The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1891-03-07
THE SOLDIERS PROMISE
A Story OF the Battle OF Lone Jack,
Missouri.
ny AN OLD CONFEDERATE.


bh AZ OLD CONt EDbhALr'
IContinucd from last week.
In an elegant mansion in the west
crn suburbs in the beautiful city of
jacksonville at the close Of the 10th
day Of August, 1862, sat a woman of
attractive face and form. Scarce forty
years had laid their impress on the still
beautiful features. There was an air
of sweet dignity about her that inter
ested while it charmed. Reclining on
an ottoman at her feet, with her deli
cate white hands locked across the
matTon's lap was 4 maiden of some
seventeen summers. In her face was
the lool; of Beatrice as the old
masters limncd her Her heavenly
blue eyes were lifted up to her mothers
face with loving gaze, while her long,
gOlden-brown tresses fell down her
graceful shoulders in meshes of bewild
ering beauty. Her light, airy costume
displayed figure OF rare grace and
loveliness.
The surroundings and elegant fur
niture, the well kept lawn, the magnifi-
cent display of flowers, all indicated
wealth, luxury, refinement and taste.
The elder lady was the mother of
William Jamison, the younger, his sister
Florence; and he was the subject of
their conversation.
40, mother. just to think. Broth
er's term of enlistment expires to-day.
Tomorrow he will be discharged, and
in a.fcw days more lac will he home. -
| And the gludsomc look of expectation
was like ray of spring sunshine.
Yes. dear, ii nothing happens !!
But ali, what an infnity of possibility
rests upon that little word it, How
often does il stand between hope and
| fruitiOn!"
''Surely nothing will happen now,
mother said the beautiful girl, sud-
den pallor spreading over her sunny
features.
81 hope not! Oh, hope mott" said
the mother; ''but have presentiment
of something dreadful about TO happen
I have felt it all day and cannot shake
ii off-but hark! what was that? Who
is calling?"
'.What is what, mother?n exclaimed
the maiden starting up, alarmed at hel
mothers strange manner. 81 heard
nothing"
II heard your brothers voice calling
from afar off. 1t seemed 10 say
Mother, sister, I'm coming-coming.
Did you not hear it?''
NAY, mother, heard nothing. II
was only your overwrought fancy
And throwing her arms affectionately
around her mothers neck she tried tC
kiss away the dcspairiug look her fea
lures wore.
In n few days the news of the battle
of Lone Jack came, and the name oi
Lieut. William Jamison was numbered
among the list of the killed.
All night long Emmett Johnston lay
beside the dead body of William Jami
son. The following morning party o
trophy hunters found the two men lyins
there, Johnston still holding in his hanC
the picture Jamison had given him
The watch and bible he had put in hi
pockets.
The party who had found the TIVE
men supposing them both to be dead
notified burying party, which witt
spade and pick at once repaired to tn
scene. A grave wide enough for boil
bodies was dug, and when all was read,
the body of Jamison was wrapped il
an army blanket and lowered to it
resting place.
Similar services were about to be per
formed for young Johnston, when on
of the men observing the picture still
clutehed i'll the stiffcncd fingers attempt
ed to take it away; but as he did s.
the fingers frightened their clasp upon
as if defending it in death.
Thinking that there must still be lif
in the man, IL surgeon was hastily sum
moned, and an examination of John
ston's condition made.
.Is he alive. doctor?" asked one O
the men.
..Just is was the lacOnic reply
'Here, lift his head-therei and tn
surgeon poured a little stimulant dow
; the wounded mans throat.
In little while his pulse came up
the heart, which had almost cease
even to iluttcr, so scant was the vita
fluid, resumed q regular though feebl
pulsation, and symptoms of rallyin
begun to manifest themselves.
=, A stretcher was secured and Johnsto
3 was taken to the hospital where HI
wounds were skillfuIly dressed. II
was in good hands, had excellent nur.
= ing, and in two weeks was so far recoN
cred as to be able to be moved to
ncighboring farm house, from which
three months he emerged Il well ma
again.
He had promised 10 deliver to Lieu
Jamfson S mother the articles that ha
been entrusted to him. together with Ii
diving message, but duty called hi
back to his regiment. He made up Ii
mind, however, TO keep his promise 6
soon as opportunity should offer. RI
joining his regiment, which had bee
Withdrawn from Missouri to Arkansa
he resumed the active life of a soldier
Without further wound or disaster b
fought through the war, engaging
every battle and skirmish in which h
regiment was involved. When peaC
was al last declared, he turned his fac
p hOmeward.
Johnston 5 home was near LexinI
ton July, 1865, found him re-unite
with his fathers family, who wei
= greatly rejoiced to have him restore
uniniured to them. He had been I
home but a few days when he told h
father of his promi5" to the dyin
g federalist al Lone Jack. Mr.. Johnsto
t was himself the soul of generosity, an
handing his son roll Of money toI
him to lose no time in fulfilling h
\ promise.
Our hero soon completed preparation
for his Journey, and set ont for jackson
vile.
Reaching that beautiful city lit
before noon on the 10th day of Angus