Morris tribune., 1901-01-12

stand In the way of each others happf"a
ness, strained their ears to listen. All |
most unconscious Of the others pres
ence, they both ran out at the mans
words and stood there with drawn
faces, deathlike in their awful pallors]
while he repeated the news that madSl
desolate many happy freside and
yelled with tears the light in loving
eyes.
The widows 1.-the form swayed and
krembled, and she would have fallenl
had not Zoritsa 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 i
The others eyes, and in each heart was
momentary struggle for the victory.
The painful quietness Of despair SEEM
ed to envelop the young girl, and, with
eyes heavy with unshed 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 Zoritsa 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. Today he is dead-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?"
Glove him? Better than lifeW
'"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 culver Of
an eyelid, her heart was breaking. AL
ready her light had gone out. Her
world was world of darkness.
Night came on. One by one the stars
appeared. A solemn hush lay over all.
Even the camp seemed deserted and
naught save the occasional screech OF
q whippoorwill broke the dread silence.
learning for the sympathetic still
ness Of the night and the companion
ship of the broad, calm sky, dotted
with it's myriads of stars, Zoritsa drew
her shawl about her, and with heavy
heart went out into the darkness.
What was that? Sounds of rejoic-
ing? How they grated upon her now!
But what were they saying? Hush!
Captain : alive = prisoner = escap-
ed''-
Could it be true? Her heart gave q
great leap. Yes, there was a loud
"Hurahw 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
80 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 r.
In an agony of soul she wrestled
with her own desires, her own love
and it seemed to her her very hfe-and
conquered.
Quiet, resigned and calm, she found
her way home, softly Unmatched the
door and went in.
The bright moonlight streamed in
silver bar through the long, low win
dow, and there in it's brightness, with
appraised face, almost TRANSPORTED with
happiness, was the "senorita" clasped
in the captains arms.
Without having been seen and sti-
fling 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 service!'
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 battle fought and victory
won in the almost forgotten past, but
her quiet services tell Of the outpour~
ing of a heart of love to the sufferers
Of the present. Chicago Times-Herald.