Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1853-01-20
Volume XVIII.-- Number 8.
have been taken for brother and SIS

George had offered his services Il
his country because he felt that
was a time when every true MAJ
should stand by her in every way, il
that day OF her trial. He received
no encouragement from Ada; sht
felt proud OF his manhood. sympa
thized with his generous self-denial
and notwithstanding the intensity o.
her affection was ready to meet the
separation with cheerfulness, and
incur the danger of losing him who
was enshrined within her heart for.
ever.
That lovers should be so separated
by conAiction tnat duty demanded
the sacrifice may excite our respect
but when they thus lay their hearts
upon the alter of their country, not
with the sad reluctance Of a CON-
pulsory penance, but as a free>wi!l
offering of natures so noble that they
feel even the happiness Of self-denial,
the spectacle becomes sublime.
George soon received a commits
sion from the Government, with
orders to join the army as soon as a
regiment then about being formed
should be completed.
The interval of a few weeks be.
tween the reception of his orders
and his departure passed with unu.
sual rapidity. Whatever time he
could command for himself was
spent with Ada, and their souls
ripened fast under that law of de-
veIopment which has its basis in
lofty purposes,-their affection, thus
sublimated and strengthened, struck
its roots deep in the generous soil Of
cultivated humanity, and lowered in
the atmosphere of unselfshness.
The feelings that their relative
situations called into vigorous exer-
else expanded their natures, sancti.
fled their affections, and united their
hearts in indissoluble bounds.
The very depth of their love for
babe an exuberance of external
manifestations, and certain romantic
Young ladies wondered at the calm
ness with which the soldier and his
betrothed appeared 10 contemplate
their fast approaching separation.
These sympathetic misses did most
violently assert that they could never
bear the thought of thus parting
with a new, elegant, and accom-
plished lover; that it would positive
ly kill them; but that il was never~
theless fortunate that there were
people in the world less devoted and
susceptible than themselves.
The exchange Of miniatures be-
tween lovers was, on the part Of
George and Ada, something more
than a mere compliance with usage.
They had both thought of the chance
of war, and it was with a saddened
feeling that each placed the counter
felt presentment in the hand OF the
other.
Ada, had fastened a white ribbon
to her picture, and as George re-
ceived it, he reverently placed the
treasure in his bosom. Ada ex-
amined her lovers miniature with
critical care; she looked at it earnest
ly, then at him; and changed her
glances from the portrait to the
original, and from the original to the
portrait; noting carefully the fidelity
of the latter, and observing, too,
wherein it fell short of a perfect
delineation. As she finished her
examination, she observed, "with one
thing in this likeness | am truly de-
lighted; your best smile is there"
After this she lifted the wavy hair OF
her bethrothed, and cutting off a
lock, remarked: 81 will have ring
with your hair and mine, George;
the braided locks shall be the token
of our union in this world, and the
circle shall be the emblem oil our
union through eternity.
These incidents occurred the eve-
ming before their separation
The next day George called to bid
farewell. After parting with the
other members of the family, he was
left alone with Ada, and clasping her
to his arms, repeated the expression
Of his undying love, imprinted a
parting kiss on her lips, and hurried
to depart, lest his feelings should
overcome him. He had just reached
the door when Ada exclaimed,
"GeorgeI" He returned, she took
his hand, led him to the window,
and gazed with loving intensity
upon his face; she pushed back his
hair, passed her hand over the entire
arch of his forehead, and looked at
him silently and long, her eyes ex>
hibiting the earnestness Of her soul,
while his gaze was entranced by the
spiritual radiance OF her beauty.
Slowly the supernatural expression
of her face passed away, and pressing
her lips to his, she said in firm bat
exquisitely tender voice, "Dear
George. good bye."