The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1891-07-09

shape, the piteou, 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 it's object? Tom
Creighton's soul blazed in his eyes as
he held that tiny figure closer to his
breast.
81 PROMISE" he said
So he went and she stayed. The
fortunes of war befel 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
it's dash and valor He rejoiced in the
clangOr OF trumpets, the roar OF it's
guns, the rush of it's charges; and
when the miasma of the marshes
where he lay encamped defed and
scared his flesh with fever, when he
lay half-conscous 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: ~ promise-I
promisel" but those words were his
talisman.
Once in the field he became 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
tree fora moment s rest, Col. Creigh-
ton-for he had been promoted-dash
ed up on his black mare and saluted.
General" he said, "shall ride out
beyond the lines and reconnoitre the
lay of the land?"
''Do So" said Gen. b., springing up;
"and l will go with you"
As they both trotted past the in
trenchments u colonel in command
called out to them:
"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, led
on by the beauty Of the way, as de-
sire to grasp the situation, they trot-
ted fast down q wood road, turned a
short corner, and behold! twenty or
thirty men, q picket guard, or, rather,
q reconnaissance of the fee. Quicker
than o. lightning flash, no pause to
think, no word said, except that 81
promise" branded on his inward ear,
, Creighton's sabre flashed from its
sheath; and whirling it round his
head, he looked over his shoulder and
shouted. Forward Charge"
And putting spurs to his horse flew
forward, the general instantly second
ing his ruse and close beside him
: rushed upon the startled enemy, who
9 fled like sheep. Once out OF sight the
| two men turned and ran their horses
: to the lines; but that swift man@uvr'
e saved a general to the army and {
lover to Viva.
So it was in the prison where scores
= of men died OF untold agonies; Tor IL
{ those dreadful depths Tom Criegtoi
lived. When his heart and flesh failet
he seemed to see WAS upturned
D woful face, and he said to himself
II promise" with fresh strength eac
e time; for he had learned faith in him
self. At last the war was over; bu
l. thoroughly welded to a soldiers life
;, and because Il proverb among men 10
Il courage and quick resource, he wa
" transferred to the ranks of regula
, army, given furlong OF six months
y and flew at once to Viva.
g Poor Vival the war had spared he
|. Tom, but both her parents had die
- during his absence, and she wa
~ quite a one. To describe their NEE
4 ing would be sacrilege; 1T wa
- even as the meeting of those VIII
10 arise together at the rising of the dea
- and look at the dawning of ths
- heaven which they shall spend to-getl
- er. Naturally Tom desired to haste
" their marriage, and Viva did not I
N fuse; for except salaried chaperoi
~ ~ she was quite alone in that lonelie'
", of positions, the inmate of a fashion
~ able clearinghouse. She did M
- care to waste her time or her strengt
~ on an elaborate trousseau, she left &
III that to Mrs. Merwin it seemed to h
na that she could not exist out OF Tom
~ presence. Yet one day she could m
II. see him. she was i'll; she only saw Il
u, doctor, an old man, who had watch'
her from childhood.
10 VIVA" he said to her, as he DIRE
. -, on his gloves after an hour at II
W. bedside, and as the nurse hurried
~ called in, had left the room on Sol
~ needful GRAND.
nd "Viva, you must tell Capt. Creiq
~ ton" =,
- al willnotl" she answered, angrll
- but you mustl"
-" 81 never will After all these wretc
~, Nv ed years OF waiting, do you think
a., ' will throw my life away, DR.. Sands
rs of '1f YOU do not, l shall.
~ "You WON'T you can'tl'
in, "But shall. 1t is my duty. Hyou
~ ~ not tell him before Saturday-th this
n no tuesday, shall.
p The doctors voice was stern, b
~ the nurse came in; he said no more.
~ Next day came Tom with startl
IN news; he was ordered at once to re
al, Shilling, the garrison there was need
ia ia in a struggle with the Indians; fr'
80 troops must man the fort; there v
in not day to spare.
col "Viva, will you go with me"
',ad She sprang up from the sofa VIII
,v' she lay, pale and sweet, after her W
u ,o of escape from DIR. Sands.
o, eyes indeed, will. You shall
,od leave me again, Toni
~ So the next morning early, like
, a pair of clipping lovers. they were m
| 4. I