Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1900-03-29
LIBERTY OR WHAT?
A Story Of Love and War.

0~o~O~Oeo~o~OO ~o~C~O"-O~os-O
The day was drawing to its close.
Already the sun nae begun to tint the
western sky with a soft crimson glow.
The windows in the weather beaten
barracks caught and held the rosy light
Fs though loath to let the brightness
20. and even the little matched cottage
under. the hill was bathed in the glory.
Within the little cottage under the
nil preparations for the evening meal
were being made. Back and forth
moved, full of that supple grace of the
southern II
"Zoritsa, have you heard what de-
.ision has been made?'
"No, mother" answered the girl.
fsCaptain Newcombe told me today
that they were all on the tiptoe of ex-
pectation. but determined to fight 1t
out INC win, no matter what happens"
1.-The captain is very gallant. II all
the men were as brave as he, there
would be no doubt about an American
victory"
81 am afraid your criticism is unjust,
mother. You are letting ten come un-
der the ban of your d%ispleasure be-
cause you chance to know the merits
Of one. Captain Newcombe thinks all
his men brave"
"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
a--Y~ l-~-~ - or;-Vonn no IN n
love affair bravery l wonder II in
war q besieged army is ever worried
into being captured. Really, l feel like
Q prisoner of war since
Hush, Zoritsa," came softly from
the corner. You are hasty. 1t is no
less than treachery to-
"Treachery." interrupted the girl inn
petuously. Il think your definition and
mine differ. But forgive me. dear"
suddenly softening and laying her
flushed cheek against her mothers soft
hair. Il am tired tonight. And, moth
or. do not ask me why. l have craved
my liberty as 10 one ever did before.
and tonight I'm free, mother, free! Do
you understand what that means to
me. dear? l have broken my engage
ment with Lieutenant Hope"
1T may be at the risk of you happi-
ness. dear"
II have gladly taken thai risk and re-
joice in my liberty. All, mother, liber-
ty, wonder not that mems lives are
lost for liberty
The widow Juaniquez and her daugh-
ter were in the little cottage making
bandages and otherwise busying them
-af-o~ -;<1 ~rort fas. tho a 7,
1T Is strange mother. that Captain
Newcombe did not come in as usual
this evening"
Yes. He said yesterday be would
come up as soon as his duties were
absence"
Zoritsa glanced quickly at the still
girlish figure bending aver her work
Was that a flush softly creeping over
the fair. youthful face? b caught
her breath. Did her mother care: She
had not thought of that. But, then.
why not2 Was not the ~'senorita" the
belle of the village? And yet the
thought had never come to her that it
was still possible for a man Ike the
captain to win her mothers love Why.
even the dea was absurd. Did she
really care for Captain Newcombe:
Surely his interest at least was no
more than friendship. When &c hears
that she is not bound to Lieutenant
Hope. viii he not show her il is Sire
whom he Lowest
Great excitement seemed TO prevail
In the village next morning. At every
other door groups of people were stand
ing tho men .DrrfIr ~ceSTicutaffug the
women crying. In front of the cot
tage were two or three villagers talk
ing to "Irish." as he was Familiarity
known In camp
"Yis." be was saying. thin sphal
poems up there" Jerking his thumb
toward the barracks. were too busy
enioyin av thimsilves TO be bothered
Wild the fF1ruhles av n handful av poor
diviis. Bat ven niver be afther catch
III Captain <ewccsnbe a-nappin. and
ez soon ez hr beard the fuss he offered
himsiif and his mes to 20 and help