LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2395, 6 December 1881, Page 4

LITERATURE.

A SDLDIER'S BATTLES.

Wide open blue eyef, fringed with jetty lashes—a Blender nose—a mouth fit for Queen Titania, when wooed by the King of the Fairies—a low, white brow, on which clustered rings of gold in a very fascination of disorder—a cheek exquisitely fair, with the tint upon it of the sea-shell—two little, soft, helpless hands—two little, slippered feet—and you have the picture before Hoydon Howard's gaze, and the inventory successively dotted down by him in his mental diary. ' Awfully pretty !' is the silent verdiot rendered, ' and absolutely good for nothing else. Ab, if life were all summer, suon women would ina'* e perfect wives !' An audible sigh followed the latter thought of this most grave philosopher—a sigh so deep, so profound, that it startled the girl from her reverie. 1 A penny for your thoughts, Major 1' she said, in low, musical tones. The voice suited her; it was like all else about Fay Kichings—in perfect sttune. ' You tid too low,' answered the man ; and yet too high, since you ask upon a sub J9ot of whose reply you must be conscious. You forget that, spending the last hour in your society, my thoughts could not wander far.'

' But you sighed. Must I hold myself responsible for the sigh, too ? ' ' I fear so—in remembering that my furlough is rapidly slipping away, and that wiih'ii a month I must rej An my regiment on the plains, leaving my many friends, leaving my charming companion of this morning. Do you still bid a penny to inquire into a thing so fleeting aa a sigh ? ' The eoler deepened a little on the beautiful eheek.

' Ilia charming companion of the morning ! ' This was how he regarded her—this man whose brave deeds bad preoeded him, until, before meeting him, Fay bad assigned him. something akin to hero worship. A little, sharp stab of pain shot through her haart, but she smiled bravely. 1 All that was scarcely worth a sigh from you,'she said. 'lt is never thoso who go amid new scenes who feel most keenly the parting, but rather thoso who, left behind, amid the old familiar surroundings, and say, "■yesterday he sat here," or "Yesterday we heard his laugh," or perchance find a glove thit he has dropped, or a cigar halfsmoked —to them it is something felt, something tangible.' 'Do you think it so ? Does the sand sigh for the retreating wave when already one oncoming claims its welcome? I should indeed be glad to feel that Miss Fay sometimes gave me a thought among the many new aspirants for the hour she sometimes has bestowed on me. A soldier's life has many charms, spite cf its hardships, and there is something fasoinating, spite of its pain, in the long, solitary musings he holds sitting at the door of his tent, when, instead of the plain stretching before him, he views the mental panorama of his past. I'm afrsid mine will confine itself to one figure. Can you guess whose, Miss Fay ?' There was an instant's pause —an iostant when something stirred within Boydon Howard's heart, prompting the impulse to cry out, ' Who bnt yours ? Make imagination reality ! Come with me 1 Share a soldier's life, and let our mutual love smooth the rough places!' But scaroely was it born than this girl oared for him ; but, even so, at best it was but a passing fancy. and in time of real danger where would she be ? How would she tit him to ride forth to meet a foj ? Either with hysterical weeping, or in a swoon. No, no! Here, under the green trees, in a ball-room, at the head of a luxurious dinner table, such women were charming enough to turn a man's brain, but in moments of peril, when Death, no longer clothed in the poet's rhythm, stalked before them, bare and ungainly, it was little wonder that they fled shrieking from his grim presence. Therefore, the pause lasted an instant only, then Boydon answered his own question with a laugh. ' I declare 1 »m almost growing sentimental. If in anybody's presence but yours. Miss Fay, I should apologize for so unwonted a mood. But you are wholly responsible for it, and it must be with you so old a story to inspire it that I will not waste the words. By the way, there is my horse. I had no idea it was so late. An revo'.r ! Bemember, I have the first and last waltzss this evening.' The girl sat motionless, watching him as he strode away—watching him vault upon his horse, his tall, superb figure, showing to suoh splendid advantage—watching horse and rider, as they oantered out of sight, the latter turning first to give her a farewell salute with his whip. ' So, in scarce a month, will he ride out of my life,' she murmured to herself with white lipp. ' Oh, Boydon, is it that you are too proud to ask me to share the peril and privation of a soldier's life, or that It would give you no pleasure to have me share it?' * # # # *

8 Will you go out on the lake with me this afternoon, Mies Fay ?' asked Major Howard, a week later. 'lt looks a little equally, but we will keep close into shore, so as to run home, if the clouds thicken.' ' Of course, I will come," assented Kay ; ' and as to the clouds, don't watch them too closely. I rather like storms.' ' What a perfect picture she makes ! ' thought Roydon, as, promptly at the appointed time, he assisted her into the little sail-boat he had named in her honor—the yachting-dress of dark bine, fitted closely to the exquisitely outlined figure, and on the golden braids nestled a coquettish sailor hat. Ffteen minutes later, a splendid breeze had cani ;d them far out into the lake.

