The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1891-01-15

Rose came TO open the door
On q breezy evening in December,
ITS, q young officer In undress uniform
was making his way on foot along q
rather obscure highway leading into the
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 1t in his hand as II
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 II the light had
been sufficient you could have seen that
his face was thoughtful, earnest, seri-
Gus, but at the sape time expressive Of
q deep and almost overfowing happi-
ness. It 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 mo-
bility. Pryor Fenwicke, Roses father.
was, moreover, q stanch loyalist and q
bitter enemy to American Independence.
Not 50 Rose. From the first she had
favored the colonies and had been out
spoken in her devotion to the rebel cause.
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 person who might b
tolerated and yet detested- His wife.
however, steered in q very wise course,
declaring that she was but q woman,
knowing nothing Of state afairs, and
that she loved her friends, be they En-
glish or American, French or what not
Rose, as the only child, may have been q
tribe spoiled by over-indulgence, but she
was As good and true as girl could b.
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 sec her. BE had just been
relieved in turn as officer In command Of
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 possiblei
The engagement was as yet q clandestine
one, 30 far as Mr.. Fenwicke was con-
cerned, and there was q 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 ARairs and the
doubtful result of the dreadful war, now
at its darkest hour, rendered the con-
summation Of their hopes at best q thing
obscured BY the clouds Of . very threat
ening future Stil1 they were happy.
Love sang its ravishing songs for them,
and loves glamor 90 dimmed and de-
lighted their eyes that they could not
realize the danger that impended So
long a. Wayne Prescott chat was our
young heutsnant's name) could ses Rose
and Be near her the whole world was
bright for him, and e. for Rose she was
happy whenever he was.
Il was the good, true, old fashioned
sort Of love that had hold Of them-lovs
that brims the heart with tender truth
fulness and simple dreams Of happiness,
while It shuts out every sordid or selfish
consideration. Rose was rich and Wayne
Prescott was very poor; but 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 plightod 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 womanly SteadfaSt-
ness and aingle heartedns2 Il iS not
peace, with its ease and luxury, its 70
hnements Of social forms and "a myriad
avenues Of petty intrigue, that engon-
ders the noblest life War d dreadful,
but It IL . great diSinfectank Il sep
arates the evil from the good, and gives
the grace Of outright simplicity 10 the
sound human heart, Just q Il accsntu-
ates and projects the darkest and most
dreadful elsments Of Ovil In the chArac-
tar naturally depEaTOd.
Lieut. Prescott reported b the head
quArtsn OF bis company, which was near
the eastern outakirt1 Of the town, and %
soon e he could get leave went toward
the Fenwicko man1lon. the most pro