The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1898-07-13

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and dismounted at the door, Withou
being aware of it, 1 had ridden RICH
through gap in the enemy's lines.
The family was at supper. AS 1 en-
tered the dining-room my little Cir
who was seated facing me, fixed her bi.
eyes on me in wonder at my sudden ap
pearance. l gave no reason for m,
coming, but stood awkwardly fumblin.
the hilt of my saber..
II am glad you came back for sup
per-" said the mother, kindly supplyin!
reason for my coming, since was to-
stupid to give one myself, "but dom
you think it dangerous?"
Dangerously The quiet supper-roon
seemed very peaceful to me after my
experience during the day. "Why,
have been under fire since early morn
ing"
Mamie, get chair" said the
mother.
The only vacant place at the table
was beside Mamie, who brought chair
and sat down to supper. Mamie. re.
Stunning her seat, glanced up at me with
an admirirg expression.
aren't you afraid to fight?" she
asked.
l had no thought of admitting fear
to such pleasing admirer.
"Oh, no; soldier must never be
afraid" 1 replied.
"Not of the slells?'
"Only when they come too thick;
when one comes at time, and I can
see it and dodge, 1 don't mind very
much"
Nor the bullets?''
"The bullets are spiteful, Kissing little
things" I admitted, "but I can face
them
aren't you afraid of anything?'
What an absurd question. 1 was
tempted to confess all the fear 1 felt,
but could not endure to shatter the
ideal of bravery she had created for
herself.
swell, II don't like the noise.'
This was the only truth I gave her
The pandemonium of sounds in fight
SO terrified me that I had no bravery
left for the missiles of war.
81 don't see how you can stand it,"
she said, wonderingly. 81 couldn't; I'm
such q coward"
"But you're only girl. I don't think
you could bear to see men killed. saw
a sergeant this afternoon; he was
standing by a gun; piece of shell
struck him and"
There VOC nreccuro of cof+ b,p5
on my sleeve, and Mamie was looking
at me with an eagerness, a terror, that
warned me to desist. 1 glanced down
at the hand she had unconsciously laid
on my arm, then raised my eyes to hers.
She blushed, and drew her hand away.
How brutal of me to speak of such hor-
rors to girl. did not finish my story.
When supper was ended we all went
across the hall to the sitting-room.
The windows were up, for it was mid
summer, and though we could not see
out into the darkness, we could hear
the tramp of men in the road, and
scarcely minute passed without dis
firing. There was an anxious look on
the face of Mamie's mother, surrounded
as she was with her little ones, and
feeling that the younger children would
be better asleep, she took them away
and put them TO bed. This left Mamie
and me alone. We were not troubled
about the approaching battle; we were
only in each other.
Mamie's admiration for me grew
every moment. She asked me why |
wore yellow facings on my uniform,
and 1 told her that they were to dis
the cavalry. She was delight
ed with the jingle of my spurs, the
golden shine of my buttons, and when
I let her half draw my saber, her ex-
pressive eyes CLEANED with mingled
awe and wonder. Dear little innocent!
she mistook the glitter of war for
bravery. Was not l soldier, bristling
with steel, armed to the teeth? while
she--she was only girl, and a coward.
When my trappings and weapons
ceased to interest her, we sat side by
side looking over book of pictures.
Mamie was continually CHANGING aside
at me and smiiing-though there was
nothing to smile at-then looking down
at the pictures. Some fine strands of
her hair brushed my cheek. How it
1 never knew, but 1, perhaps
accidentally, let my hand fall on hers.
She looked up at me with that same
smile-meaningless, be-
cause she knew no more than l that
it was the first tender opening of wom
ans heart.
I have no distinct recollection of
what first made me aware that armed
men were without. 1 remember Ma
mics jumping up, going to the win
dow and peering into the darkness,