Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1896-10-30

W. BNHNh
cant chair. said with a kindly
smile:
"Ah, is that you, IieutenantY
What a long time since We have
melI We are truly glad to see You.
Bat pardon me | called you lieu
tenant, but I see you have a third
stripe on your sleeve"
Then, blushing, he related how
at the end of a SIX months cam
paign lie had been promoted to a
captAin after the AFT Ir OF Nam
Dimh. After that he had been
shut up in Tuyen-Qaan with his
commander. This terrible siege
lasted five weeks and they had to
constantly beat back the furious
Chinese, whose living waves dash
ed against the walls Of the ruined
fortress. He had been wounded
lbe last day IN a supreme effort,
then from afar above the clamor OF
the yellow hordes he had heard
the bugler of The French sound
ing A deliyerauce. Oh, the Joy OF
that moment. He saw the enemy
Aee. the tricolor appear; then he
sank down without regret.
His condition appeared so serious
that he was sent back decorated
with the cross. During the Voy'
age he had rapidly recovered, and
ON lis arrival he found that be
had been recommended for pro.
f motion to the rank of major. The
ladies' listened in silence. The
mother. with her knowledge OF the
profession, knew that lie was ten
years IN advance OF his former
comrades. The daughter looked
closely at the yOupg officer and
found him scarcely recognizable;
his pallor gave him a decidedly
distinguished air. Was it possible
they had ever disdained this
brave soldier who, paying for his
bonors with his blood, had return
ell to an assured futuref
. He, too, looked critically at the
girl. Gould the serlons, reflective
woman before him be the frivolous
capricious girl he had once kne"'
, She was a thousand times more
attractive to HIN in her new
ounse. She was all he had ever
dreamed OF and he WAS filled with
a wild delight. Their eyes met,
and his were filed with such al
, oration that the glrPS lids dropped
. in embarrassment. When evening
came, the women arose, and the
officer accompanied them to their
home. They met regularly IN the
mark on the days that followed.
q The mother read the papers and
the Young people talked. A. au'
, tumn advanced and the yellow
, leaves covered the walks 1t was
too chilly to SIT, so they promenad-
ed up and down the deserted
\ park happy IN each others COM
{ pany.
December passed in al intimacy
D daily growing moro tender. Still
=. a tines the captain seemed to ht
d nervous and worried. One day
d losing his usual self control, he
' pressed the girls arm which was
J, passed through his, and the expIes
Il sion of bis eyes made her believe
n that he was about to declare hll
love. He was silent, ho"ever, anC
Z. Iell into a gloomy meditation.
= His agitation increased as the
r new years approached. He made
k frequent trips to Paris and neglect
4 ed the ladies'. They feared they
T had beeu deceived as to his IN
t lentions, and could not acconn
Y for his behavior.
l. Ate O'clock on the evening o.
NJ Dec. 81 the widow sat readipg tn
d papers which contained a list 0
d the promotions IN the army, Sud
d denly she exclaimed.
= "Here is his name. He hal
n. been promoted~
ID At the same moment burrie'
le footsteps we're heard IN the nall
Al The door was thrown open an
one so long expected entered tn
?. T ON. HesmiIed, flushed with pleas
le ure. He paused before the tw
~ women. The widow said, eXtenC
i'd ing her hand:
ID my dear boy So this was whs
a worried you so.'
er He replied with loving pride:
ar "Mademoiselle, have futuT
er now to offer you. l love you. Wi
re you be my wifep
ze She grew pale at the remen
by brance of her first refusal; tbel
al thinking OF all this brave boy ha
IL done to deserve happiness, 81
m. went close to him laid her head Q