The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1893-06-27
ROMANCE OF THE WAR

The battle at last was finished. The
victory was lost and won. And while
the defeated army had fallen back to
take shelter in the woods and mountain
passes the victorious host had en-
canped upon the field of action. A thick
misty haze hung over the landscape,
through which the setting sun shone
like great copper shield FURNISHED and
ready for combat.
Since early morn the battle had been
in progress, and the carnage was fright
full Even the sturdiest of the surgeons
had more than once turned pale as they
worked over their irnprovised operating
tables, and all had felt sensation of
faintness that they did not care to own.
In one corner of the field when the
fight had been the hottest, in little
grove of half q dozen trees at the angle
of a stone wall, knclt the colonel of a
New York regiment beside the PROSTATE
form Of his own lieutenant, young
man Of English birth and great fa-
vorite among his comrades. His breath
came slowly and painfully, and when he
strove to speak the lifeblood welled upin
his throat so as to almost choke all utter
ance.
"Creston, my boy" said the colonel in
the low voice which he always used when
in the presence of suffering-for the col
onel was as kind and as gentle asa woman
to the sick-''is there anything more
that can do for you-any word or mes
sage that you want to send? For you
know"
Creston's lips parted with faint and
almost imperceptiblo motion, and the
colonel bending low caught the words,
"Lift-me-up.
Raising the dying man to q half sit
ting position, the colonel held him in his
own strong arms and gently wiped the
red froth from his lips
'Colonel"-the words wero weak and
low-"my -the-the- pocket
--4inside7--
The exertion was SO great that he could
say no more. The colonel, opening the
vest, drew from an inner pocket min
iature, the portrait of young and
beautiful girl, SO beautiful that even
then the colonel could not help gazing
upon the likeness with interest and adj
miration.
''And thisY he questioned as he held
it up to the eyes Of his dying comrade.
The pale face of the sufferer grew
strangely bright when he looked upon
the bit of painted ivory before him.
I'm England" he whispered, ''she
lives-Densmond in Devonshire-you'l
remember-take her this, yourself-no
one else. Find here in Densmond, Anne
liza Burton. Tell her--I didn't-Aforget"-
A torrent Of crimson lifeblood gushed
from his lips, and all was over. The
colonel arose, folded blanket and placed
it beneath the head of the corpse. Then
the night winds gathered and whispered
among the trees and brushed with their
dark pinions the bright, cold drops that
stood ON the pale forehead of Herbert
Creston.
Already the sun was casting long shad-
ows over the landscape around the pretty
English village of Dens1nond in Devon
shire, for Densmond was pretty and
everybody said so-that is, everybody
who had ever been there said so. And
as for those unfortunate beings who had
not been there, they were so very much
in the minority that no one ever cared a
straw what they said or thought.
The day had been hot and sultry, and
with the advent Of the cooling breezes
Of evening every one who could pos
Bibly get out of doors did SO, for the air
was delicious now after the overpower-
Ing heat of the day.
Along the dusty highway man, well
dressed and evidently stranger in the
country through which he was passing,
was walking slowly, evidently absorbed
In thought. He was about 40, of
bronzed complexion and dark hair, now
slightly tinged with gray On the whole
he was far from handsome, nor did the
scar of saber wound across his fore
head add to his attractions
Just now he paused before o cottage
that stood somewhat back from the pub
lie road, almost buried in flowers, like
modest and retiring cottage that it was.
Sounds of happy laughter came from an
srbor, concealed by the surrounding
hedge. Colonel Nathaniel Pember paused
buta moment, however, before he opened
The gate.
"Can you tell me" he asked one of the
party of young girls that met his view
is he entered, ''if you know of any one
residing in this neighborhood by the
'pame of--of Amelia BurtonY'
eyes, indeed" answered one Of the
roung ladies, with meaning smile, 'but
vou'n have to hurry, though, for there
will be no such person here after to-
hight"
= sShe--she is not sick-not dying, is
heg' questioned the colonel hastily
'sOh, aoS at sll," answered the young
ady, with pleasant laugh only she's
Eoing to DO married to Lord Littel to-
right"
'sMarriedY' said the colonel, half to
himself; then aloud: Can you tell me