The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1853-10-28

blood Of six millions of men. What a mis-
erable thing--the relic of man--I locke
when, in the sunny summer, we bore dow
the Channel. | already looked upon Jenni
as lost. had not falsified my pledge--yet
had not broken my own faith in doubtin.
hers! Gould ask her to take, instead o
the manly figure she had last seen, wretch
ed creature such as then was!
had feelings of honor--naval honor--hon
or that blooms on the drum-head-honor tha
struts about in red sash and feathered hat
| would release her! AS though love were
an attorneys bond. As though pen full O
ink could blot out the eternal record of q
hearts first faithful affection. wrote to her
| said heard she was unmarried still. hat
come home. | was also unmarried
but was MANNED, distorted, disfigured--ar
object to look at. had no right to insist or
our contract. l would not force myself upon
her. l would spare her feelings. would
not extort final ratification of her promise
loved her still, and would always with ten.
derness remember her; but was bound to
release her->she was freel -F
Free! Free by virtue of written lease.
Free by one line, when the interviewer me-
moirs of life's long faith were bound about
her heart; when every root of affection tha.
had struck into her bosom had sprungup with
new blossoms of hope to adorn the visionary
future. Free by my honorable conduct
when she cherished as on an altar the flames
of her vestal love, made fragrant by purity
and trust.
Her letter was not like mine 1t was quick,
passionate, burning with affection. II began
with reproach, and the reproach was blot
ted with a tear. 1t ended with blessing,
and tear made the blessing sacred 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 for all the
pains had endured Not word of her own
sorrows.
Scarcely could that happiness be real. And
had my long absence, had my miserable dis
asters made no change! Was still for Jen-
ME, the beloved of other days! .u
"What did you tell her!" said to my con-
fde entia comrade, the one-eyed commodore,
A bluff old hero, with as warm a heart as
ever beat under gold buttons. He had taken
ny letter and brought back Jennie's answer.
81 said you were battered about the hull
ill you were wreck" 80 q. M..n.
"And what did she say! Did she shudder
Is with aversion!"
"No; she sobbed and cried and asked me
{ yon were injured much, and said you must
,ave suffered bitterly; but she said. too, that
'ou must come to her. Miss, said, be is so
Knocked about that you won't known him.
ie'll frighten you. He's ruin. He has
hardly any body left. And then she flushed
o the brow. 'Give him that she cried, 'and |
ell him to come. If he has enough body
eft to hold his soul, I'll cling to him."
And where, in tale or song, in history or
able, is an answer recorded, of more heroic
'eauty? What'had I to teach her of honor, |
Hers was the honor of the heart-the truth |
If the soul--the fidelity and love of woman,
'orn to bless this world Mine was an honor
worn like feather in cooked hat-like an
paulet-ike spur. !. was regulation honor
honor by the rules of "the service" Jen-
lies was better than mine.
%*
lived with her near the old place. And
ny Wife, the lore of my early days, was still
he fond Jennie--gentle, tender, trustful--
nd from that day ! buried my ideas of the
ride of war. r.t
Jennie was my only glory, and she was
aithful to me forever. ..l