M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1860-03-01

us ohN lIHhJ uooCllSu lllll W w dI
least Of gentle blood, but no clue had
been discovered to lead to the so
luton Of the mystery which enshrOud-
cd him. But fortune had cast him
among kind friends, who never allud-
ed to his early years, and his life thus
tar had been pleasant one. The ar
my was his cloice, partly from his
bravo and adventurous spirit and also
because he longed to win name by
his own ey ertions. Then hehad long
cherished q deep love for Eva, his
patrons daughter. She was very
beautiful, very say, and lively, and
really possessed Il heart kind and low
ing as ever Walter had supposed, al.
though under the mask of cOquetry
the brilliancy ofthe gem was Gimmed.
Never, till the morningo his depNr-
Eture had Walter brea;hed his love;
then how bitter the anguish OF his
heart. Coquet.ish she was to others,
but he had never thought she could
be SO to him. How had he not been
deceived!
And Eva was sad after his depar.
ture. 1t seemed as though a deep
cloud had fallen upon her spirits. She
lrcquented his (avorite haunts among
the groves of Stanburg, read the books
he loved, and secretly treasured each
memento Of him. The wild rose bios.
som he had given her the eve before
his departure became his dearest treas.
ure, and in her solitude many tear
bedewcd its withered leaves. Yet to
herself only WAS known the cause of
her grief; and if her friends reproach.
ed her for detection, and alluded to
Walter as its cause, her evident dis
pleasure silenced all remarks, if not
suspicious.
Time sped, and many rumor of
Walters bravery reached Stanburg
Kali. In foreign service he had sig
nalizod himself by many a noble and
valorous act. In his letters he even
alluded to Eva as a brother might to
dear sister. But at last the veil of
mystery was upiited. The com.
mandfng officer of Walters division
had ever regarded the young man
with interest. lie saw Or iancied
resemblance to his own lamented wife,
yet the young soldiers history was un-
known to him. At last in a desper-
ate engagement Walter saved his life,
and gained q dangerous wound. De
lirium followed, and for many weeks
General uarcourt watched over him
with the affectionate anxiety OF faith.
er, for to a strong interest for him was
now united gratitude. The crisis
passed, and Walter was convalescent.
But not only vas he restored to health;
a fathers arm encircled him, q name
awaited him. In the young soldier
Gen. Harcourt found long lost and
only soA. Many remarks from Wal.
ter's lips during his delirium had ava.
kened suspicious in his mind that this
was indeed his son who had been sto.
len from him in infancy by a band Of
gipsies. His history confirmed them,
but proofs incontestible were not want.
ing, and when Walter returned again
to his native shore it was not as a
nameless pr0tege, but the brave and
noble son Of General Harcourt.
1t was with fearful joy that Eva
Montgomery heard his fortune. How
heavily did each word uttered that ia.
tai morning ofhls departure press up.
on her soul. Absence had endeared |
him to her. His memory was u wor.
Shipped idol, and tho thought that she
must meet him and know he loved her
no longer, VAS moro than she could /
bear. lie came and greeted her with |
all brothers. ioudness, but she felt
wide barrier existed between them. -
As Of old they were much together,
but Waller's every expression was
guarded from aught that told of more
than brothers love. Poor Eva, how
bitterly did her heart grieve. She
was sadly changed; herwild unbound
ed gaiety had given place to a thought.
fulneSs, even melancholy.
One day she wandered far through
the park to a rustic bower, a tavorite
retreat in by.gone times. She had a
little volume OF poems, Walters gift,
and as she turned the leaves many a
glistening tear-drop fell upon them.
There were penciled mementoes of his
hand, and the sight awakened many
slumbering thoughts. A withered
rose dropped from the pages and Eva
exclaimed with Sigh as she pressed
it to her lips, ~.
"Withering.. withcring, all are withering-
All Of Hopes flowers.
Oh, Walter, has not my punishment
been bitter? 2" '.'.' '
Eva, dear Eva,p said deep voice,
and ere she could speak Walter Har.
court was by her side. "My own
Eva" he continued, "this witbered
rose and those tears tell me that | am
not unloved. Eva, will You revoke
the past and assure me that your heart