Middletown transcript., 1892-09-15
JEANNETTE'S PANSIES.

M
ing into one another's eyes with blan-
ched faces. Would he ever come
back2 Her wide eyes grew desolate
as she looked at him Then the lashes
droope.i over them and she lay mo-
tionless against his breast for a few
moments, as though the spirit had
| died within her.
"Jeannette, is this the girl fitted to
bea soldiers wife? Have you no re-
gard for my honor ~ His voice
ouivered, but his eyes looked down
upon her proudly.
"Yes." She reused herself proudly.
"YOur duty is at the front. would
not hold you back"
She placed her hand on the bunch
of pansies at her throat !; royal beau
ties they were, with great Yelvety
hearts of purple and gold.
"They are my colors, she wills
pered. "Wear them, my knight,
and be true to your lady, always"
Her trembling fingers pinned them
inside his coat.
"God be with you! !"
She kept the tears back, smiling
into his face. though the drum-beat
sounding in the street below seemed
like a death knell. It was the signal
to start-the signal for the volunteers
the brave men who were off for the
Indian war, this dreadful war that
had come like blight upon her beau
tiful Western home.
Cord by and God bless you ?
The pansirs will he my taiisman."
The most intense excitement
ragged in the mining camp. Ever
since the news had come that the old
chief was on the warpath and the call
had been made for volunteers to de-
fend the settlers on the frontier, the
town had been alive with men anxious
to obtain the scalp of the bloodthirsty
redskins. II. fa t.e -Hf
Among them none was more fear
less or more brave than Ned Ashby.
He was one Of the young pioneers who
had struck bonanza in the mines.
More than that (to use the phraseology
of the mining camp, he had located a
claim on the prettiest girl in town and
patented ia stroke of good luck
that had made him more envied
among the boys than even his mining
shares Of the May Queen.
Then came the news of a fierce
battle between the Utes and Major
Thornburgs men, in which many
were wounded on either side. Her
father came home at noon with an
open letter in his hand.
She took it silently and read:
Edward Ashby was wounded in
the battle of the -th inst"
She did not faint, though he expect
ed she would, but her face blancheo
until it was like marble and her eyes
grew large and black, glowing like
stars.
al must 90 and nurse him." she
said.
Her father laid bis hand upon hers
"Dear child, this is folly-the talk o
insanity. You cannot 60" v
~aI must 90, 2 she said. i
He could not say no then. III
knew her nature so we'll. Thwartet
in this desire she might die.
| Il cansot 60 with you, Jeanette
Can you 60 alone?"
! yes"
! At 6 the next morning her favorit
; !, horse, Plato stood at the door. A
nightfall she was at the springs, fift
miles away. 1t was popular summe
; resort and many guests bad been there
: but at the first news Of war most Q
! them had fec TO the eastern towns.
The general, who had headquarter
!. near the springs and who had hear
! of her arrival and her purpose, sen
}. for her in the evening.
She came to him with eager eye
for the tidings just received by
courier from the scene Of battle. Be
yond the springs there was no tele
graph wires, and the couriers rod
day and night over the dangeror
Indian trails to bring the dispatche
"Is there-any-news Of him =" 81
asked.
Yes" The Generals voice
most choked as he looked at he
\ How could he break the heart of tn
: brave young creature whose gre
love made her so beautiful, its unse
fish purpose shining from evel
feature How could he tell her Il
cruel truth, with those love.lit starr
eyes fixed SO unainchingly upon hi'
: "Child," he said, his hand upon ne
Is even as her fathers had been his ey
4 4 full of kindness, his stern voice SUE
I denlv tender. " YOUR lover is des