Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1900-04-05
MINERAL WISCONSIN, THURSDAY

stand IN the way Of eaeh others happi-
ness, strained their ears to listen. Al
most unconscious OF the others pres
ence, they both ran out ut the mans
words and stood rfere with drawn
faces deathlike in their awful pallor,
While he repeated the news that made
desoiate many happy Preside and
Velied with tears the light in loving
eyes.
The widows 1.-THE form swayed and
trembled, and she would have fallen
mad Hot Zoritsa suddenly seemed to
reahze that her mother was there.
! with quick catching of the breath
ana 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 of despair seem.
ed to envelop the young girl, aud, with
eyes heavy with unshed tears. she half
blindly led her mother into the house.
| Ihis, then, was why Xoritsa had
| claimed her freedom. Oh. why had
| she not told Ioritsa before that the
captain had already confessed his love
FOR her? And ii 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 N
then love him so much?"
Love him? Better than lifer
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 interpreted
1t. Though there was not a culver of
an eyelid, her heart was breaking Al
ready her light had gone out. Her
world was a world OF darkness
Night came on. One by one the stars
appeared. \ solemn hush lay over all.
Even the camp seemed deserted and
naught save the occasional screech Of
a whippoorwill 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. Xoritsa drew
her shawl about her, and with a heavy
heart went out into the darkness
What was that? Sounds of rejoic
ing? How they grated upon her now!
But what were they sayingI Hush!
Captain 49, alive prisoner $500 escap'
ed
Could it be true? Her heart gave a
great leap. Yes, there was a loud
'Hurrah" 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 I'M
happy? With moan more heartrend-
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 wrestled
with her own desires, her own love
and il seemed to her her very life-and
conquered.
Quiet, resigned and calm, she found
her way home, softly Unattached the
door and went in.
The bright moonlight streamed in
silver bar through the long, low win
dow, and there in its brightness, with
appraised face. almost TRANSPORTED with
happiness. was the "senorita' clasped
in the captains arms.
Without having been seen and sti-
fling a sigh, the noble girl turned away.
"And this is liberty Aye, liberty to
follow thee, O Christ. to be bound to
thee with the Chains of thy love-liber-
ty TO serve thee in serving others. to
spend and to be spent in thy sorviceW
On the field, in the hospitals and in
the filthy prisons her presence seems
to radiate "A peace that the world can
not give. In her face can be traced the
story of Il battle fought and victory
won in the almost forgotten past. but
her quiet services tell Of the outpour-
ing of n heart of love to the sufferers
of the prescnt.-Chicago Times-Herald.