Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-11-12

Itself between the two veteran armies
| stretching, face to face, for miles. in
compass before the beleaguered city.
The goth of March, 1865, was close
at hand; ere the sun had risen and
sunk twice again the whole Army Of
| the Potomac we'll knew the inexorahle
'Hammerer" would inaugurate his
bold initial stroke to crush his shat
tered opponent
Gallant Sheridan had Joined the
army, and his sturdy troops were
eager for the bugle's resounding
charge
strange and romantic incident
marked the temporary bivouac of the
cavalry that night of the 27th and the
afternoon following,
Located close by the ripplcs of
| Chamberlain creek was a pretty yet
modest dwelling; within we're seated
an aged lady and her daughter-the
| latter beauteous of face and form, with
soft brown eyes and waving curls OF
| chestnut hair. The two were the sole
occupants of the house; the husband
and father was even then on the oppo-
site side of those gray-manned earth
works destined to be the last ditch of
| the Confederacy.
Suddenly there was q knock at the
| door, and almost ere the girl could
/ step forward In answer 10 the sum-
| mons. a captain of Union cavalry came
hurriedly and Familiarity into the lit
| tie sitting room,
! Mrs Dean!" he saluted, 1T has
been long since we met: Isabel,
greet you!"
"Ah, Harold Prentiss, this unexpect-
ed visit can hardly be realized" ex-
| claimed the girl while she permitted
him to take her hands warmly; "and
| you are, indeed, with the army of the
North?"
/ yes, one of Sheridan's boys"
His welcome was cordial, but he
saw that there was some deep anxiety
in their hearts.
Years" he continued, Since last
we met. Just think, Isabel! And
/ even the stern tide of war has brought
us once again together You are true
blue, Isabel-and your mother?'
we would be, Harold" answered
the mother, with bowed head, ''but we
must pray for the gray. because lisa
bells father is with Lee"
There do not weep, Mrs. Dean
Soon all will be over, and George
| Dean, we must hope, will come safely
back to you. But now / have not
many minutes. have actually stolen
the pleasure of this visit to ask Isabel
--as ! asked her before / fed to join
the warriors of our starry banner-if
she will be my wife? I have been true
to my love for you. Isabel, all these
years The end of the war is at hand;
the great southern leader himself must
| know it. / speak, Isabel"
Harold, | cannot decide. All, did
| not tell you, years ago, that I could
not choose between two such lovers as
yourself and Mart Diering?"
you still talk that way" he said
with latent reproach. when you know
that even in the long ago he resorted
| to tricks to win you from me?"'
"Ay, to-day" she rejoined. with
dropping head. Il confess / love both
too well to make solemn choice of
either"
Can nothing decide your"
A third voice sounded unexpectedly
/ Across the threshold stepped another
of sheridan's brave captains. Mart
| Diering himself, and while Isabel did
not shrink from the warm grasp he,
too. gave her hands, he half faced
! about, saying:
II think I can suggest a way to set
tie this, Captain Prentiss. You and I
were famous marksmen when we
roamed these same fields together be-
| fore the war. Now. one of us must
win sweet Isabel. What say? let us
| target for the rare prize, II she will
give assent, the luckiest bullseye to be
/ the winner"
Isabel, do you consent TO this?"
| Harold asked eagerly.
An instant she hesi!ated, then an
swered:
BE It So Whichever OF you shall
strike the target nearest to the very
center, that one / will marry"
Tomorrow afternoon we may man
age this affair in tho orchard at the
rear Of this house" said Diering
The rival captains separated.
Prentiss communicated to his wait
ing orderly, Jack Banks. what was in
/ prospect.
"All right, Captain" said Banks in
! an unnecessarily hard voice; IN
mark your bullet with crosses. one on
each side, so that there shall be no
mistake when you plug the center, for
know you are a quicker shot than
Captain Diering"
Then the orderly turned his head
and watched a skulking figure hasten.