River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-06-29

last she reached Beacon street. Her
head had begun to throb horribly by
the time she got into town 1t seemed
to her that all the world was whirling
round and round, and she with il. But
she could not turn back then-indeed
she did not know how to find any con-
vevance. and she knew her feet would
not carry her much farther. Surely she
must see Jack soon He had said they
should march through Beacon street.
She would ask some one She had an
idea that everyone must know about
anything so important as the Brighton
Blues. At last she got courage to speak
10 a kind-looking servant maid, in the
midst of group on the steps of one of
the Beacon street houses The girl
pitied her white face, so pale now.
with all the pretty pink roses faded
from the tired young cheeks, and an
swered kindly.
She did not know about the Brighton
Blues, but she guessed all the com
panies had been by there or would
come Wouldn't the young lady sit
down with them on the steps, and rest,
and wait "a little?
And the young lady" sat down.
What could she do else. with the world
whirling. whirling, and her feet 50
strangely determined to whirl out from
under her? And then IL grew dark,
and when IL came light again there was
a wet cloth on her hair. and she lay on
lounge in a coy basement, and the
kind girl who had cared for her told
her that she had tainted. And then
she had some food and grew refreshed
little. but was strangely confused vet.
and with only one thought. to which
she held with all the strength of her
will-that she had come 10 see Jack,
and must look for him till ne came.
So on the steps she stationed herself,
and the crowd surged by. Military
companies, grown-up ones. came and
went with glitter of brave uniforms.
and joyful clamor of music. and Conn
watched with all her soul in her eyes,
but still no Jack
II was mid-afternoon at last when
suddenly she saw the familiar blue, and
marching down the street came the
boyish ranks. following their own band
tired enough. all of them. no doubt,
and the hope of fireworks by and by.
Conn strained her eyes She did not
mean 20 speak. but after little. when
the face she longed for came in sight.
something within her cried out with a
sharp. despairing cry:
oh. Jack Jack"
And Jack heard. Those who were
watching saw one boy break from the
long blue line. and spriRg up the steps
where Conn sat. and seize in strong
hands the shoulders of a girl all in
white. her face as white as her gown.
and some red roses. withered now, upon
her breast
&C nn-Conn Richmoa5r' tine boy
cried. what does this mean"
Don't scold-oh. don't scold. jack
said the pitiful. quivering lips; Il only
came to see you marc ing with the rest.
snd-I'm tired
Yes" said the : irl who had be-
friended her. land she tainted clean
away, and she's more dead than alive
now; and Il you've heart in your
bosom, you'll let your play soldering
90. and take care OF her
Aud just then Jack realized. boy as he
was. that he had a heart in his bosom
and that his Cousin Conn was the
dearest and nearest thing to that heart
in the whole world. But he did not
tell her 50 till long years afterwsrd.
Just now his chief interest was to get
her home. No more marching for him:
and what were fireworks. or the supper
the boys were TO take together, in com
parison with this girl. who had cared
SO much 70 zee him in his holiday
glory?