Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-07-30


Her heart seemed numb and still.
From the open doors of the soldiers
quarters fell bars of light, and uni
formed figures passed in and out,
forward and backward.
She saw Taunton run along and
hurry to his house In five minutes
he was back again in scouting
clothes. All this the light from the
barracks showed her When he had
started for his quarters, she had
wavored for a second, almost deter
mined to go to him and tell him she
would do as no wished, But, as
usual, it ended in indeCision. 1t
would DO all right when he camo
back. 1t would DO time enough then.
She threw up her arm and brushed
away n black flying thing whose
big, soft wings had touched her
check.
The music had stopped and begun
again and again stopped while she
stood there. People had passed her
by going out, but thoy had not seen
her in the shadow of the corner.
There came sudden silence. The
leaves of the trees stopped their
whispering; the wind died away in
the night; tho voices about ceased
their murmuring; the raindrops
olung to tho branches, and out from
the silence came the word of com.
mand which all the garrison and
the rigid woman were waiting to
hear: Prepare to mount! Mount"
A clash of accoutermentS, tramp
ing of hoofs; the wind blew fresh
once more, the leaves rustled and
shook down the drops, and the world
went on.
The woman brushed her hair from
her eyes, gathered up her skirts and
walked home alone,
1t was beautiful morning after
the storm. Every ono was on the
porches watching the guard mount
ing with as much interest as if it had
never been gone through before,
deeply engrossed in the choosing of
the commanding officers orderly.
A second lieutenant sat upon the
steps of Captain Rossini's quarters
beside the captains fair daughter,
who was smiling and talking in her
old lively way. The second lieuten.
ant reflected that she could not have
been much in love with Taunton
after all. She seemed in nowise de-
pressed by his absence on an expedi-
ton which was not quite safe at
best. The second lieutenant gather
ed hopes, for there was lingering
fondness for the pretty creature in
his own heart.
So they talked and laughed and
watched guard mounting in the sun
shine of the cool summer morning.
When 1t was over and the adjutant
and officer of the day and ex- officer
of the day were going their ways,
there came sound of the hoofs of a
galloping horse, and courier from
the agency drew up at the comman-
dant's quarters, while the people on
the porches craned their necks and
strained their ears in vain attempt
to hear the mud splashed man mes
sage.
Tho Rossinis' house was next to
the commanding officers. Lucia
jumped up and ran down near the
courier.
Lucia, come back here! What
do you mean?" Numbered the cap.
tain, indulging in some assorted
oatbs
She wheeled about and faced him.
i am going to SEQ what has happen
ed to my husband, she said deliber.
ately and did not wait to notice the
look on his dark face. The second
lieutenant leaned against the railing
for support.
Tho courier's words were low, but
Lucia heard the tidings of death as
| plainly as if he had shouted them
aloud. She flashed and then turned
very pale. There came queer thud
| in her heart and u whir in her head,
and all she saw was thousands upon
thousands of black butterflies that
flew around her. She laughed and
pat up her hands to seize them, bit
at them, struck ut thcm, shook her
| ClinChCd fists at them, fighting off
the dull wings that only herself
could sce.-Gwendolcn Overton in
San Francisco Ar"onaut.