luted.
General, he said, shall / ride out
beyond the lines and reconnoiter the
lay Of the landf
DO so, said Gen. B., s~pringing up,
land | will go with you"
As they both trotted past the in
trenchments a colonel in command
called out to them:
.'The evening is not far off. Do not
risk your life, general"
The general smiled and looked at
Creighton, who laughed, and on they
went. Soon the pickets were passed.
but NJ enemy was sighted, and, led |
on by the beauty of the way, as well
as a desire to grasp the situation, they
trotted fast down a wood road, turned
a short corner, and behold! twenty or
thirty men, a picket guard, or rather
a reconnaissance of the foe. Quicker
than a lightning flash, no pause TO
think. no word said, except that II
promise. branded on his inward ear,
Creighton's saber flashed from its
sheath, and whirling il round his head
he looked over his shoulder and shout |
ed, Forward! Charge!'
Aud putting spurs TO his horse, flew
forward, the general instantly second
ing his ruse and close behind him, |
rushed upon the startled enemy. who
fed like sheep. Once out of sight, the
two men turned and ran their horses
back TO the lines; but that swift ma
nouver saved "A general 10 tie army
and her lover to Viva.
So it was in the prison where scores
oi men died Of untold agouic5; for in
those dreadful depths Tom Creighton
lived. When his heart and flesh fail
ed he seemed 10 see Niva's upturned,
wociul face. aud he said % himself.
Il promise. with fresh strength each
time. fpr ho had learned faith in linn
self. 81 last Inc war was over; Inst
thoroughly welded 10 a soldiers lie.
and become q VrOyerJ among WCn for
courage aUd quick resource. he Vp.
Transferred To- iie ranks 81 the regular
army given "a nlrlyuga Of SIX m,Ula,
aud .ew 20 once I'D Viva.
Poor Viva, TIE war had spared her
Tom, but both L"r parents bad died
during his absence. and She Wgo quito
alone. To describe their mcrl.ng
would be Facrilogc; il was even rs the
meeting OF those Who arise together 1t
tho rising ~ the dead and look 90 the
dawniug ~ tllat heaven winch they
shall ,uruI together Naturally, Tom
dcsIlgd iu u' Hn their marriage aud
Viva lid net refuse; rOf, except a
sllarinl cO-rr ron, she was quite alone
in that IuUeliDsl Of positions. lhC iu
mate 81 q fashionable boarding hulse,
She did uDl oagc jD waste her time ur
her strength ON uu elaborate trousseau
SHE lu't ail tUal - MIrs Mcrwiu. 1t
seemed % her tlu.t She could not EXIT
out ~ Tom Ug0a rUcp. Yet one d.v
she could NOT 5ne him --lr was iII
size oU'y 1w Tic doctor au old man
who lai watched hgr FROM brr child
lb.4I