The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1889-08-16

Next day came Tom with startling
news; he was ordered at once to Fort
Sitting; the garrison there was need
ed in struggle with the Indians;
fresh troops must man the fort; there
was not day to spare.
Viva, will you go with me2"
She sprang up from the sofa where
she lay, pale and sweet, after her way
of escape from DIR. Sands.
eyes, indeed, Twill. You shall not
leave me again, Tom"
So the next morning early, like u
pair of clipping lovers, they were mar
ried in the nearest church, and took
the morning train for the far west; on
and on the rushing wheels bore them /;
day after day they endured the separa-
ton of the crowd, till at last they ar
rived at st. George one winter night
in January. The snow was deep, but
Tom must report as soon as possible
and Viva would not let him go alone.
1t is too cold, dearest" he said.
Not with you, Tom"
Forty below zero, Viva"
IF you can live in it, | can. L
promise, Tom"
He could not refuse her after that
word with all its memories. Rolled
in furs, wells, scarfs, with hot bricks
at her feet, they set out on their TWEEN
ty mile journey. Warned not to speak,
for the air WAS not fit for their lungs
to admit in all its chill, silently they
sped along. The glittering fields of
sparkling snow, on which the moon
made a long wake of glory, the black
shadows, the creak of their swift run
ners, the snorting OF the horses, whose
nostrils were hung with icicles, all
added a strange terror to the drive, a
drive that seemed endless, but at last
it was over.
Gomez said Tom, holding out his
arms as the driver drew up before the
officers quarters, where tho light of a
fire blazed through the deep frosted
windows, but Viva neither spoke nor
moved
Mad with terror, Tom lifted her from
the sleigh and rushed into the door,
making his way by instinct to the fire
Viva stirred not an atom. Hasty
hands unrobed her, kind hands laid
her on the sofa. Her face was set and
white, her lips parted, her eyes glazed
The post surgeon hurried in; he lifted
one hand, it fell back; he put finger
on her pulse. MY God she is dead !"
he said, with look of dreadful pity.
Tom dropped beside her.
Was it year2 Was it lifetime2
Was he in heaven when he awolze out
of that?
She was there, warm, sweet, rosy.
You made me promise, Tom; l did
not die"
Tom turned on his face and wept
like very child; his heaven had come
on earth.
Post surgeons do not know every
thing, any more than any other man.
The fact was that Viva had developed
in the last two years a tendency to
catalepsy-the result of an overworn
and overeXcited nervous system, and
when DR.. Sands told her she must tell
Tom about it, she had just come out
of a serious attack wherein she had
lain for hours, as one dead; but she
would not tell him, having an idle
fear that Tom might cease to love her.
The long journey and the cold drive
had brought on severe seizure, and
she certainly, in appearance, justified
the post-surgeon's opinion; but before
morning she had come back to herself
and was heartbroken to find Tom de-
lirious with grief, and as unconscious
of her presence as she had been of his.
Viva" he said, few days after
they were fairly settled in the new
life, my darling! my wife! think
what might have happened if I had
never known about this. Promise me,
Viva, hereafter to trust me. Tell me
everything!"
She looked up in his troubled, ten
der face with q divine smile, and softly
said over his talisman, II promise. -
Rose Terry Cooke in True Flag.