Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1900-06-08


surd. Did she really care for Capt.
Newcombe? Surely his interest. at
least was no more than friendship.
| When he hears that she is not bound
to Lieut.. Hope will he not show her it
! is she whom he loves?
Great excitement seemed to prevail
in the village neNt morning. AT every
other door groups of people were
standing, the men augrily gesticulat-
ing, the women crying. In front of
the cottage were two or three viii
layers talking. to Irish" as he was
famiiarly known in camp.
"Yis," he was saying, thin sphal-
poems up there, jerking his thumb to-
! ward the barracks. were too busy
enjoyin' NV thinsives TO be bothered
wild the thrubles NV handful av poor
divils. But yell niver be afther catch
ing Capt. Newcombe a-nnppin'. and
ez soon eZ lie heard the fuss offered
himself and his men to go and help
thin"
"iis. we wint. but how many hev
come back agin? The dirty sphal-
poems made II ragged edge OF our COM
pany-the finest yell see anywheres
and the captain himself has been
killed entoirly. All! twas sorry day
that brought Paddy Malone to this
God-forsaken counthryi"
The two women within. so dear to
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,
deathlike in their awful pallor while
he repeated the news that made desc
late many happy fireside and veiled
with tears the light in loving eyes.
The widows 1.-THE form swayed and
trembled, and she would have fallen
had not Xoritsa 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 n momentary struggle for the
victory. The painful quietness of de-
spair seemed to envelop the young
girl, and, with eyes heavy with un-
shed tears, she half-blindly led her
mother into the house.
This, then, was why Zoritsa had
claimed her freedom. Oh. why had
she not told Xori;sa 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. To-day he is deud-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 lire!"
There may be-there must be some
dreadful mistake" She did not know
her mother had seen the love light
in her eyes and had rightly interpre-
ted it. Though there was not n quiver
of an eyelid, her heart was breaking.
Already her light had gone out. Her
world was II word of darkness.
Night came oh. One by one the
stars appeared A solemn hush lay
over all. Even the camp seemed de-
serted and naught save the OCCASION
al screech of whip-poor-will broke
the dread silence.
Yearning for the sympathetic still
ness of the night and the companion-
ship of the broad, calm sky, dotted
with its myriads of stars, Zoritsa
drew her shawl about her, and with
n heavy heart went out into the dark
ness.
What was that? Sounds of rejoic-
ing? How they grated upon her now!
But what were they saying? Hush!
Captain - alive prisoner es-
capped"
Could it be true? Her heart gave
great leap. Yes! there was loud
killed after all, then, and perhaps not
even wounded! Ah-but she was not
to think of herself. Yet why should
she give up the hope hidden in her
heart so long and make the little
mother unhappy? With moan more
heartrending than sobs she threw
herself upon the ground.
"God! God! Thou who didst teach
us to love! Why, oh, why didst thou
give me this chalice. only to withdraw
it as stopped to drink?"
In an agony of soul she wrestled
with her own desires-her own love
and it seemed to her very life-and
conquered.
Quiet, resigned and calm. she found
her way home, softly unlatched the
door, and went in.
The bright moonlight streamed in d
silver bar through the long. low win
dow, and there in its brightness. with
appraised face, almost transfgured
with happiness, was the "senorita'
clasped in the captains arms.
Without having been seen, and
sitting u sigh, the noble girl turned
away.
"And this is liberty? Ave, liberty