The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1894-02-23


suffering" said
Lucy Dean. little regretfully, as she
surveyed the arrangements for the great
party in the rambling yet luxurious old
homestead
Il don't know" replied her friend
Anna Tracy, as she stepped into chair
to straightcn an engraving of wash
!ngton and His Family" a household
treasure that was gavly decorated for
the occasion. 1--WE can do nothing
more to help them, and it would GER
,ainly add nothing to their comfort to
sit here and nope"
Then il is kind OF patriotic dis
play, too" put IN Lacy, Frightening.
celebrating Washington's birthday
By party will help make the guests
love our country more"
Anna laughed little at the logic Of
her friend. but was too anxious over the
arrangements for the evening to dis
cn>s the matter further.
The Dean farm was near the fateful
BORDER" and yet the two years Of civil
war had brought no Inconvenience to its
inmates. Lucy. the only daughter, rode
at her will over the surrounding coun-
try and the colonel, her father. whose
warning days were past hastcned TO
the conilic: only in fancy.
Bat in these midwinter days OF 1903
there were more than the usual dan
gers TO the quiet household. They had
taken no active part in the carrying
on Of the struggle. though their sym
-,.f
where Paul. the beloved son and broth
er. was winning his spurs The armies
were canpcd nearer now than ever be-
fore, and no one rclishcd an encounter
or even halt of armed forces on the
wcll-kep: lawns and fields Of the farm.
Lucy had invited the young people
Of the neighborhood to spend the even
ing Of February ~ with her. and had
arranged to make the occasion conso-
nant throughout with the anniver-
sary il concentrated. Flags decorated
the rooms. and portraits of the Father
Of Ills Country" were seen in the most
conspicuous places
Late in the afternoon Lucy donncd
her riding-habit and mounted her pony
Tor brisk cantcr over the snow-laden
roads She spared not her horse and
hurried through the drifts at speed
mat meant some danger
Suddenly she stopped. A gray coat
was half hidden by tree trunk. and
IN moment the figure OF q young man
n gray uniform stood before her He
was thin and pale. but every motion
and every word spoke Of the training
and Instincts of a gentleman.
DO not be frightened" he began. Il
won't hur; YOU"
u don't think you will," the girl snr-
castically replied; you look half
starved"
II am"
What are you doing in this country?
know by your clothes that you belong
somewhere else"
I've cscaped-thcy were taking me
north to PRISON. was captured. For
Two days have not dared To ask for
,ood. saw you coming and determined
y try and see IL you would not at least
give me a piece Of bread"
lie limpcd as he came nearer. and the
girl saw blood stains on the gray trou-
Kindness and par tisnnship struggled
'or the mastery in her heart
We are union" sho began, then
with glance ut the deep sunkcn dark
Eyes her own moistcncd and she gave
ner decision promptly: II will; be
some southern girl will do something
full"
Eagerly the stranger promised and
'ne two stood for several minutes in the
eariy twilight counseling over the mode
=, assistance, the comradery Of vsuth
alone making . bond Of sympathy be-
tween them
when the hostess OF the evening re-
s ,arhcd IL was with heightened color.
ne ride had apparently done her good
ana II an unusual nervousness char
Aescrized her manners no one noticed IL,
Team after team unloadcd Its fair
burden at the gate, and the lads and
,,Haldens for ten miles around made the
low ceilings ring with their laughter
and badinage.
=. me blue coats are over In Green
"'ave,' spoke one Of the young men.
what q pity We could not have
inc o. the soldiers here in uniform to-
.'gn. replied Anna with coquettish
lou might have got en-" put in the
s'nastcrs son, - squad of them
~, s's riding down the Chapman creek
'osd this afternoon"
lucy was listening and her bright
.s'sa suddenly Loaf their color.
"nst-wAas were they doiner' che