Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1900-05-19

stand i'll the way of each others happi-
ness. strained their ears to listen Al
most unconscious of the others pres
cnce, they both ran out at the mans
words and stood there with drawn
faces, dcathIikr in their awful pallor,
while he repeated the news that made
dcSolate many Il happy lircsidc and
velcd with tears the light in loving
eyes.
The widows 1.-the form swaycd and
trcmhlCd, and she would have fallen
had not Xoritsa suddenly seemed to
realize that her mother was there
With a 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
momcntary struggle for the victory.
The painful quiCtncsS of despair seem
ed to CnVcl0p the young girl, and, with
eyes heavy with unShcd tears, she half
blindly led her mother into the house
This, then, was why Ioritsa had
claimed 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 G. their
happiness. Today he is dcad-dcad.
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 life"
"Thcre may be-thcre must be some
dreadful mistake" She did not know
her mother had seen the love light in
her eyes and had rightly Interpreted
it. Though there was not a Quiver of
an cyclid, her heart was breaking Al
ready her light had gone out. Her
world was Il world of darkness.
Night came on. One by one the stars
appeared. \ solemn hush lay over all.
Even the camp seemed deserted and
nau%ht save the occasional scrccch of
Whippoorwill broke the dread silence.
lcarnin@ for the sympathetic still
ness of the night and the companions
ship of the broad, calm sky, dotted
" lli It's NY MUS vi SldlS, /DIllSu tlltN
her shawl about her, and with Il heavy
heart went out into the darkness
What was that? Sounds of rciOic-
ing? How they grated upon her now!
But what were they saying! Hush.
"Captain alive - prisoner - eScap-
cd
Could it be true? Her heart gave n
lam thnpn nj
"IIurrah" 1t was true! He was not
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 un-
happy: With IL moan more hcartrcnd-
ing than sobs she threw herself upon
the ground.
God, God. Thou who didst teach
us to love! Why didst thou give me
this chalice, only to withdraw it as
stopped to drink
In an agony of soul she wreStlcd
with her own desires, her own love
and it seemed to her her very life-and
conquered
Quiet, resigned and calm, she found
her way home, softly unlatchcd the
door and went in.
The bright moonlight Strcamcd in a
silver bar through the long, low Win
dow. and there in its brightness, with
upraiScd face. almost transtigurcd with
happiness, was the ''senorita' claSpcd
in the captains arms.
Without having been seen and sti-
fling Il sigh, the noble girl turned away.
".\nd this is liberty? Aye, liberty to
follow thee, o Christ, to he bound to
thee with the chains of thy lOvc-liber-
ty to serve thee in serving others, to
spend and to be spent in thy scrvicc.'
On the field, in the hospitals and in
the filthy prisons her presence seems
to radiate peace that the world can
not give. In her face can be traced the
story of a battle fought and a victory
won in the almost forgotten past, but
her quiet services tell of the outpour-
ing of Il heart of love to the sufferers
of the prcScpt.-Chicago TimCs-IIcrald.