The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1893-01-19
PASSING THE LOVE OF WOMAN

Both We're young aud Of goodly pres
ence Western suns and winds had tan
ned their checks and burned in the red Of
youth to rich tropic hue.
Across the brow of one a brow whose
/ bOylsh contour moved women with moth
er instincts to sudden longing to caress
lay loose waves OF soft yellow hair. Be-
meath looked out eyes OF dark gray, heavy
with the long thoughts of those early.
! desperate days-days when republic
worked out IN blood her long probation.
! The other had fairer countenance, more
Iightsome and full % happy promise.
No dark prophecy brooded in the sun
! ny shadows OF the bright blue eyes, and
laughter sprang as lightly to the lip as
/ the blush to the cheek of maid.
/ Superadded, tonight, to his native eX-
urberance was some foreign element of
/ joyousness which seemed to master spirit
and muscles alike. He was full of move
ment, Tossing away 9 half,fnished cigar
ette, he cIapped his hands back Of his
curly head, and broke the silence with
sudden speech.
Ned, [ am too happy to smoke-I am
the happiest man in all this border land.
Nellie Herndon has promised to be my
wife. It's a secret yet, bat | couldn't
keep it from you any more than | could
keep my love from her. There is not an
other woman like her. north, east, south
or west. Did you ever notice the gold OF
her hair2 1t is like sunshine spun into
threads. Whenever look at her think
Of some quaint old words my mother used
10 read out of book, long years ago, -'hen
| was boy, back IN my old Georgia home.
They went this way: Whose shoes
Ia 2het ] am not worthy to unloose.
| suppose the preachers would call that
irreyerent, but God will bear me witness
there's no irreverence in my heart when
[ think Of her"
At Harvey Armstrong; first words the
color was washed out of Ned Fosters S
face as with a sponge, his very eyes seem
ing to pale.
Bringing bis chair to the ground, con-
i cealing his face with his hand he leaned
over the railing and looked down into the
sluggish waters OF the river flowing Il few
feet below.
How old and wise they looked, those
waters, in their calm unfretted flow.
As thought piled itself upon thought,
ana Fostor 90" tuiu into ahIeus ono
beautiful fabric of dream that he too
/ had woven, with this woman for It's centre
/ he forgot that heaven held his mother,
and lifted up his heart against it and his
feIlow-man. But thank God! it was
only for one tleeting moment. Remem-
/ boring whose brave right arm had, five
years before at the battle of San Jacinto
intercepted the Mexican bullet aimed at
his own breast, he was able to turn away
from the dark suggestions of the stream
into the eXpectant eyes OF his happy rival
Save for a certain barrenness of aspect
a suddenly arrested animation water,
marks OF the reoeding wave-it was the
same half-humorous, half-tender face as
of Old; the most lovabe mans face in the
world as enthusiastic Harvey had declar
ed over and over again.
Good for you old fellow" he said. as ht
extended his hand. May you have cen
turies OF happiness! ii any man deserves
her, 1t is you, Harvey"
This was in the summer of 1911.
In the autumn Of 1912, when Presiden
Houston ordered out General Somervel
TO the Rio Grande to organize troops ant
avenge the insulting raids of Nasque
and Woll, Ned Foster was among tn
I first to respond to the call for volunteers
About lSO miles south OF SaItlllo, o.
the road to the City of Mexico, is an oil
fort, known in history as the Haciend
Salado.
As far as the eye can reach spread
this sombre unsmlling landscape; n
: birds wake the day with their carols, an
no flowers have heart to bloom.
To this place, on the Goth of Marcl
1873, were brought the recaptured rem
. nant of the unfortunate Nier expedition
{: that gallant band OF three hundred mel
: the flower OF western militia. who wer
E forth to do battle for the honor of IL
e young Republic and were so treacherou
/ ~ dealt with by the followers of SAINT
Anna to whom they surrendered as prl
i oners Of war. All readers OF Texas hi
tory know how the terms of the treat
. were broken and the betrayed men show
y, no mercy, but marched into the interio
/ subjected to Incredible hardships, and fl
+ ally imprisoned miles away from hon
ls aud friends.
X Feeling keenly the indignity of the
y treatment, and fearing worse at the han,
fe OF such pertidious foes, they overpowe
% ed the guard and escaped, to be retak.
i. ten days later and returned to the san
inclosure whence they had fled
All this is history; but We have no W.T.
Y ten record of that interval between t
- escape and recapture, when the lit
ed company wandered lost and helple
ke among the Businesses of unfamiliar mou
LII tains; no record of those ten days a
nights when the sun rose and set but
mark another aud darker experience
= the calendar of human pain.
w Ned Foster and Harvey Armstro
were among the number. The latter b
IN the ardent spirit of the times. also al
> wered the far cry or the borders. leavi
a the young wife SO lately wed, to vait
ron prayers and tears soldiers uncert,
A.. coming.
.s'' Stronger than the multiplied thres
I'LL. of the cable had grown the bond of frisr