Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1900-08-04
A Soldiers Battle.
DY JENNY WREN.

DY JENNY WREN.
wide-open. blue eyes. fringed with
jetty lashes--a little, slender nOsc-a
mouth fit for Queen T'itania, when
wooed by the iKng Of the Fairies--a
low, white brow, on which clustered
rings Of gold, in very fascination Of
disorder-a cheek exquisltely fair. with
the tint upon 1t of the seashell-two
little, soft. helpless hnnds-two little,
sllppered feet-and you have the pic
ture before Iloydon Towards gaze. and
the inventory successfully dotted down
by him in his mental diary.
lawfully pretty!' was the silent
verdict rendered. land absolutely good
for nothing else. All. life were all
summer. such women would make per-
feet wlves!'
An audible sigh followed the latter
thought Of this most grave philosopher
"A sigh so deep, so profound. that II
startled the girl from her reverie.
"A penny for your thoughts, major!"
she said. In low. musical tones.
The voice suited her; II was like all
else about Fay Richings-in perfect ut
tune.
"You bid too low" answered the
man; and yet too high. since you ask
upon a subject of whose reply you
must be conscious. You forget that.
spending the last hour In your society,
my thoughts could not wander far"
But you sighed. Must l hold my.
self responsible for the sigh. too?"
II fear so-in remembering that my
furlough is rapidly slipping away, and
that within q month must rejoin my
regiment on the plains, leaving my
many friends, leaving my charming
companion Of this morning. DO you
still Bid penny to inquire into thing
70 aeeting a. Q slgb?' ..xs.usEAp
The sol2T deepensd . little on the
seSutlful cheeks. r'
His charming companion Of the
morning. This was how he regarded
her--this man whose brave deeds had
preceded him. until before meeting
him. Fay had assigned him something
akin to ro-wOrship.
A little. sharp stab Of pain shot
through her heart, but she smiled
bravely.
"All that was scarcely worth a sigh
from you," she said. ut In never those
who 60 amid new scenes who feel
most keenly the parting, but rather
those who, left behind, amid the old
familiar surroundings, say, Yesterday
he sat here or Yesterday we heard
his laugh or perchance find a glove
that he has dropped, or cigar half.
sinoked--to them It Is something felt,
something tangible"
no you think II 80? Does the sand
sigh for the retrcating wave when al-
ready ono oncoming claims it's wei.
conner I should indeed be glad to feel
that Miss Fay sometimes gave me a
thought among the many new aspirants
for the hour she occasionally has he.
slowed on me. A soldiers life has
many charms, In spite Of its hardships.
and there Is something fascinating, In
spite Of Its pain. In the long. solitary
musings he holds sitting at the door Of
bis tent. when instead Of the plain
stretching before him, he views the
mental panorama of his past. I'm afraid
mine will conhne itself to one figure
Can you guess whose. Miss Fay?"
There was nm instants pause-an In
slant when something stirred within
R0ydon Towards heart, prompting the
impulse to cry out, "Who but yours
Make Imagination reality! Come with
me! Share soldiers life, and let our
mutual love smooth the rough places!'
But scarcely was 1t born, than he
stranglcd 1t. He had no reason to sup
pose that this girl cared for him; but
even SO, at best 1t was but a passing
fancy.
And In time Of real danger where
would she be? How would she fit him
to ride forth TO meet foe? Either
VIM Shysterical weeping. or swOon
No, no! Here under the trees, in q
ballroom. at the head OF a luxurious
dinner-table, such women were charm
ing enough to turn n mans brain. bu,
In moments of peril, when Death, nc
longer clothed in the poets rhythm
stalked before them, bare and ungain
~, It was little wonder that they fled
shrleking from his grim presence.
Therefore, the pause lasted an instant
only, then Roydon answered his own
question with a laugh.
IL declare am almost growing sen
timental. If in anybOdy's presence hut
yours, Miss Fay, ! should apologize fol-
90 unwOned mood, But you are Who'll
ly responsible for II. and 1t must bt
with you so old story to inspire II
that ! will not waste the words. by
the way, there Is my horse. / had nc
idea II was so late. An revoir! Re
member, have the first and LAS
waltZes this evening"
The girl sat motlOnless, watching hin
a. he strobe away--watching him vault
Ii Ia. 4. A