•The storm has concluded to postpone itself in oar special favor,' said Boydon, glancing up at the blue sky; 'or perhaps they don't think soldiers should be too severely tried, as sailors. Which is it, Miss Fay?' ' Do you appeal to me as the spirit of the storm-cloud ? If so, I shall call upon it to avenge me.'

He answered her simply by a look ; but it caused her eyes to droop. i>ho stretched one little, white hand down to the water's edge, watching the current resist it &i the boat sped onward. ' So,' he mused, 'am I resisting the voice of my heart—so must I resist to the end ! '

They spoke bat little. They were alone and together—around them water, above them the sky, beneath them a grave. And both were young, and in each heart the same voice was speaking ; yet their lips were sealed. Thus an hour passed, when suddenly Roydon tacked. ' What are yoa doing?' cried Fay, in a tone of disappointment. ' Surely we're not going home ?' 'I wish to God we were already there !' answered her companion, with blanched cheek, just aa a little breath of wind, fresher than any they had felt, blew upon them. ' Don't be frightened, Miss Fay,' continued Boydon, reaeautingly. 'lt is one of these treacheaous squalls. We're in for it; but I'll do the best I can.'

'Can't I help you?' The man glanced up amazed. She neither cried nor groaned. There was no tremor in her tone. His cheek was whiter than was hers.

' Pshaw ! she did not realise the danger.' he said, mentally. ' Can you hold this?' handing her rope as he epoko. The next moment the squall struck them. The little yacht lay fully on Its side, then righted itself. Fay's lips were a little pale now, but no sound escaped them, only she had held so tightly to the rope, spite of its resistance, that it already had cut into the tender flesh.

The storm was now fully upon them. It was iiareo as it was sudden. They were drenched with water. They could no longer Bee each other for the spray. *Kay,' cried Boydon, 'yon are frightened !'

' With you V sha anßwered. •No 1* and her tone was firmer than Ma own, The next momsnt, the boat Btruck by a sharper blast than the first, went over. Both found themsolues clinging to its sides. 1 Fay, tell me ' ho said, * that yon forgive me for this ! Ob, child, must wo die when life holds bo much sweetness ?'

' The storm won't laßt long. We may yet she answered, in her sweet young voice ; • bnt, Boy don, if I slip, don't try to save me. It will only lose two lives, and mine is not worth so much as yours.' ' My God I without you what would mine be?' The words escaped him ere he realised their meaning. ' Live it, then, for my sake, dear 1' replied the girl, * and remember always, had Imy choice, I would have chosen to have died thus with you than to have livod on without you. My love, good bye!' The next Instant the waters had caught her, and torn her bleeding hands, all cut by the rope, from their slight hold ; but Major Howard had spoken words with no idle meaning when he had asked her what his life would bo without her. Qaick aa the ourrent, in Its hungry greed for it beautiful prey, he threw about her his protecting arm. Then, a* though heaven smiled, the winds ceased as suddenly as they bad risen, and the sun burst forth from its hiding plaoe, showing the rescue which was bearing down upon them. 4 May I see you, if but for five minutes P ' were the words scrawled on the card Pay held, a few hours later, in her bandaged hands, as she lay upon her couch, very pale and exhausted, but with a heart full of gratitude for her wonderful escape, awaiting him who had penned the words. How well she knew the quick, impatient step which heralded his coming ! Her cheek flushed, as he Btrode impetuously into the room. • I could not sleep before seeing you,' he said. 'My bravo girl ! How little I knew you ! I thought, because you were beautiful, that there could be no courage in your soul ; that because your hands were small, and soft, and white, they could have no strength. Dear little hands!' taking them tenderly in his own. ' They helped to save our lives today. Fay, will you give them to me, darling ? Will you be a soldier's wife, and teach him, my own sweet love, some of the bravery only such women as you can teach to men ?'

A great light shone in the beautiful eyes upraised to his. 1 1 owe you my life,' she whispered. 'lf a debt so rich will receive payment so poor, take it, Boydon. It is yours !'