The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-04-15


twig caused him to turn around; ht
lowered his gun into place. then seeing
Margaret dropped his weapon and
clnsped her In his arms.
| That's long enough, Harold" she
said. i've brought my work with me
Only q few more stars to sew on. md
then It'll be finished. I'll Just sit here
| under this tree and whenever you go
by we can exchange few words"
"And did you come alone. Margaret?
he asked.
mo, Nanny" and she began tc
laugh.
"Walt until come back" he said
md Margaret looked longIngly at him
as he moved away.
| She turned to her work. mutterlng
something about the uselessness and
cruelty Of war. She piled her needle
industrlously, now and then raising her
eyes In the direction OF the expected
| figure.
"Mammy's holding the fort at Pixies
Ditch" Margaret called out when Har-
old was still some distance away. "She
was afraid to cross the riber.' You
know how she fears the 'sojers.' espec-
tally the gray ones. Well, she's en-
sconced In clump of bushes. She's
going to stay there until come back.
! had an awful time finding what to do
with her. She couldn'tcross the ditch.
you know. and she was afraid to sit out
where she might be seem, 1t was for
tunate those bushes happened to grow
right there or could not perhaps have
come here. would have been terribly
disappointed not to see you to-day.
Harold. have been looking forward"
She looked up from her work. How
long she had been addressing the at
mosphere she did not know. Harold was
nowhere to be seen.
"He doesn't so away because he
wants to-" she unused. Poor fellow! His
country is first. but I am n close sec
ond. Wait until the war Is over, then-I
say, Harold"-her voice pitched high
"the general lunched with us to-day.
There were other officers there. too, but
don't remember their names"
She chatted on. hitting upon subjects
she knew would interest him. Each
time he moved away the smile fitted
from her face, but upon his return It
was always there again.
Come, Harold" she said, after the
tedious march had begun to annoy her,
cant you sit down here just for min
ute?" $50 at.
Margaret he said, II am tired. I
am not so strong Us thought was
It's harder work than expected to find.
Just for short time. remember. and
he threw himself ut her side.
when the war is over everyth!ng'u
brighten up again." said Margaret.
Yes" he said. "and then, Margaret,
you and will be living in that little
cottage all alone. Yes. Margaret, when
the war Is over. when the war Is over
II I'm still here"
You're downhearted to-day, Harold,
I can tel! BY the way sou talk. Lay
your head down and close your eyes for
few seconds; it will rest you wonder
fully. There. now, don't talk"
How soft the grass Isl" he said. 'I
feel as X never wanted to. get up
again. Ny eyes are SO heavy. I'll close
them. as you said But. Margaret
don't let me 60 to sleep. To be 6!scov-
cred would mear-deaeh."
DEATH" repeated Margaret.
"Yes." said Harold: that's the PEN
atty"
DEATH" repeated Margaret to her
SELF. DEATH"
She sat looking down at him. It was
cruel TO rob him Of his rest. Already his
face had begun to assume drawn look
Five minutes sleep would refresh him,
and no harm could be done in SO short
time.
Her eyes swept the surrounding coun-
try. Not living thing was to be seen.
She knew that beyond the distant trees
mighty army lay .encamped. She
knew. too, that In the opposite direction
the enemy was drawn up In numbers
equally large. But Harold was sleeping
now; let him rest while he could
Again she picked up her needle and
went 10 work. 4 star Was soon put into
place. She took up another, and began
Blasting It upon a field OF blue Just
until ! get 1t basted." she said: then
I'll awaken him. It does seem too bad
to arouse him now; he's sleeping SO
peacefully"
Again her eyes were raised to the
surrounding country. For 4 moment
they remained fixed in their gaze. Her
work dropped from her hands; her face
lost oil vestiSe OF color.
Harold" she cried. Harold"
But he wes ceof to her voice.
"Harold!" She cried again. Wake up!
Somebody's coming."
Still deaf to her voice.
For Gods sake, HAROLD" she ex-
claimed; open your eyes! II you don't,
It means-death!" .l.s
She began 10 pat his face. and then to
shake him. She lifted his head; but It
fell back upon the grassy pillow.
Harold" she called again. "Har-
old" This time a sigh, then silence
again.
Margaret looked In the direction OF
the advancing horsemen. It was too
late now to hope to save him. Even II
she succeeded Ia awakening him. the
horsemen would see him rise from his
position, and demand an explanation.
They were to the left OF her. while Har-
old lay at her right. Her own form
shielded him from their view thus far.
II can't do anything Until they come
up md dl:cover him." she thought.
Then all can do Is to plead for his
life. Why did not heed his warning?
Why did tempt him to lie down? Why
did I urge him to close his eyes? He
sold It meant death. Yes, that's the PEN
atty; death, death"
With the folds OF the blessed flag she
wiped away the tears that came 10 her
eyes. She again looked at the advancing
horssmen. They were making straight
for her. II must plead" she moaned, II
must plead. He must be spared"
She drew her hand across his fore
head, smoothing back the curly hair.
Then q strange light came into her face.
She clutched at the flag. Her eyes wan
dercd from its folds to the oncoming
cavulrymen.t then back to the flag again
There was 4 convulsIve movement OF
the hands. another look down the road
| Then. taking up the flag, she quickly
threw Il over the PROSTATE form at her
eide.
Death, DEATH" she repeated. with
each stroke of the needle, while the
birds In the trees overhead scened to
be chanting: That's the penalty;
that's the penalty"