The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1892-07-21
The color leaped to her cheeks and
her eyes flashed.
IL la crinl

81 must &C." she cried.
He could not say no then. He knew
her nature so well. Thwarted in this
desire she might die.
al cannot go with you, Jeanette.
Can you 60 alone?"
She drew herself up grandly. 1t
was the proud right of the western
American girl. She knew no fear.
eyes"
At the next morning her favorite
horse Plato stood at the door. AT
nightfall she was at the springs fifty
miles away. 1t was popular sum-
mer resort and many guests had been
there, but at the first news of the war
most of them had fled TO 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.
She came to him with eager eyes for
the tidings just received by courier
from the scene Of battle. Beyond the
springs there were no telegraph wires,
and the couriers rode day and night
over the dangerous Indian trails to
bring the dispatches.
els sthere-any-news of him?" she
asked.
eyes" The Generals voice almost
choked as he looked at her. How could
he break the heart of this brave young
creature whose great love made her SO
beautiful, its unselfish purpose shin
ing from every feature? How could
he tell her the cruel truth, with those
love-lit, starry eyes fixed SO unflinch-
ingly upon his? "Child," he said, his
hand upon hers, even as her fathers
had been, his eyes full of kindness,
his stern voice suddenly tender, "your
lover is dead! The courier just in
states that he died yesterday after
noon."
Not one word came from her lips.
The great eyes gave him one stricken
look, and then she fell Just where she
stood at his feet, like helpless, bro
ken reed.
He lifted her up gently and called
for assistance. But in a little while
she revived, rising to her feet with
the old brave, determined look on her
pale face.
81 must 60 with him." she said.
"They will bury him there and shall
never look upon his face again. /
must go!"
"An escort of my best and bravest
men shall accompany you," he said.
''They will protect you and bring the
body here"
"Thank you"
1t was all she could say, but tears of
gratitude rose in her eyes as she bent
low over his extended hand.
Then for the first time she learned
the full particulars of her lovers ex-
plot; how he had led the scouting
party, rushing bodily into the face of
the foe, and by this action saving the
military from the ambush tho savages
had prepared for them. In a moment
the battle had begun, but ore his COM
rades were hand to hand with the red
skins, who seemed to lurk behind
every bush and tree, this bold young
soldier had met his fate, falling with
his face to the foe.
"At last he died like hero" her
heart whispered whenever the bitter
ness of her woe threatened to over
whelm her.
Two days later, after long and
weary journey, her little party reached
the soldiers camp. The boys had ell
trenched themselves behind a small
knoll overlooking the surrounding
country, fortifying themselves with
earthworks against any attacks from
Indians. All things seemed, for the
present, peaceful.
AT sight of her the boys raised a
cheer. Many of the militia knew her,
and they were proud of her. They
knew her for what she was-a brave,
heroic girl, purely, sweotly womanly,
yet ready as any of her brothers TO
take the weapons from her belt and
defend her life or that of any she
loved-a girl imbued with all the
glory and strength of her native noun
tains.
She acknowledged the cheers with
sweet, grave dignity; then the lead