Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-01-28

ahead, decided that the Major and Name,
, made very handsome couple, whicl
angered him.
There were rumors of war ahoat,
Lone Star State in view, and the fac
: brought comfort to the young mans soul
for the place for soldiers was at tn,
front. The rumors grew in strength al
the time, and one day magnanimous
thought came into the young mans minC
why should he not go to the war too
and give his rival an equal chance? He
consulted with the Major, that officia
saw the War Secretary and the Presi.
dent, and one day came back with com.
mission as Lieutenant. By that time all
talk was that of war.
One fair April day Tom took Nancy
down to the valley of the Shenandoah,
gave her into the keeping of her mother,
and bade good-by to his affectionate rela-
tive. AS he mounted his horse to ride
down to the station-he had taken advan-
tage of the occasion TO kiss all around
he waved his hand and shouted, "I'll
come back Majorl" Then he cursed
himself for prig as he rode onward, for
the dear girl would surely misunderstood
him; and he remembered the faint blush
he called up for long time. There was
one thing which truly pleased him, and
that was the thought that he would be on
even terms with the Major in Mexico as
far as love went. SO he returned to
Washington feeling unpleasantly like q
fool, and trying to make himself out q
martyr to principles.
When Tom reached the capitol he got
orders to report to General Taylor on the
Rio Grande, and off he went, leaving the
Major in Washington, only four hours
from his IDEAL This was not what he
had counted upon, and Tom realized then
that he had been sure-enough fool.
He did not intend to make any such sac
ritice at first all did not seem fair in
love and war. He reached
the camp by the 1st of May, and there
found that he had to learn so much that
he gave up the past in order to perfect
himself in the present work; that is, he
gave up us much us he could. He had
been on duty for week, when the Major
turned up, smiling and hearty.
"Hello, Lieutenant" was his greeting.
GLOW are you?" Hegrasped the young
mans hand and held it. Il may call YOU
Tom, may | not? am engaged to your
fair cousin"
Toms idea of what happened just then
was never very clear. He knew that the
Major and he were drinking to the health
of Mistress Nancy in the Majors tent ten
minutes later, and that he hoped to be
surrounded by blood-thirsty Mexicans in
the night and utterly wiped out. The
next day there was skirmsh, and in the
excitement gun was fired so close to
Toms face that he was burned by the
flames about tho eyes, and fell back
blind. After that the troops pressed for
ward, and Tom was left groaning be-
hind.
The army moved on, and was victori-
Gus. In week Tom realized that the
world still possessed light, though it was
but faint glimmer, and then he was
rumbling across the plain in a rude
wagon. Homeward bound! There was
little joy in the thought, it seemed so
ignominious. What Homecoming it
was-so pitiful to the strong young man!
His sight improved little, and he could
distinguish forms in the twilight about,
but his eyes were kept bandaged most of
the time, and in that condition he left the
train at Pleasant Valley. Who had come
TO meet him?
A gentle pressure on his arm, thrill of
joy, and soft voice whispered, "Tomv'
eyes, Little One" he answered, pas
sively. No good"
"The doctor wrote Yesterday from
Washington that you would be all right
in few months" she rejoined for he
had stopped in the city to be examined
and treated.
He wore q slouch hat pulled down over
his face, he was unshaven, his uniform
was soiled. He had been told all this,
but had said that he didn't care, which
was true-he didn't. The girl saw moth
ing of this. She saw the tall man help
less in his misery, and she was glad he
could not see her weep.
"Come, Tom, dear; your mother is
waiting i'll the carriage" and she led him
to her.
He said very little going homeward,
seated beside his mother, but in the
front seat Nancy sat weeping gently, and
she held his hand all the way, grieved at
the sight, and the first thing that he did
when he got home was to tear off the
bandage, and endeavor to recognize the
dear dim form before him.
What sweet calm days were those that
followed He sat on the piazza while
she read to him and talked to him,
asking him all sorts of questions about
what he had done in the few weeks
absence. But scarcely did she refer
to her affianced lover, and was so gentle
to him, so good, that Tom felt almost
as though she had realized his secret
Little by little he grew better able tc
bear the light, until he could see his owr
way, and then, with the ingratitude O.
man, he felt sorry that he must give W
the touch of that gentle guiding hand
But he could do nothing yet, and must b.
petted and amused as IL child, and neve
was there sweeter or more unseltisl
nurse in all the world. So the summe
days passed on-days that afterward
held the memory of warmth and bird
and flowers, together with low voice al
through them.
1t was a bright September day that tn
two sat on hillside beneath n shad,
tree. The valley of the Shenandoah
stretched before them, with the din
mountains altar off. The Potomac was
silver thread, occasionally lost in n patel
of trees and then running on through
meadow. Tom knew the view by heart
He could not see it all, but it was plainl,
before him us he lay on his back smok
ing. As he had told Nancy one day, h
felt it all the time. She sat beside hin
with book, reading the poetry sung b.
some minstrel in the olden time. Nov
| ond then she would ston TO lauph Mt som