Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1893-05-25

are therefore q patriot. / am in love and
am consequently a coward. Tress, You
needn't say a wcrd. am going to the
war"
Il haven't said anything" the girl re-
piled.
Good, and it means that you give
your consent
1T means that you must do what you
consider your duty"
"You are a brave girl. Tress."
eff not. / shouldn't be worthy of you,
| John"
"That sounds very we'll" said Henry,
.fbut without common sense bravery is
but an aimless piece of foolishness.
One soldier from our small family, /
should think, is enough to prove our 10y
atty to the government"
"Henry, yon needn't say a word. I'm
going to the war;"
The next day John and Henry were
mustered into the service, and it was
not long before they were under fire.
One day In a skirmish not far from
Fayetteville, Ark, John was shot while
standing under q willow tree. He was
SO severely wounded that it was thought
he could live but q few hours. but when
the next morning had come he showed
| signs of Improvement. He was taken to
the hospital, and his brother Henry was
detailed to attend him until an advance
| should be ordered. One day there came
to the hospital q young woman from
Kentucky. She had been regarded as
a belle in the blue grass country, but
she gave up society and went south to
nurse wounded soldiers. This young
woman took special interest in John
Archer. She made a romance Of her
duty, and at times when the wounded
man seemed brighter than usual she
would sit near his cot and read poetry
to him. Bat upon this Henry began to
look with disapproval, and once when
the girl had gone to fetch another book
hs said to his brother:
II don't think that's right, John"
Don't think what's rightF'
why, having that girl readl love verses
to you."
shes reading to herself as much as
she is to me-"
~ don't know about that, John"
lido"
"Well, but / don't think it's right, and
/ know Tress wouldn't approve it."
'Then why doesn't she come and read
to me2'
"She doesn't know that you are
wounded. | haven't had the heart TO
tell her."
flush; here comes Miss Bush"
Henry withdrew, but some one spoke
to him, and he halted within hearing dis.
lance of his brothers cot.
81 didn't suppose you were SO fond of
poetry" said Miss Bush, speaking to
John.
81 wasn't until ! heard you read it."
"Oh, that's a compliment surely; but,
tell me, since you acknowledge that /
have pointed out the beauty Of She
hesitated.
TELL you whatY'
"Oh, nothing"
But what were you going to sayw
Something hardly proper, / fear"
"Tell me" he pleaded.
"Oh, / don't suppose that it amounts
to anything. | was simply going to ask
if there had not been a time when some
girl stirred a poetic emotion in your
heart"
A few moments elapsed before he re-
piled, Il worked so hard when I was
at home that | had but little time for
"For lover she asked.
He nervously fumbled with the covers
Of the bed. and gently she arranged the
pillow for him.
Near our place." said he, there is a
girl that I've known q long time. I've
known her about all her life. | guess"
what about her?'
well, / told her that she should
marry a hero. You see, I thought I'd go
home covered with glory"
"Oh. you are engaged to her."
Eyes, in a way"
"In a way! Why, what a funny sort
Of an engagement that must bel Shall
! read now?"
IF you please"
After returning home it was some
time before Henry had the courage to
call on Tress Pryor. But one evening
he went to see her. As he entered the
gate he saw her standing on the spot
where she had stood when John came
dashing up to tell her that he was going
TO the war. She reached out and took
his hands. and for a time neither Of them
spoke.
"Tress, he died for his country"
IN NIv| N