The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1891-01-29

been less burdened with the terrible load
Of personal responsibility for his little
command. Il ls doubtless true, how
ever, that the stimulus Of great excite
ment made his vision quicker and clearer.
By the broadening gray light Of day and
BY the lurid flashes Of the guns and Of
the flaming missiles launched by both
armies he recognised Rose instantly.
When did lover ever fail to recognize his
mistress at glanceI The voice Of itself
was sufficient, but there was the pale,
beautiful face, with its aureole Of shin
ing hair, and with Its eyes, like no other
eyes to him, flaming In pasEionats en-
treaty. A single second he stood, then
his sword went up and he esprang toward
her.
"Unhand her and defend yourself" he
cried, with that lofty show Of chivalry
% much In vogue In those days.
Maynard was not slow to respond.
Putting Rose behind him with his left
hand he cried out;
"COme on. lam always ready"
II was ct this moment that the men
recognized each other and, q II the
mutual impression had some effect Of re-
pulsion. they recoiled slightly and stood
glazing aercely, gathering themselves
for the utmost Of deadly effort. When
their swords crossed It was a. II the
clash had been the signal for q doubling
and trebling Of the din of battle. At the
farther part Of the open field the French
were now storming up TO the very face
Of the British works under q concen.
trated FIRE delivered level along the
ground and absolutely unbearable With
courage that was melodramatic in its
display the bravo fellows, led by Count
d'Estaing In person, forced on against
the tide Of death, houndering through
the mire and scrambling over mucky
bitches, but all in vain. Back they were
hurled like dry leaves before q wind.
Prescott and Maynard took no notice Of
this brilliant but i'll fated rush. They
thought Of nothing, they dared think Of
nothing but their own personal struggle.
They fought with fervid eagerness and
with that concentrated force naturally
engendered by the situation. Their
swords leaped and dfIashed and changed 80
rapidly that one blow was scarcely sep
arated from another.
Rose stood rigid and breathless, white
a. marble and cold As II dead, Watching
the desperate engagement. Prescott
was not as strong as Maynard, and suf.
fered the added disadvantage Of wield-
ing q much shorter weapon; but his
great suppleness and agility did much
TO set him on an equal footing with his
ponderous and resolutely calm antago-
mist. From the first Prescott was the
AsSailant, and 30 fercely and nimbly did
be address himself to the desire Of the
moment that the best strength and skill
Of Maynard were called into most violent
and constant activity.
The Engfshman, however, was sure
to win unless some 6ortuitous circum-
stance should cast o deadly advantage
into Prescott's hand. Round and round
they fought. Maynard always keeping
Rose behind him and leering ct his op-
ponent with an expression Of malignant
hatred, heightened by the effect Of the
sti1l hvid scar across his cheek made
long before in . similar contest. Pres
colt was ever forcing the fight and In
creasing his intensity Of effort with each
cut or thrust. An around In the swamp,
and scattered through the thinner parts
Of tho wood, Q running, rattling fire Of
mushetTy was mingled with shouts and
imprecations, while out across the open
field still poured the heavy. believing
tide Of the battle.
When Maynard saw that the Vehe.
mence Of the young lieutenant was be-
ginning TO tell upon his strength he
changed his manner Of fighting, and at
once began o rushing assault with all
his reserve force. Rose saw this tre-
mendous effort, and, without knowing
what she did, grasped the Englishman
around the body and tried to hold him
back. This did not appear to trouble
Maynard in the least. II Is probable
that he did not notice IL, 90 savagely in
earnest was he In pressing down upon
hisweaker antagonist, who wasnow some
what entangled In . olump Of small bush
e that hindered his movements Anoth-
or minute must have ended the combat
IN MaynArd's favor, although Rose was
struggling desperately to embarrass him
and render his arm unsteady. Prescott
was no longer fighting; he was merely
Etraining TO defend himself. Grampus.
who mp to this time had been praying In
Gbject terror, suddenly observed the Sit-
uAtion, and at the same time caught the
overwrought, almost crazed look on the
face Of Rose.
"Come, Grampus, comel" she walled;
''come, tell you'll"
The old negro leaped up and sprang
forward, Aourishing heavy club.
stop dati stop dAtI" he cried; but the
men did not hear or heed him.
stop dat or knock 20 head ofn 20
neokF'
Maynard was still pressing his adyant-
ego and forcing Prescott back into the
sntangled bushes.
"Mebbe you Hs'n to mo mex timeg"
fairly shouted old Grampus -, rising on
ttptoe and welding the club with all
the enormous strength Of both his arms,
be dashed Il against the back Of Nay
nard's head.
The man fen o. II hit with . bolt Of
lightning.
There L no record, nor is there even
tradition, to LEAD me In giving any par
ticulaxs touching the escape Of Pres
cot md Rose from the battlefield. That
thsy did escape and were married soon
aftSr b wen Known, and It seems 10 be
Ssttled that Rose lived with the AmeEi-
can army, following harhuiband through
he haEdahips Of . soldiers LIE until the
happy end Of theWar.