Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1891-08-22

IL Ou VIII SO--Ai YOU AAoSe
Use me to live, to come back!
II promise to come back II do live,
Viva. How can say willive? That
is the chance of war and the viii OF
God"
Promise, promise!" she shrieEed::
"You must promise me TO livel Ishali
die here, right in your arms, unless
you dol"
Her pallid face, her streaming eyes,
the sobs that seemed to rend her slight |
shape, the piteous curve OF her red |
lips, took him by storm. The lovely,
unreasoning, willful creature, torn by |
a passion OF love and grief all for HIM, |
shook his strong soul to its centre.
What man ever resisted such over
whelming passion, or thought it fool
ish when he was its objectg Tom
Creighton's soul blazed in his eyes as
he held that tiny figure closer to his
breast.
Il promise" he said.
So he went and she stayed. The
fortunes of war befell him; but in
battle he seemed to dodge the bullets
that rained upon him. manfully as he
fought, for he felt WAS imploring
eyes upon him. "Crieghton's luck
was the Jest of the decimated regi-
ment; but no man charged him with
cowardice. The thrill and splendor OF
this new life had swept off his con-
servatism; the war justified itself by
its dash and valor He rejoieed in the
clangor OF trumpets, the roar OF its
guns, the rush of its charges; and
when the miasma of the marshes
where he lay encamped detied and
scared his flesh with fever, when he
lay half-conscious for many week IN
the hospital, the will to live, the IN
tent to keep his word to Viva
saved him. The nurses wondered to
hear but two words in the low NUT
ter of his delirium; II promise-I
promise but those words were his
talisman.
Once in the field he became a wonder
of alertness; hairbreadth escapes
seemed to be his forte. One day,
when the battalion were entrenching
! themselves, and the commanding
general, weary with the march, had
| dismounted and thrown himself under
a tree for a moment 5 rest, Col. Creigh-
ton-for he had been promoted-dash-
ed up on his black mare and saluted.
General. he said, ''shall l ride out
beyond the lines and reconnoitre the
lay OF the land?"
do So" said Gen. b., springing up
"and wilI'go with you"
(. As they both trotted past the in
trenchments colonel in command
called out to them:
1.-THE evening is not far off. Do not
risk your life, general"
The general smiled and looked at
Creighton, who laughed; and on they
went. Soon the pickets were passed
but no enemy was sighted, and, lee
on by the beauty of the way, as a de
sire to grasp the situation, they trot
ted fast down wood road, turned {
short corner, and behold. twenty o.
thirty men, a picket guard, or, rather
a reconnaissance OF the foe. Quicke
than a lightning flash, no pause t.
think, no word said, except that 9
promise, :" branded on his inward ear
Creighton's sabre flashed from it
sheath; and whirling it round hi
head, he looked over his shoulder an
shouted, Forward! Charge."
And putting spurs to his horse fle'
, forward, the general instantly second
ing his ruse and close beside hin
! rushed upon the startled enemy, VIII
fled like sheep. Once out OF sight tn
: two men turned and ran their horse
to the lines but that swift mannuvI
: saved a general to the army and
lover to Viva.
. So it was in the prison where score
n of men died of untold agonies; for
4 those dreadful depths Tom Criegto
! lived. When his heart and flesh faile
: he seemed to see WAS upturnet
. woful face, and he said to himsel
, II promise" with fresh strength eaC
I time; for he had learned faith in hin
:. self At last the war was over; bJ
i thoroughly welded to soldiers lif
- and because a proverb among men *
4 courage and quick resource, he W,
i transferred to the ranks of theregul'
> army, given furIong of six month
~ and flew at once to Viva.
d Poor Viva! the war had spared h
lie Tom, but both her parents had di'
it during his absence. and she WI
D; quite alone. To describe their NEE
III ing would be sacrilege; it WI
even as the meeting of those wi
is arise together at the rising of the def
m and look at the dawning of tn
ig heaven which they shall spend to-get
Ip er. Naturally Tom desired to hast
d their marriage, and Viva did not ]
i'd fuse; for except salaried chapero
she was quite alone in that lonelie
y, OF positions, the inmate of fashio
a able clearinghouse. She did n
u care to waste her time or her streng
as on an elaborate trousseau, she left
b. that to Mrs. Merwin; it seemed to i
OF that she could not exist out OF Ton
id presence. Yet one day she could n
or see him; she was i'll; she only saw t
he doctor, an old man, who had watch
20 her from childhood.
Sc fViya," he said to her, as he DIR
ng on his gloves after an hour at
st bedside, and as the nurse hurried
all called in, had left the room on so
ch needful errand.
Id Viva, you must tell Capt. Crei
tic ton"