Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-09-15

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Strongest simile can think OF. Dld you
hear what they were saying about Der
rien ana Brewster" he queried, eager 10
divert her thoughts from her own
= did Isn't it cruel? But Major
Rerrien has his wife and Winnie Win
him. and they're bringing him homes
but if poor George is shot, what can
dos"
..DoY Why, You shall go right to HIM
IL have to give myself seven days
leave and take YOU" And so, soothing,
comforting as best he knew how, the
veteran major led her home to her won
dering brood, to the laughing, Growing
hahv leaning in the nurses arms, de-
lighted to see the little mother again, 10
the Joyous children romping IN the ilre-
light. innocent of care or fear, ana theh
striving for their sake to still her soos,
II dry her tears, he left her to put the
little ones 10 bed, to clasp their folded
hands in hers as the wee, white gowned
oirlies knelt at her side echoing-God
only knew with what piteous entreaty-
the hsping prayer for his divine protec-
tion for the loved father, the devoted
husband, the gallant soldier who that
very day had fought his last fight ana
Law lifeless on the frozen sod.
Over the eastward bluffs, cold and
gray. the morning light had slowly crept
to the zenith. Over the sky was spread
one li,nitless pail of cloud, cherries ana
.repellent-a pail so dense that not one
friendly star had peeped, not one rift Of
Sunshine now could force its way. All
below. bleak, frowning and sullen,
hare and blasted landscape; low hills
and ridges east and west. low lying shall
low and swale between. cherries. tree
less. shrubless, not even V, OF snow
to hide its nakedness, 10 lend one pity
inc touch to break the dull. dead monot-
ony Of lis wintry desolation; sweeps
and slopes rolling away anbrolioa TO the
frowning horizon al the west, sterner,
harsher lines among the bluffs across
the tortuous stream bed, between whose
ragged banks an icy, lonely and dismal
rivulet is curdling now, spreading out
4 into frozen shadows at the fats, moan
ing and complaining around Its warped
and sudden bends. desolate as the sur
rounding desolation. deserted as the
Dead sea, its banks repellent even TO
such sharers of Dakota solitudes as the
COYOTE and the cottonwood. Stunned OF
+ man or beast or tree-a stream Of silence
and gloom at the dawn of this December
dav. and so cherries Is its every sur
rounding, so appalling the unnatural
hush. that one would never dream OF
life upon its blasted banks.
Yet. istenl Unseen, but dominant
the sun has risen above the eastern hills,
and. as the light broadens even where i
cannot warm, there floats upon the All
from far away at the southwest, faint
and clear. cavalry trumpet call; soft
Mt first. then crescendo, it ceases sud
denly in shrill high note. 1t thrill:
through and through rare atmosphere
unruffied by the fleeting wing of har
diest bird. Like the wistful call Of scat
tered quail it seems TO say. Where ars
youy" And prompt, expectant Of tbs
coming Of faithful mate, listen again
From the dim recesses TO the north
somewhere among these bare and des
olate slopes, the answer rises, quick
ringing. even imperative, and the sigma
reads. This way
Grop.ng through the bitter darkness
Of the December night a cavalry column
has sought and. just at the opening o
this cherries December day, has foun'
lis mate. The comrade hattalions 0
the Twelfth are within hail.
"Forwardr' rings the signal from tn
southwest Forward with them, then
around that point at the low bluff to on
front, and in the ghostly, gathering
light the scene is before rs, the tale
almost told.
There, thickly dotting the prairie an
! covering the low ground, its wigwam
, smoke begrimed and dingy, lies an In
J dian encampment; but even in sue
! shelter as this the hostile horde ha
, Jared far better than they who throug
the long, freezing night have kept watc
! aud ward lest again the wary chic
4 should slip through the meshes. 1t ha
e come at last The big warriors fana'
] zeal braves have made their rush, Be-
( rien's men the tackle. Back flew tn
e signal with the setting sun. Up throug
d the night came Farquhar with 18th
. guards"
< Here in front the four old troops W
: know so well have shivered for houi
:, about the village Here, alert and d.
termined, Rolfe and Hazlett, Thorpe an
r Gorham. have chung to front, flank an
: rear. well knowing that 50 soon as Il
5 colonel got the news he would not onl
5 speed the second battalion on its wa,
d but. gathering any other forces he coul
d find. would ride the long night through
if need were. to join his men.
T Stern and silent Rolfe IS standing
e the bank Of the stream, wearied enougI
d vet certain that there is no rest bef0i
u them. On him as senior the colnmal
p has devolved in the absence Of the b
t loved major now being tenderly nurse
ia &-,.,, l11.aI hon, ri