The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1896-12-26

alcaue rode up, laughing and joking,
to the villa. all unconscious OF the two
people who awaited It's arrival in, sor-
rOwful silence, dreadlng the moment
when their sad intelligence must be
made known. Maud JOcelyn sprang
from her horse and ran lightly up the
steps toward them with laugh on her
lips. Then something In the strange
expression on the two faces that con-
frOnted her frOze the words of merry
greeting on her tongue.
20, my dear! my dearv' Mrs. Tailyour
said pitifully, taking her by the hand
and drawing her away.
20, what is it, Mrs. Tailyour? What
has happened? Gerald!-is he Ill?-tell
me quickly; you have heard bad news"
Maud stanmered in terrific accents.
Yes, dear child, there is bad news;
be braveP' and the elder woman led the
girl quickly away to her own room.
There. later, a voice walled forth, in
anguish, Gerald, my love! Gerald
0, cannot bear lit is not true. Deadl
my dear love! Dead! Gerald, husband!
Lying dead while l rode laughing and
jestlng across the desert?"
Then the thought of their last words
together flashed across her mind; she
seemed to see again the proud, hand.
some face. and hear again that plead
ing, earnest voice, Can / trust you,
Maudie? Promise me-"
And she had spurned his warning;
had refused his last request and set her
whims Id defiance of his feelings and
wishes. AS she rode by the side Of
Lord Perceval that day on the banks
of the canal. she had listened with
pleased vanity to his whispered words
of admiration; words which conveyed
to her mind the roue's worship OF her
beauty, and at the same time insisted
that such beauty was wasted on the
grave and serlOus-minded soldier, who
was engtOssed, heart and soul, in his
profession. She had listened without
protest to Lord Perceyal's thinly yelled
sneers at her absent husband; she had
been dislOyal, traitress In her passiv-
ity; false In word, II not In deed, to the
brave and tender heart which beat with
such true and passionate love for her.
That evening, outside the railway sta
ton, detachment Of soldiers awaited,
in melancholy silence, the coming Of
the train which was conveying to them
the body Of their dead officer and COM
rade, whom they had all respected and
admired. Close by, the gun carriage
was standing on which Gerald Jocelyn
was to make his last journey to the
cemetery on the hillside. a mile away;
and alta few yards distance a closed car
riage was drawn up in which sat Mrs.
Tailyour holding in mute sympathy the
hand Of the girl widow, who, white and
fearless, leaned back beside her, i'm
movable IN calm despair. She had
scarcely spoken since she recovered
from the deep swOon into which she
had fallen after hearing of her hus-
bands death, had only announced her
determination to bid him last fare
well beside his grave.
Capt. Ferguson was standing near
the carriage and whispered to Mrs.
Tailyour that the train was signaled;
then he withdrew from her sight inside
the station. Putting and painting, the
train swept in; there was a strange
silence for a few seconds, followed by
n mufiled murmur of voices, the SOL
oilers bent forward eagerly, and a mes
sage was passed down their line from
tpne to another, accompanied by looks
of amazed surprise. Mrs. Tailyour
pressed her companions hand tighter,
the terrible moment had arrived-how
would the girl face 1t? Was it possible
that she possessed sufficient strength Of
mind and body for the horrible ordeal
which she had set herself?
Then Mrs. Taflyour saw Capt. Fer.
guson emerge from the station with
dazed look of CONSERVATION on his face,
the result evidently Of great and over
poweTlng, emotion. i,,. =. .
He came hqrFiedly toward them,
making signs to Mrs. Tailyour, which
she failed to understand
HAS It hot conner" she whispered to
him as he approached. '''s ~ 'N' u $50 7
There has been almistakeI" kesnhr4
INJURED In reply; and Maud-ethought zap
parently unaware OF. what was passing
around her-caught his, words, her face
woke to apimation,. she. leaned for
ward, saying: !
"A'mistakeis He has not come! o, tell
me quickly, I can bear It, be Is not dead,
he is'alive-I see It on your face; for
PHYS sake don't keep me in suspense
let me Out--I must go to him. ,
~, She was struggling to open the door
when some one put Capt. Ferguson 4
quietly aside. and then with a loud cry
Maud sprapg past Mrs. Tailyour and
fell aObbing on her husbands breast
YEP! there had been a mistake, Ger
aid vas alive, though not uninjuFed;
for he carried one arm in a sling, and
a bahdage round his head accentuated
the startling pallOr Of his face. r..
TWO words omitted In the telegram
that day explained the mystery Of his
resurrection. Accident, Jocelyn wound
ed, gunner killed." altered the whole
meaning Of the message. Private
Brown, R. A.. had the honors accorded
i