Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-07-01
NNETTE'S PANSIES.


we'll. They stood looking into one ar
others eyes with blanched faces Would
be ever come back? Her wide eyes grew
deeolate as she locked at him Then the
lashes dropped over them and she lay
motionless against his breast for a second,
as though the spirit mad died within her
''Jeannette, is this the girl fitted to be
a soldiers wife? Have you no regard for
my honor?' His voice quivered, but his
eyes looked down upon her proudly.
Yes" She reused herself braveIy
"Your duty is at the front. | would not
hold you back
Sac placed her b Il on the bunch of
pansies at her throat; royal beauties they
were, with great velvety hearts of purple
and gold.
They are my coors," she whispered
"Wear them, my knight, and be true to
your lady al Ways
Her trembling fingers pinned them in
side his coat
'God be with you"
Sac kept the tears back, smiling into
his face, though the drum beat soundln =
in the street blow seemed like n leath.
kneil. 1t was the signal to btart-& ne
signal for the Volunteers, the brave men
who were off for the Iodian war, tois
dreadful war that had come like a blight
upon her beautiful western hcms.
Goodbye, and Good bless you' The
p lnsies will be my taisman.
The most intense excitment raoel in thu
mining camp. Ever since the new1 had
come that tue old chief was on tie war
path and the call had been made for
volunteers to defend the settlers on the
frontier, the town had been alive with
men anxious to obtain the scaip Of the
bloc d5hlrsty redskins.
Among them none was m r fearless or
more brave than Ned Ashby. He was
one of the young pioneers who had struck
bonanza In the mines. More than that
ito use the phraseology of the mining
camp), he had locate d a claim on the
prettiest girl In the town and patented it
"a stroke of good luck that made him
more enyled among the boys than even
his mining shares in the May @ leen.
Then came the news of fierce b title be-
tween the Utes and N j II Thotnhu-g's
M n, In which many were wounded on
either side. Her father came home at noon
an open letter in his hand.
She took it silently and read:
Edward Ashby was wounded in the
DafIlh til IIp - Tn instant.
She did not faint, though he had ex
peeted she would, but her face blanched
until it was like marble and her eyes grew
large and black, glowing like stars
Il must go and nurst him" she said
Her father laid his hand upon hers.
Dear child, this is foly-the talk of
insanity. You cannot go, he said.
The color leaped to her cheeks and her
eyes H4shel
II must e., she said
He could not say no then He knew her
nature 50 well. ThwAted in this desire
she might die.
Il cannot go with you, Jeanette. Can
you 90 alone? p
She drew herself up grandly. 1t was the
She knew 10 fear
Yes.
At s the next morning her favorite
horse, Patio, stood at the door At night
fall she was at the springs fifty miles
away. 1t was a popular summer resort
and many guests had been there. but at
the first news of war most of then had
fed 10 the Eastern towns.
The general, who had headquarters
near the springs, and who had heard of
her arrival and her purpose, sent for her
IN the evening.
Sue came to him with eager eyes for the
tidlngs just received by courier FROM the
scene Of battle. Beyond the springs there
were no telegraph wires, and the courier
rode day and night over the dangerous
Indian trails to bring the dispatches.
lis tIerc-any-news of him?" she fa4
tered
Yes" The generals voice almost
choEed as he looked at her. How could he
b, * the heart of this brave young crea-
ture whose great love MADE her so oeauti-
full. its unsei6sh purpose shining from
every feature? How could he tell b r the
cruel truth. with these love-lit starry eyes
fixed 80 uafinchingly upon his? Child,
he said, his hand upon hers, even as her
fathers had Teen, his eyes full of kind
ness, his stern voice suddenly tender,
your lover is dead! The courier just in
states that he died yesterday afternoon"
Not one word came from her lips. The
great eyes gave him one sickening look,
and then she fell just where she stood at
his feet, like a helpless, broken reed
de lifted her up gently and called for
assistance. But in little while she re-
yived, rising to her feet with the brave,
determined look sn her pale pace.
Il must 60 70 him." she said. They
will bury him there and shall never lcoS
upon his face again. | must eo!"
An escort of my best and hrayest men
shall accompany you," he said. They
will protect you and bring the body here
Thank you"
1t was all she could say, Tut tears O.
gratitude rose in her eyes as she bent low
over his .xtended hand
Then for the first time she learned tn,
full particulars of her lovers exploit; how
he had led the scouting party, rushing
bodily into the very face of the f e, and b,
this action saving the military from tn
ambush the savages had prepared TO
them. In moment the battle had begun
but ere his comrades were hand to han,
with redskins, who seemed to !ark be
hind cry bush and tree, this bold younl