The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-08-30
A Soldiers Daughter.

Great was Charles Nane's delight 10
find Eunice alone in the parlor 1t wa:
at Col. Coppinger's house in Gramercy
park. Eunice's father had recently died
and she had come to live at Col. COppin-
gers because that old warrior had liked
her parents and liked her. Vane knew
that she was poor. To this he paid little
attention, and to Eunice herself he would
have paid more had she not had way
Of excusing herself and leaving him in
Alice Coppinger's company every time he
called.
On this occasion Alice was not at home
aud there was no choice for Eunice but
70 remain.
He saw an army sword upon the piano.
"What is the cOlonel's sword doing
down here? he asked.
'Itis not the coloners sword" she an.
swered.
Yours, possibly?" he said, smiling
"Yes, it was my fathers. He gave II
to me-"
Il did not know you were a soldiers
daughter"
4 am, and prouder Of It than if an an
cester of mine had been a member Of Sir
Peter Stuyyesants council" She went
gracefully over to the piano as she spoke
and, taking the scabbard in one hand
with the other skillfully drew out the
blade.
81 ike to hear you say that, he
said, going 10 her side. at is the kind
oftalk that puts fighting blood into men
when it Is needed.
She had laid the scabbard on the piano
and was holding the saber.
"Seel l have been polishing it. 1t
glistens as fancy it did when my father
swung it at the head Of his men and they
hushed the rebel yell and broke the line
ofthe enemy"
She smiled as she concluded her little
speech, and he admired her more than
be did the saber.
"Most women would be afraid to han
die such a weapon" he said.
In answer she gave little laugh which
plainly showed she wasn't.
'See how sharp it is" she continued,
as she passed the saber over to him for
inspection. Vane ran his thumb along
the edge. 1t was keener than he thought.
A drop of blood fell upon the table.
In an instant Eunice had wrapped her
handkerchief around the bleeding finger.
As she frightened the knot he wished he
had also cut the other thumb.
There ?" she exclaimed, 'it Is always
the duty Of soldiers daughter to bind
up a soldiers wounds"
"And why DO you keep it SO tantali-
zingly sharp?"
MY father did so. l love to do as he
did. Then. it is always ready for service,
and If there ever comes time when it is
needed, shall give it to the bravest man
| know, as he requested" 4"
81 should like TO be that man" lie
bent very close to her. She was looking
down at the saber, which sne had placed
on the piano again. As she fell his
breath upon her cheek she moved step
away.
This step stopped what he would have
said, ana he went on nonchalantly
"Under whom did your father serve !?
"Under Sheridan from first to last
lie questioned more eagerly.
"What regiment p
''The Ninth Illinois"
"The Ninth Illinois," he said, seizing
her hands. THAT was my fathers regi-
mentl Why, this is like meeting an old
friend. You are Capt Erdman's daught-
err"
"And you are Lieut. Vane's SOM" she
cried.
Yes, yes. know all about your faith
er. lie was the bravesi man in the regi-
ment He had five horses killed under him
in battle At Chickamauga he fell wound
ed near to death holding fast 20 the col
ors, and they made him q captain for it.
Father often wondered what had become
of him. He was never at any of the re-
unions.
'You see," he added, by way of ex-
PLANTATION, father went TO Chicago di-
rectly after the war. He did well and
when was old enough j went to Yale.
/ had just got to be able to show my
gratitude for what be bad done for me
when he died.
He did not ask about her father he in.
ferred that he, too, was dead. She did
not tell him about their history. He had
not "done WE'LL" but he had done the
best he could, and had died in his office
chair, trying.
This finding of new ties settled these
two young peoples destinies. 1t was the
old story-they were in love.
A month afterwards, while Vane wa:
in his Office one afternoon, q note cam'
to him from Vaughn, one Of his wealth
est clients, asking him to inset the presi
dent of the United Mexican Mining com
pany, limited, at the Fifth Avenue hote
at 7:3O that evening. and TO have all o
bis wits about him. de lad arranged q
take Eunice TO the theater that night, bu
business was always befor pleasure, viii