Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-21

10 you AuleFeNaUu l0A must not.
Yes. ard yeti must"
He had started forward. she barred his
way with outstretched arms
Nc. no DON'T can't let you"
Why" he argued. L may escape in the
confusion. And ~ ! didn't-remember. itu
Be but enc rebel the less
All. don't, 1-I-you-
she looked Up appealing. timid. shrink
ing. and deep in her eyes he saw the kind
ling Of what might be a great light, glow
ing steadily. A mighty wave Of tender
ness and desire caught and well nigh swept
him Of his feet He longed 10 crush her
within his arms. TO hold close 70 him that
slender form vibrant with the soft awaken
ing Of a virgin heart
And. afar. honor and duty called.
A crushing voIley OF musketry brought
him to his senses.
Let me CO. be urged. Let me 60.
I should have gone when you told ne to.
/ was a cur to ~delsy-but-'
Yes" she whispered.
II this war-whe it's overt cant last
forever. you know-vhen things are
Strengthened out-well. We won't Be enc
mics then. will We"
NO"
And I may come back-if I live
Yes" she breathed. and hung her head.
GO. IL you must. and come hack IL you
care to-then.'
If I care TO, But you"
She made no answer. more than 20 mile
bravely up at him. He stopped and took
her hand. humbly pressing il 10 his lips.
They were very young. Roman and
the love Of love were strong within them;
life might be long before them, and
golden.
There came shouts and the CHATTER OF
hoofs. the heavy rumble OF artillery. A
battery dashed into the yard and unlim-
bered behind the wall Thereafter crash
upon crash shook the house.
The girl gently disengased her hand.
Now you cannot 60. she nurmured.
Wait till l see IL it's safe TO take you to
the attic" She opened the door. Peering
down the stairway.
4 strong resolute voice rose and rang
clear above the din.
To the house. Nineteenth infantry. To
the house,
Back" cried the girl. The boy hesi-
tated. By main force she thrust him back
and slammed the door. turning. At the
foot Of the stairs an oficeT appeared. tail,
bronzed, ~manly-her brother.
This way. mem he cried. dashing up
He confronted the girl. gasping. Hello
Betty. Hoped you and the old man d b
in the north by this time. Didn't you get
ny letter. Go 20 the cellar. you'll be saft
there unless they FIRE the house. Hurry.
She stood with whitening face. starins
blankly. The front door was broken in
AID through it swarmed a sweating throng
Short swapping reports split the uproar
A man threw Up bis hands and. ~cursing
lunged forward through the doorway. fail.
ing motionless, inert. His blood slid
;hickly over the polished floor. forming
little pool.
Z Out Of the way. Betty, Men. take thii
5 room and barricade the windows"
NO. no" she pleaded. Not there. no
there"
5 He threw her aside roughly and the doc
= was thrown open. and the oihoer paused
D Calmly a slim figure stepped out. a revol
. yer cleaning in either hand.
I n momentary dumfounded silence tn
mans hand moved slowly toward his hol
. ster.
'Yoa surrender"
y "!ll die first"
tn boy sprang forward. The mans arr
Strengthened quickly. The girl struck
e as he pressed the trigger and the shot he'
e wide.
so, Miss you've turned traitor" II
E pushed her from him and stepped bach
drawing his sword. The roy lodged a .
u hit him suddenly between the eyes. II
b fell heavily against the oallstrade.
= The boy threw himself down the stair
way, a target Sor a score CT shots. II
II reeled slightly. but plunged forward an
> out upon the lawn. IN a moment be Ia
- - l.. ----# kllh .wM.AH
by a horde Of nen in gray and 5utternu'
The rebel yell thrilled upon the Hir. Ne
drunk with the Joy Of anticipated victor
4 shouted and eapered as they charged. III
doors and windows Of the house spat hr
and swift death. The line Withered IN
Wayered. The yell died out The line fe
back. rallied, again was driven back. CON
pietely shattered. Men fought as wild ami
mails TO cross the wall, frantic to escap
that hell OF slaughter. The boy. as b
-, reached the top once more, turned an
faced the house-daring. gallant, debonair'
He could see her plaitiy standing in N
e, full exposure Of the veranda, absorbe'
fearIess-and so sweet. Something yer
like a sob rose in his throat He woul
have waved her a kiss, but the hand thu
went toward his lips. stopped al his bress
then came away with the Inadvertently
=. Win MS bloo
He sWayed for a moment. then lurched To-
ward, falling upon his face.
/, Slowly. weeping and shuddering. she can
TO consciousness.
The battle had passed on and out Of Il
valley. Midsummer silence broode
. broken only by the s~hrilling and rasping
I" insects
Instinctively she covered her face wi
at her hands. She must not look. she cou
be not bear IL All. the pity Of Il.
a She must not . Resolute
she forced her hands away. Her ey
IL opened.
He had raised himself upon an elbo
y. his hand tearing al his throat SomshC
be she reached him and. piIloWing his be
be upon her breast. loosened the collar Of /
re blouse.
Ny boy" Her lips touched his brS
softly. "Can you live: Can you?"
Live" What life there was in b
ep warmed his eyes 10 alteration. Live
IN His voice gathered strength. Don't y
he know a man can't die after he's be
- kissed like that. 1--we. sweetheart: I j.
Il reckon will, now
Faint and sweet and clear the Tar singi
he q bugles trembled on the stiffness.
He these two IL was as had been the rainb
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