San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-03-25


Rose came to open the door
On breezy evening in December,
IT'S, young officer in undress uniform
was making his way on foot along a
rather obscure highway leading into tho
little town which is now the beautiful
city of Savannah, Ga His heavy sword,
dangling at his side, appeared to be in
his way, for an observer might have
noted, though the moonlight was dim,
that he clasped it by the scabbard now
and again and bore it in his hand as Il
to relieve his leg of the embarrassment.
and perhaps the pain of its chatting.
He was above the medium in stature,
well formed, quick and springy in his
movements, evidently an alert, ready
and efficient soldier If the light had
been sufficient you could have seen that
his face was thoughtful, earnest, seri-
Gus, but at the same time expressive of
deep and almost OVERLOOKING happi-
ness. 1t was meet that he should be
happy. for Rose Fenwicke. the loveliest
girl in Savannah. had promised to marry
him.
The Fenwicke family was rich and
honorable one, connected with one of the
oldest and proudest lines of English no
blity. Pryor Fenwicke, Roses father,
was, moreover, stanch loyalist and q
bitter enemy to American independence.
Not so Rose. From the first she had
favored the colonies and had been out
cDokap In, bar devotion, 70 tba rahal co,sa
Mr.. Fenwicke was lame man, and ow-
ing to this and to his kindly and benev-
olent disposition he was not disturbed
while the American forces occupied Sa-
vannah Still he was looked upon askance,
and treated as a person who might be
tolerated and yet detested His wife,
however, steered in very wise course,
declaring that she was but a woman,
knowing nothing of state affairs, aud
that she loved her friends, be they En-
glish or American, French or what not.
Rose, as the only child, may have been
trihe spoiled by over-indulgence, but she
was as good and true as a,girl could be.
and beautiful besides.
OF course the young man was think
ing of Rose as he stepped lightly along
in the dim moonlight; in fact he was on
his way to see her He had just been
relieved in turn as officer in command of
a detachment of American troops sta
toned as an outpost picket on the river
below the city. He would be of duty
for two days, and why should he not
spend the precious time where he could
see his betrothed as often as possible2
The engagement was as yet clandestine
one, SO far as Mr.. Fenwicke was con-
cerned. and there was d lurking dread
in the hearts of the young people touch
ing the outcome Of their precious plans
for future happiness. Furthermore. the
terrible condition Of affairs and tho
doubtful result of the dreadful war, now
at its darkest hour, rendered the con-
summation of their hopes at best thing
obscured by the clouds Of very threat
ening future Still they were happy.
Love sang its ravishing songs for them.
and loves glamor so dimned and de-
lighted their eyes that they could not
realize the danger that impended So
long as Wayne Prescott (that was our
young lieutenant's name) could see Rose
and be near her the whole world WAS
bright for him. and as for Rose she was
happy whenever he was
1t was the good. true, old fashioned
sort of love that had hold of them-love
that brims the heart with tender truth
fulness and simple dreams of happiness,
while it shuts ont every sorllid or selfish
consideration. Rose was rich and Wayne
Prescott was very poor: bat what had
either riches or poverty to do with his
wooing or with her modest JOY in listen
ing to his warm yet manly and respect
full suit? They had plighted their love
without fear. without hesitation, trust-
ing each other and relying implicitly on
the future to bring them to the day of
their bliss The days that tried mems
souls" were days of high courage. Of
manly purity and of womauly steadfast-
ness and single heartedneSs 1t Is not
peace. with its ease and luxury. its ra
fnenents of social forms and its myriad
avenues of petty intrigue. that engen-
ders the noblest life. War is dreadful.
but it is a great disinfectant 1t sep
arates the evil from the good. and gives
the grace of outright simplicity to the
sound human heart. Just IA IL accsntE-
Continued on Third Page.