Morris tribune., 1901-01-12
LIBERTY OR WHAT?
A Story of Love and War.

l
/ The day was drawing to it's close.
Already the sun had begun to tint the
western sky with a soft crimson glow.
The windows in the weather beaten
barracks caught and held the rosy light
as though loath to let the brightness
90, and even the little matched cottage
under the hill was bathed in the glory.
Within the little cottage under the
hill preparations for the evening meal
were being made. Back and forth
across the room a tall, straight figure
! moved, full of that supple grace Of the
southern woman.
"Zoritsa, have you heard what de
cision has been made"
"No, mother" answered the girl.
Captain Newcombe told me today
that they were all on the tiptoe of ex-
pectation, but determined to fight 1t
out and win, no matter what happens"
"The captain is very gallant IT all
the men were as brave as he, there
would be no doubt about an American
victory"
"I am afraid your criticism is unjust,
mother. You are letting ten come I'M
der the ban of your dtspleasure 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
ingly brave, if you call persistence In a
love affair bravery l wonder II IN
war besieged army Is ever worried
into being captured. Really, feel IKE
| prisoner of war since
Hush, Zoritsa," came softly from
the corner. "You are hasty. 1t is no
less than treachery to-
"Treacheryp' interrupted the girl i'm
petuously.s 81 think your definition and
mine differ But forgive me, dear"
suddenly softening and laying her
flushed cheek against her mothers soft
hair. 81 am tired tonight. And, moth
er, do not ask me why. 1 have craved
my liberty as no 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"
.'It may be at the risk of your happi-
ness, dear"
81 have gladly taken that risk and re-
! ioice 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
selves with work for the army.
cit is strange, mother, that Captain
Newcombe did not come in as usual
this evening"
eyes. He said yesterday he would
come up as soon as his duties were
performed. I do not understand his
| absence"
Zoritsa glanced quickly at the still
girlish figure bending over her work.
Was that flush softly creeping over
the fair, youthful face? She caught
her breath. Did her mother care? She
had not thought Of that. But, then,
why not? Was not the ''senorita" the
belle of the village? And yet the
thought had never come to her that 1t
| was still possible for a 'D9n Ike the
captain to win her IL love. Why,
even the idea was ed, Did she
really care for Captain Newcombe?
Surely his interest at least was no
more than friendship. When he hears
that she is not bound to Lieutenant
Hope, will he not show her it is she
| whom he loves?
Great excitement seemed to prevail
in the village next morning. At every
other door groups Of people were stand
ing, the men angrily gesticulating, 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," he was saying, "thim sphal-
poems up. there" jerking his thumb
toward the barracks. were too busy
enjoyin av thimsilyes to be bothered
wild the thrubles ay handful av poor
divils. But ven niver be afther catch
in Captain Newcombe a-nappin, and
ez soon ez he heard the fuss he offered
himsilf and his men to go and help
thin.
''Yis, we whit, but how many hev
come back ag'in? The dirty sphalpeens
made ragged edge of our company
the finest yell see anywheres- and the
captain himsilf has been killed entoir-
". All, 'rwas a sorry day that brought
Paddy Malone to this God forsaken
counthryp'
The two women within, so dear to
each other and yet each seeming to