The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1893-02-17
JEANNETTE'S PANSIES


one another's eyes with blanched faces,
Would he ever come back? Her wide
eyes grew desolate as she looked at
him. Then the lashes dropped over
them and she lay motionless against
his breast for second, as though the
spirit had died within her.
"Jeannette, is this the girl fitted to
be a soldiers wifep Have you no re-
gard for my honor?" His voice quiv-
cred, but his eyes looked down upon
her proudly.
Yes" She reused herself bravelv.
"Your duty is at the front. would
not bold you back"
She placed her hand on the bunch of
pansies at her throat; royal beauties
they were, with great velvety hearts
of purple and gold
"Ihey are my colors,' she whis-
pered. "Wear them, .ny knight, and
be true to your lady always
Her trembling fingers pinned them
inside his coat.
"God be with you,"
She kept the tears back, smiling in
to his face, though the drum-beat
sounding in the street below seemed
like death-knell. 1t was the signal
to start-the signal for the volunteers,
the brave men who were off for the
Indian war, this dreadful war that had
come like blight upon her beautiful
western home
"Good-bye, and God bless you! The
pansies will be my talisman."
The most Intense excitement ragged
in the mining camp. Ever since the
news had come that the old chief was
on the warpath and the call had been
made for volunteers to defend the set
tiers on the frontier, the town had been
alive with men anxious to obtain the
scalp OF the bloodthirsty redskins
Among them none was more fearless
or more brave than Ned Ashby. He
was one of the young pioneers who
had struck bonanza in the mines.
More than that (to use the phraseol-
ogy of the mining camp, he had To-
Gated claim on the prettiest girl in
the town and patented it--a stroke of
good luck that made him more envied
among the boys than even his mining
shares in the May Queen.
Then came the news of fierce bat
tie between the Utes and Mai. Thorn
burg's men, in which many were
wounded on either side. Her father
came home at noon with an open letter
In his hand
She took it silently and read:
Edward Ashby was wounded in the
battle of the -th instant"
She did not faint, though he had ex-
pected she would, but her face blanched
until it was like marble and her ewes
grew large and black, glowing like
stars.
Il must @o and nurse him." she said.
Her father laid his hand upon hers.
Dear child, this is folly--the talk of
insanity. You can not 60" he said.
The color leaped to her cheeks and
her eyes flashed.
Il must 60" she cried.
He could not say no then. He knew
her nature so well. Thwarted in this
desire she might die.
81 can not 90 with you, Jeanette.
Can you GO alone9"
She drew herself up crandlv. 1t
was the proud right of the western
American girl. She knew no fear
Yes"
At the next morning her favorite
horse, Plato, stood at the door At
nightfall she was at the springs fifty
miles away. 1t was a popular summer
resort and many guests had been there,
but at the first news of war most of
them had fled to the eastern towns
The general, who had headquarters
hear the springs, and who had heard
of her arrival and her purpose, sent for
her in the evening.
She came to him with eager eyes for
the tidings just received by a courier
from the scene of battle. Beyond the
springs there We're no telegraph wires,
and the courier rode day and night
over the dangerous Indian trails to
bring the dispatches.
as here-auy-news of him?" she
faltered.
Yes" The generals voice almost
choked as he looked at her. How
could he break the heart of this brave
young creature whose great love made
her so beautiful, its unselfsh purpose
shining from every feature? How
could he tell her the cruel truth, with
those love-lit, starry eyes fixed SO un-
tlinchingly upon his? Child" he said,
his hand upon hers, even as her faith
er's had been, his eyes full of kindness,
his stern voice suddenly tender, "your
lover is dead! The courier just in
states that he died yesterday after
noon"
Not one word came from her lips.
The great eyes gave him one stricken
look, and then she fell just where she
stood at his feet, like helpless, broken
reed.
He lifted her up gently and called
for assistance. But in little while
she revived, rising to her feet with the
old brave, determined look on her pale
face.
Il must 60 to him." she said. "They
will bury him there and shall never
look upon his face again. | must go!"
"An escort OF ;Gy hest and bravest
men shall accompany YOU" he said.
They will protect you and bring the
body here"
Thank you"
1t was all she could say, but tears of
gratitude rose in her eyes as she bent
low over his extended hand.
Then for the first time she learned