Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1861-09-28
WHAT OWE THE WAR.

by NATALIE HEATH
-o-
We were both standing together, Faith and
| |, by the railroad with some two or three hum
dred other women, young and old n crowd of
noisy children, and here and there an old
man, or half grown lad, all assembled to wait
the passing of the train that was bearing the
- Regiment on its way to Washngton1
There was Company from our Village
among them, though they had started to-day
from the State capital and many mother,
vile aud sister were in the crowd and waiting
tor q last look from the eyes that should meet
her again no more" it might be for years, it
might be forever P'-so that they were for the
most part very quiet and subdued, though
burning with IL sort of inward fever of impa-
ticnce for the meeting, that must be, after all,
so sadly brief SO terribly uusatisfyng.
Faith was excited. Her cheeks glowed, and
her eyes shone like stars and Ms she stood
there, her brown curls swaying in the breeze,
could net but think it great pity that she
had no brave young lover among the approach
ing volunteers who wonld carrY away IN his
LeHrt this radiant picture Of grlish grace aud
beauty. But she had not--only some acquaiut-
anccs and childhood friends so there was but
one dash Of regret to temper her exultatiUn in
their bravery, and in the holy cause they were
going so nobly to uphold.
AS for me, was very sad. My heart ached
terribly, because-strangest of all reasons--
had no one 10 gricve for
"Nol' thoughtbtterly, " there is not one in
! all the thousands, who are marching steadfast-
ly, day by day, TO meet death, if need be, to
whom | can say, God bless and keep you, and
bring you safe home to me again l-not one to
whom this parting will he the wrenching
asunder of heart-strings for my own sake"
And then came back TO me- or rather grew
more vivid in my remembrance,--for its image
always lay, night and day, in the shad0wy re-
cesses of my heart-the love that two years
gone by had made one summer of my life
long, bright dream OF perfect content, without
a single shadow of alloy, until, all in. mo-
ment, arose the terrible storm that was to
make such utter shipwreck Of my happiness.
How had it come about ! could hardly
tell even now. II seemed like some horrible
nightmare dream, from which there could he
no full and free awakening. ] had never
doubted him--not for a moment. No one who
looked into Cloudesly Carrols honest hazel
eyes ever did, or could, possibly, distrust him.
And vet had listened to ISLANDERS and foul
misrepresentations from those | knew hated
him with all the petty spite of their low, ven-
emous natures, and feeling all the while in my
inmost soul that he was innocent and true as
heaven. In my miserable pride had let him
20 without word or hue of explanation, or
J n single effort TO clear myself from the stigma
that mf own conduct WpoY me--drkle, false
hearted coquettc
Well, it was all over now and God knew
that with what measure meted, II was mea-
sured to me again. Had there been in his
heart the most Unsuitable desire for a revenge
il had been more than satisfied could he have
known my sufferings in the weary year follow
ed but there had not that knew. Bitter
anger there might have been, at frst--sorrow
of deep and lasting as his love had been pure
and true but never, never one cruel or wicked
thought came into that mind, that once SEEM
ed to me, in my foolish sef-conceit, almost
Quxotic in its high-minded chivalry.
oh it had borne fasehood upon its face,
the lie they tcld me-that he had courted me
for my wealth, that he had boasted of having
entrapped the heress !" had felt it lie,
had known it one and yet-well, well, it
was worse than folly thinking of all these
things now Cloudlesly was tar away-I knew
not where, only knew that he was doing good
service, wherever and whatever he might be.
And I-why was standing here beside the
railroad track, waiting togve the g God speed
to the New Jersey yolunteers and so, let me
think of that and nothing else-and heart, be
still give me affhour respite. You have done
enough aching in the past, God knows
And so came back to the contemplation OF
Faiths sweet face gazing earnestly up the road
"They are coming Natullc, am sure. lnhl
certainly was the steam whistle !"
Indeed, Faith, think not"
"Oh, dear, will they ever come? We've
been here at least an hour and n half !"
"Twenty-fve minutes by the watch Y And
: Suuire Ross, the middle-aged neighbor, who
was "looking after us held up his old-fash-
Toned chronometer provokingly near her face.
"Oh, Squire But it's five minutes to six
| and they were to be here at six"
"And will, most likely, Miss Impatience, i
you can manage to live that long"
" Natalie, have your boquet all ready Il
throw you know they'll not stopi only slack
4 en- speed"
, "Oh, DEAR cried Widow Green. "If onl,
a knew which side John was on Oh If shoulC
0 miss him after all ~
r Nellie Gray, who stood near and whom W,
all knew to have q brother and betrothe'
Il lover on the train, turned pale at the widow
Z, suggestion.
l aIf Will should happen to be one side, an
Malcalm on the o;herr she murmured unde
r her breath.
n "That was the whistle, know" erie
Faith exultingly. Hark, that is it again
They are coming, they are coming for certair
this time ~ And she clapped her hands
triumph
The sweeping engine swept on, like the fer
{ dragon of some fairy tale its cloud-like, breat
floating far behind. Gradually its speed slack
e ened, ''and slow by degrees" the train dre'
e near the station. There was sudden JOLT
l. louder shriek and the sound of a bell.
"Theyre going to stop, they're going
10 stopw Cried Faith wild in excitement.
N There was sudden rushing-the crow
II surged up around the passengers waiting plat
10 form
"Train stops five minutes T. cried the ster
* torian voice Of the man on the tender.
ID "Oh, Natalie, they are getting ont p wit
a n terrible squeeze of my handy "See, there
10 Jonny Green, Will Gray, and Nelson Spraugu
Come, come with me, must speak to him !
"A will want to send IL last word to Rose-she
h sick you know. Hurry dear and she dragge
II me along with her, through the crowd.
d, Suddenly she paused quite irresolutely.
I'd "oh, Natalie, there is Cloudy Carroll Sha
III we go back Z"
m But had seen him first, and although
of grew deathly faint, could not stop.
III No, Faith, you run oni can take care
myself"
er She gave me keen, searching glance. NJ
ur face was calm, though very white.
"Well, then, I'll be back in one minute 20
Il know they have but five to stay" And sh
or went off like a shot.
do Then crept through the crowd, crouchir
m almost out OF sight, until stood behind hir
ut must hear his voice once more, if | died
er the attempt.
ry He wore Captains uniform, and was Ii
on tening to some poor fellow, whose voice WI
th tremulous with emotion.
lid q This is terrible, captain-this having il q
| tha tp1lnxva