River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-01-16

ooh, you!" she said, with scorn, and
bent over the roses.
Poor JIM" said Robert, ignoring
her sighting manner. 1T is hard to
realize the boy is dead"
"He was hero!" Nerissa said with
conviction
"At least he was brave" he said 81
know how you admire bravery"
And despise a coward" she
flashed.
AT that the mans cheek flushed.
For he and Nerissa had been engaged
to be married when the war with
Spain broke out But when Robert
Lea had resigned from his company
instead of taking the field with the
- volunteers, Nerissa had listened
to no reason or excuse, and openly de-
nouncing him as "unpatriotic" and "a
coward" she had broken her engage
ment and had had nothing to do with
him since that day.
you do not understand" he said
slowly, that it may take more cour-
age to stay at home than to face an
enemy in battle-or that one might be
called upon to sacrifice even the flag
for some nearer duty"
! i can understand no excuse what
ever" Nerissa said. And l do not
see why you should seek me out to
offer one at this late day."
Il do not" he replied. 81 acted as
did because l thought 1 was doing
right l did not dream that it would
separate us, because l thought you
loved me as truly as loved you, and
as-unluckily for mel love you still!
! believed you would understand. And
yet had j known beforehand what the
end would be, should have acted ex-
actly as l did. But there was one,
thank God, who did understand"
Then to Nerissa, looking up at him
coldly and without sympathy, these
words came all unbidden, and sup
piled the key to his motives, which
she had never sought nor desired:
'The only son of his mother, and she
a widow"
Il have come to you now only to
say good-by," he was saying quietly.
"As long as my mother lived my place
was here with her But now-I am
free to go. And l am here to-day to
bid you good-by-forever."
While he was speaking there came
a curious sound from behind him, the
peculiar snort and shuttle of some ami
NAL and he glanced quickly over his
shoulder to see what it could be.
Nerissa saw his face stiffen with
horror, and swiftly following his
glance, she saw a powerful bull APP
preaching with rapid steps, tossing his
great head aud rolling his glazing
eyes.
Good heavens, your scarlet gown!"
muttered Robert, in disInay Run,
NerissaI Get over the nearest wall
and out of sight in the bushes-but
run nOw-for your life!"
As she sprang to her feet, with her
limbs trembling under her in a panic
of sudden fear. Robert Lea snatched
a flag from his dead companion S
grave and stepped forward, placing
himself between her and the ugly
brute
With a smothered sob, Nerissa
gathered up her skirts and ran, the
below OF the bull filling her ears. He;
tying feet found uncertain footing
among the uneven mounds. and be
fore she had gone far she stumbled
and fell in scarlet heap, with he1
ankle SO twisted under her that she
was utterly unable to rise. She heard
a sharp cutlery as she went down, and
in horror she thought, HE has met
his DEATH"
But his cry had been for her-not fol
himself-and when she dared lool
around she saw that Robert ha6
turned the great animal, and Wa
fencing with him, Haunting the flag in
his face and-ever retreating before
him with the wiles and caution u At