Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1911-06-08

and thence to the absorbing topic OF
clothes.
1t was not until two days after this
conversation that the little party set
forth to go to FL Paso. They started
| just at daybreak.
All the way to Ell Paso Sylvia's ears
were eagerly alert for the sound of
warfare She did not dare voice her
fears. but they were very large fears
and very agonizing ones too.
She had been proud indeed that her
future husband should be an officer
in fine regiment. She thought the
sight Of Timothy In his uniform the
dearest thing in the world, and the
very thought of the military wedding
that would mark her marriage to the
handsome young man Sent her into &C.
stasies Of delight.
This was the other side of the war
picture Here was the beat of the
drum calling to arms. Real powder and
shot had been issued to the men, and
real shot would be fred. In fancy she
saw her beloved killed at the head of
MS COluLIl1, al" lOOu4AS, al dJ
waving his sword and shouting encour
agement to his weary men.
They came upon the new city, the
tented one, all Of n sudden and looked
with awe upon the results of a deep
thinking war department., a capable
executive staff and we'll trained ar
my. A day or two ago and there had
been a cactus plain; today there were
field Of snowy tents and a multitude
Of orderly men awaiting the summons
to-what?
To Sylvia Moore war meant desper-
ate fighting. the sudden death Of Tim
othy Robson and for herself lifelong
separation from the man she loved.
When they were in the city and saw
the flying flags and heard the outpour-
ing Of martial music the heart Of Syl-
via beat quickly, and she felt more
like crying than ever. If she could
only see Timothy for one moment she
was sure she could persuade him to
stay with her.
Presently through Mr.. Lakes infu-
ence it was made possible for Sylvia
to meet her lover. and in the first JOY
full moment the strangeness Of the
meeting was quite forgotten. At last
Timothy pushed back his cap and said:
"I'll bet you were surprised to hear
I was on the way. eh. Sylvan
EYES," said Sylvia. suddenly very
quiet. Then. after a pause, she said in
80
you care enough for me to do a big
thing for me-a great thing-the great
est thing you ever did in your life"
"Of course" said Timothy prompt
ly. my life's yours. you know. dear
est"
"Then stay with me. Do not go into
active battle" Sylvia's voice was
strained with anxiety, and her eyes
were fixed eagerly on her lovers face.
She saw the mask of reserve that
dropped over his surprised face-a re-
serve that seemed to place her and
her love upon some distant pinnacle Of
space, leaving him here in the active
present with the duty that lay before
him. She saw all this and realized
what was passing through his mind
and yet, with sefishness which had
not yet been overcome by nobler
impulse, she set herself to exact from
him proof Of his love for her
"Shall l desert?" he asked. with
cold smile.
ooh. no. Tell them you are i'll. Per
irr1f Won know wv
are to be married in the fall. Tim
othy"
81 know, dear" he said steadily.
"that this is the hardest moment of
your life. III think over what you
said, and if at the end of another day
you still feel the same way about it
perhaps something can be done"
-'Oh. Jimmy. you are an angel-and
1 was so afraid you'd get killedr' half
sobbed Sylvia.
Timothy Robson smiled rather mys-
teriously and turned away. perhaps
I'll see you later. dear. if Mr.. Lake
will come around after parade, Times
up now
They spent the day in the city, and
as the afternoon advanced they once
more approached the parade ground,
where they expected to meet Timothy
Robson again. Mr.. Lake and Annie
stopped to view some passing soIdiery,
and Sylvia had paused to find herself
the onlooker at a curious little scene.
A handsome though rather dissipat
ed looking young man in military
khaki lounged against a tree talking
to a very indignant young woman.
"Ah. what's the use?" he was mutter-
ing sullenly. when his companion in
terrupted him with blazing eyes and
angry voice.
Matt Mears. you're a coward, that's
what you are,' she cried. Il wouldn't
give snap of my finger for a man
that didn't put his country before the
girl he loved
"Oh. pshaw. Laura" began the
young man weakly. when the girl sud
denly walked away from him with
her pretty chin in the air
Her words rang in Sylvia's ears as