The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-02-01
Liberty,s Cham

woman.
''zoritsa, have you heard what decision
| has been nader"
NO, mother answered the girl. Cap
tain Newcombe told me today that they
were all on the tiDtoe of expectation.
| but determined to fight it out and win,
| no matter what happens"
THE captain is very gallant. II all
| the men We're as brave as he there would
! be no doubt about an American victory"
Il am afraid your criticism is unjust.
mother. You are letting ten come under
| the ban Of your disDleasure because you
| chance TO know the merits of one. Cap
| tain Newconbe thinks all his men hsave-"
well. we need not complain OF Lieu
| tenant Hopes courage, for he certainly
! displayed perseverance, at least, before
| he won you, after many rebuffs."
"Oh, yes, Lieutenant Hope is exceed
| ingly brave. if you call persistence in
a love affair bravery 1 wonder if in
war a besieged army is ever worried into
being captured. Really, feel like a pris-
| oner of war since"
Hush, Zoritsa,' came softly from the
corner. You are hasty. 1t is no less
| than treachery to
''Treachery!" interrupted the girl, i'm
| petuousIy. 81 think your definition and
| mine differ; but for give me, dear sud
denly softening and laying her flushed
cheek against her mothers soft hair. Il
am tired tonight. Aud-mother-do not
ask me why-I have craved my liberty as
no one ever did beforehand tonight I'm
free. mother-freei Do you understand
what that means to me, dear? 1 have
| broken my engagement with lieutenant
| Hope"
1T NAV be at the risk of your happi-
| ness, dear"
Il have glandly taken that risk, and re-
| joice in my liberty. All! mother, libertyl
wonder not that mems lives are lost for
| libertyI'
The Widow Juaniuuez and her daugh-
ter were in the little cottage making san-
| dages and otherwise busying themselves
with work for the army.
ut is strange, mother. that Captain
Newcombe did not come in as usual this
evening"
Yes; he said yesterday he would come
up as soon as his duties were performed.
I do not understand his absence."
Zoritsa glanced quickly at the still girl
ish figure bending over her work. Was
that flush softly creeping over the fair,
youthful face? She caught her breath.
Did her mother care? She had not
thought of that-but then-why not? Was
lage? And yet the thought had never
came to her that it was still possible
for a man like the captain to win her
mothers love- Why, even the idea was
absurd. Did she really care for Captain
Newcombe? Surely his interest, at least,
was no more than friendship. When he
ncars that she is not bound to Lieutenant
Hope will he not show her it is she
whom he loves?
Great excitement seemed to prevail in
the village next morning. At every other
door groups of people were standing, the
men angrily gestioulating, the women
crying. In front Of the cottage were two
or three villagers talking to 'fIrish,'' as
she was Familiarity known in the camp.
"Yis,'' he was saying, thin sphalpeens
up there" jerking his thumb toward the
barracks, were too busy enjoyin' av
thimsilves to be bothered wild the thru
bles as a handful av poor devils. But
yell niver be afther catching Captain
Newcomber a-nappin', and ez soon eZ
he heard the fuss, offered himself and
his men to go and help thin.
"Yis, we wint, but how many hev
come back agin? The dirty sphaIpeens
made ragged edge of our compady-the
finest yen see anywheres-and the cap
& Y.
Ali twas a sorry day that brought Fad
dy Malone to this God-forsaken coun-
thrx!'
The two women within, so dear 10
each other, and yet each seeming to
stand in the others happiness, strained
their ears to listen. Almost unconscious
of the others presence, they both ran
out at the mans words and stood there
with drawn faces, death-like in the" aw-
full paior while he repeated the news
that made desolate many a happy fire.
side and yelled with tears the light in
loving eyes.
The widows 1.-THE form swayed AID
trembled, and she would have fallen had
not Zoritsa suddenly seemed to realize
that her mother was there. With quick
catching of the breath and dry, choking
sob in her throat, she reached out her
arm and caught her.
Each read with anguish the truth in
the others eyes, and in each heart was
a momentary struggle for the victory.
| The painful quietness ofNdespair seemed
| to envelop the young girl. and, with eyes
heavy with unshed tears, she half-blindly
| led her mother into the house.
This then, was why Zoritsa had claim
ed her freedom. Oh, why had she not
| told Zoritsa before that the captain had
already confessed his love for her? And
| it was only last night they were to have
/ told her of their happiness. Today he
| IS dead-dead! Unable to control herself,
| she broke into passionate weeping.
| Dearest" the girl said, drawing the
| golden head to her breast, did you then
| love him so much?'
Love him? Better than Hfe."
| There may be-there must be some
]
| her mother had seen the love light in her
| eyes and had rightly interpreted IT.
| Though there was not a culver of an
| eyelid, her heart was breaking. Already
| her light had gone out. Her world was
/ a world of darkness.
| Night came on. One by one the stars
/ appeared. A solemn hush lay overall
! Even the camp seemed deserted. and
uaught save the occasional screech Of a
| whip-poor-w broke the dread silence.
! YeaTning for the sympathetic stiffness
| of the night and the comprehensive OF
J the bread. calm sky, dotted wit8 its
myriads Of stars. Zoritsa drew her shawl
| about her, and with a heavy heart went
I out into the darkness.
| What was that? Sounds OF rejoicing2
/ How they grated upon her now But
! what were they saying2 Hushi
/ "CaOtaiu-aIiv e-prisoner- ped
/ Could It be true? Her heart gave q
1 great leap Yes, There was loud ''hur-
/ rah." Tt was true. He was not killed
( after all. then. and perhaps not even
I wounded, All. but she wss not To think
7 OF herself Yet why should she give up
{ the hope hidden IN her heart 50 long ard
make the Bttfs mother unhappy TSth a
| moan mora haart-fendiHs than sobs she
/ threw herself upon the ground
/ "Godi Cod Thou VINO di8st teach Us
/ TO love! wby. on why didst Thou give
re this chaIice. only 10 witk3ray it as
1 stopped 20 drink2"
In a. aeony y soul she wrestled With