The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-10-19

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When | had done, her answer was as
if had not spoken; for still she only said
that must not go. She gave no more
love. when thought that explaining and
|persuading were answered to the pleading
tears and swelling bosom, and quivering
frame and speaking eyes Of that maiden
Niobe. shaken by her mournful fears?
"You will be changed when you re-
turn" she said.
/ change? | knew could not change
Why should Jennie doubt my truth?
would prove it. My mind was fixed. My
fancy was flushed by ambitious aniicipa
Itions. | resolved to leave Jennie al
length when her entreaties failed. reproach
ed me, but SO gently, that her very up.
braiding sounded like a benediction. And
so it was. 1t was not even the selfshness
of affection. 1t was pure. tender, earn.
est solicitude. She told me was break.
ling faith with her, in thus going aw ay to
engage in war. Was il for this that she
had become the ,affianced OF nv heart?
! Was il for this that she had pledged her
Hove. with every sacred vow. to answer
mines Was il for this that ] should take
lmy hand from the pleasant cares OF peace.
TO corruptln the villanies of war-lhat
should ride over The harvest of the poor,
and carouse in the glare oil their burning
home, and sweet babes made iatherless,
and wives bercaved, and brides left desc
late i'll the world2 Oh. mo. 1t was that
broke my pledge. ! was not true 10 my
early vow. had declared would never
cause any sorrow TO her, by denying 10
her one oi its earnest wishes. And now
was doing this. Fwasrnaking her grieve.
was risking the leaving her desolate to
the end of her days. For the sake of
what! For the sake of a soldiers ambi-
ton. Ambition! As though to wear the
gray hairs OF a good man we're not no.
bier hope than to die in trench. or live.
shuddefing with the memory Of carnage
aud fire and blood, and all the nameless
horrors OF war.
cannot Tell all the sorrows of that part
ing. An infatualon burned in my head
aud blinded'me. AT length went. Jen-
nie's last blessing upbraided me more
deeply than her first reproach. When she
knew that | should go, she said not one
more desponding word; aud then did !
feel how gentle she was in sorrow. as she
was serene in her days Of joy. But |
comforted myself decided that Jennie,
good as she WIS. dear. loving, noble, could
not comprehend the idea of patriotism.
Aud once .hought of falsehood crossed
my mind. | reflected that had never
Tried her; she might net be true to the alb
seni; it would be good to test her faith.
And so. went. Let me forget the hor-
rors apd crimes of that long adventure
Instead OF TWO years, | was away seven;
and, from the first was sad, sick. remorse
| ful Nothing but memory recalled me to
the thought of love And then did Jen-
nie's reproaches rise up in ju ulgment
| against me. ! saslong lost 10 her during
the confusion OF that terrible campaign.
! Asolid contmenrnow lay between us. and
now an ocean. | heard not of her during
iour years. .Ah. she has forgotten, said l..
the fiery. wilsul one 10 whom she gave her
early love.
At length | returned; but | was not he
to whom she had said that sweet and dear
farewell. was manned, mutilated, dis
fgured-a cripple-an object. | came
home with feet filled half with trophies
half with the limbless, sightless remnants
Of glorious war. But then it acas glo-
rious war. Yes; in twenty years the earth
had been dyed with the blood Of six mil
lions of men. What a miserable thing
the relic Of mani looked, when, in the
sunny summer, we bore down the Chan
mel. already looked upon Jennie as
lost. had not falsifed my pledge-yet.
had not broken my own faith in doubt
ing hers? repented ell had done.
Could bind her to her own? Could |
ask her to take, instead of the manly fig
ure she had last seen, a wretched creature
such as then was?
Ihad feelings OF honor--naval honor
honor that blooms on the drum head
honor that struts in q red sash and feath-
cred hat would release her! As though
love we're an attorneys bond. As though
pen-fnll of ink could blot out the eterna al
record OF "a hearts first faithful affection.
wrote TO her. | said. heard she was
unmarried still. had come home. |
was also unmarried; but was MANNED
distorted. tlis6gnred Ian object to look at.
| bad no right to insist on our contract
would not force myself upon her. |
would spare her feelings. | would not ex-
tort final ratification Of her promise. |
loved her sill, and should always with
tenderness remember her; but was bound
to release her-she was,free!
q Freei Free by virtue Of a,written lease
Free by one line, when the interviewer
memoirs Of lies long faith were bound
about her heart; when every root Of affec-
lion that had struck into her bosom had
sprung up with new blossoms OF hope 10
adorn the visionary future. Free by my
honorable conduct-when she cherished
as on an altar the fame of hervestal love,
made fragrant by purity and trust.
| Her letter was not like mine. Il was
quick. passionate. burning with affection.
1t began with reproach, and the reproach
was blotted with tear. Il ended with a
blessing. and tear made the blessing sa-
cred TOO. Let me come TO her. LET her
see my face. Let her embrace me. Let
me never leave her. more; and she would
soothe me Jor all the pains had endured.
Not word Of her own sorrows!
( | Cno ~oo1p o1,,1J el,at I, he