The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-09-22
A Soldiers Battle,
DY JENNY wREN.'

Wide-open, blue eyes, fringed with
jetty lashes-a little, slender nose-n
mouth fit for Queen Titania, 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 exquisitely fair, with
the tint upon it of the seashell-two
little, soft, helpless hands-two little,
slippered feet-and you have the pic
ture before Roydon Towards gaze, and
the inventory successfully dotted down
by him in his mental diary.
lawfully prettyE' was the silent
verdict rendered, land absolutely good
for nothing else. All, life were all
summer, such women would make per-
feet wivesr'
An audible sigh followed the latter
thought of this most grave philosopher
"a sigh so deep, so profound, that 1t
startled the girl from her reverie.
"a penny for your thoughts, major!'
she said, in low, musical tones.
The voice suited her; 1t was like all
else about Fay Richings-in perfect at
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 1 hold my
self responsible for the sigh, too?"
81 fear so-in remembering that my
furlough is rapidly slipping away, and
that within a month must rejoin my
regiment on the plains, leaving my
many friends, leaving my charming
companion of. this morning. Do you
still bid a penny to inquire into thing
80 fieeting as sighr'
The color deepened little on. the
beautiful cheeks.
"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 hero-worship.
A little, sharp stab OF pain shot
through her heart, but she smiled
bravely.
"All that was scarcely worth sigh
from you," she said. 1T is 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 a cigar half
smoked-to them 1t Is something felt,
something tangible"
''Do you think 1t so? Does the sand
sigh for the retreating wave when al
ready one oncoming claims its well
come? / should indeed be glad to feel
that Miss Fay sometimes gave me a
thought among the many new asplrants
for the hour she occasionally has be-
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
his tent, when instead of the plain
stretching before him, he views the
mental panorama of his past. I'm afraid
mine will confine itself to one figure
Can you guess whose. Miss Fay?"
There was an instants pause-an in
slant when something stirred within
Roydon Towards heart, prompting the
impulse to cry out, "Who but yours
Make Imagination reality! Come with
me! Share a soldiers life, and let our
mutual love smooth the rough placesT'
But scarcely was It born, than he
strangled 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
with hysterical weeping, or swoon.
No, no! Here under the trees, In a
ballroom, at the head Of a luxurious
dinner-table, such women were charm
ing enough to turn mans brain, but
In moments of peril, when Death, no
longer clothed In the poets rhythm,
stalked before them, bare and ungain.
ly, It was little wonder that they fed
shrieking from his grim presence.
Therefore, the pause lasted an instant
only, then Roydon answered his own
question with laugh.
II declare I am almost growing sen
timental. If in anybody's presence but
yours, Miss Fay, should apologize fol
90 unwonted mood. But you are Who'll
" responsible for 1t, and 1t must b,
with you so old story to inspire 4
that VIII not waste the words. By
the way, there is my horse. had nj
idea 1t was SO late. Au revoir! Re
member, have the first and las
values this evening"
The girl sat motionless. watching hin
az he strobe away--watching him vaul
upon his horse, his tall, superb figure
showing TO such splez1id advantage
watching the horse and rider, AZ the,
cspsered out Of sight, the latter turn
jas nrst to give her farewell ssius
WSt Nj whip
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