The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-04

miliarity had rendered Indifferent The
| garrison was beginning to stir, smoke
arose from Weakening homes, the sleepy SEN
tinels quickened their hating walk In hope
of speedy release. Early as it was, group
| of British officers stood on the wharf talk
ing earnestly together, and my grandmoth-
er's foolish little heart beat quicker as she
recognized among them the handsome face
of Eunice's admirer, Maj Howe.
As they landed one OF the officers, tall
man, with keen, piercing glance. approached
and accosted Mrs. Coleman politely, well,
madam, what news this morning.?
With fash OF her dark eye she answered,
mot much; only there is a rumor that my
| lord CORVALLIS has surrendered"
Hush, madam" he said with a quick
| look at his companions, who, in the dis
tance, were casting glances Of laughing ad-
miration at Eunice's bright eyes and SHIN
| ing tresses ''It will not do to bring such
news here!''-then, parlsing moment. ne
added thoughtfully, Il must ask your au-
! thority for such a report"
| Mrs Coleman quickly drew out the
handful and passed it to him. After care
| fully reading it, he requested her to loan 1t
to him for an hour, and bowling a polite
| good morning to the ladies, rejolned his
comrades.
With such exciting news as our friends
brought with them to discuss, not to speak
of the absorbing topic of wedding pur-
chases, time passed rapidly away at Cousin
Mary's hospitable home, until they were
startled by loud rap at the door Upon
opening it Eunice saw, with a conscious
blush, the elegant figure OF Maj. Howe,
who, saluting her courteously, yet with an
admiring look in his laughing eyes, said,
Fair Mistress Coleman, is madam, your
mother, within?"
''She is" replied Eunice.
'Will it please you, then" he politely
continued, ''to come with her to the head
quarters of Col Frazier? Our colonel, ever
a gallant man, would fain have speech of
two such fair ladies'"
Eunice summoned her mother, who on
hearing the message set forth with her
daughter, under the most attentive escort
of Maj Howe, for the garrison head
quarters.
On their arrival. however since it ap-
peared that mistake had been made in a
summons intended for Mrs. Coleman
alone, Maj. Howe addressed himself with
a most demure good grace to the enter
tainment of his fair companion.
Mistress Coleman" he said, 81 trust
you will excuse so natural mistake on
my part, since it arose but from my desire
to remain in good company And, truly,
would fain ask you a question"
Eunice seated herself on grassy mound,
where she could watch the glinting white,
caps in the BAY, and waited, with an air of
grave expectation.
"Why is it, then" he asked, with bold
ness, "that my heart, which remains I'M
moved at the roar of cannon, yet trembles
at your approach, and my cheek, which
had forgot the trick of blushing, glows
with sudden fire."
Indeed, know not, ," Eunice answered
sedately.
"And didst never feel such symptoms in
your own breast?" he asked, impetuously,
drawing nearer.
"Ah, yes" Eunice replied, with a mer-
~ twinkle of her coquetish dark eyes.
"When but yester-eve my mother read the
news of Lord CORVALLIS surrender my
heart beat and my cheek glowed."
And since Lord CORVALLIS has surren-
dered," the young man questioned, half
laughing, "why should not L? Can we not
arrange terms of capitulation, think you?'
answered demurely; "and my own arti-
cles of capitulation are already signed"
A flush rose in Maj. Howe's fair cheek
and his eye flashed, but just then Mrs.
Coleman issuing from the door of the
headquarters, amid many polite adieux
from Col Frazier summoned Eunice, with
a searching glance at the evident confu-
sion of the pair.
%; nd
the compliments due to the occasion with
his usual self possession. " It's a fair
land, this of yours, madam but doubt |
have lost something here which l shall
scarce regain" he said at parting.
The business was transacted, the we'd
ding purchases made, but when the little
boat pushed off for the homeward journey
Eunce watched long and silently solitary
figure, that lingering apart upon the lone
ly shore stood out in dark relief against |
the evening sky.
There was merry wedding soon after |
all the merrier for the assurance that the |
dawn of peace was rising over the land, |
and Mistress Eunice Simpson, in her pio- |
neer home, made glad the heart of her hus- |
band with her notable housekeeping, and |
bore him brave sons and daughters.
that sometimes in the pauses of her active |
life, sitting in the twilight with her knit /
ting or when some sudden memory of her .
youth came back to her, there flashed be-
fore her a vision of a handsome, patrician /
face, looking into her own with love and |
longing, and she knew that the real ro-
nance of her life lay in that unfinished
chapter. She died young, and when, a
LOTT TaS Cd ok /
package was found among his private pa
pers, with the request that at his death it
should be sent to her, las the token of his
Interchangeable love" When it came, I |
told you, her grave was already green. I
sometimes think that in the glad end there
is no parting; he may have already told |
her the story of his faithful love.
Aunt Eunice sighed involuntarily as she
finished her story, and the dancing fire
light for moment showed the beautiful
pictured face shining out amid the shad-
ows of the dusky room.
did her husband mourn herr" asked |
Mans voice out Of her dark corner.
We'll, answered Aunt Eunice slowly, |
81 suppose so, as much as a man consist
emily could who married two wives after
ward"
Robin rose abruptly and went out, shut
ting the door behind him with a mighty |
and wrathful slam Over in the shadowy
OF the Bower" we heard
the tea bell ring, and bidding goodnight
to romance and history in the person Of
Aunt Eunice, we returned 10 the realities
Of every day life, Nothing could be more
than the Bower" growled
Aiollie, as she stumbled over one or two
pairs of ubiquitous rubber boots in vain
search for our one kerosene lamp.
Yet even as she spoke came through the