The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-07-17

promenades on the balcony in the
moonlisht's mild glow, when sweet lips
recited choice selections from Moore,
and white hands swayed dainty sandal
wood fans, with the potency of the
most despotic scepters; the sleigh-rides,
with their wild, frollicking fun, keeping
time to the merry music of the bells
and eliminating in the inevitable upset,
The closing exercises of the seminary,
when blooming girls in full effiores-
cence of hot house .cnlturc, making a
brief bnt brilliant display before retir-
ing to the domestic sphere-Oh, yes
Miss Dumars, were you not at the
Institute last year,"
eyes,"
Then you know my cousin, Jennie
Gregory ?'
Eyes, indeed-and you are her
cousin. How stupid in me not to recol-
lect it."
And she told him how that Jennie
was her dearest friend, and how i'm their
intimacy of confidence she had told
her-all about him, and shown her his
picture, and in short, Hugh and Annie
began to feel much better acquainted.
1t was few days after that Hugh
sat by the open window, listening to
Annie reading from the virtuous and
veraciOus Richmond Enquirer. Dis
tressed by what he heard, not knowing
whether it was true or not, he begged
her to cease torturing him. She laid
aside the paper with an emphatic Il
don't believe it - that could not but at
tract his attention, and he looked up in
surprise.
81 must tell you. Mr.. Gregory-I
have been tortured long enough with
this forced sesrecy-I am rebel.
"That is the name we know you by"
he replied, smiling.
But am rebellious rebel. Yes"
she added, rising, 81 detest, with all
my heart, this wicked, causeless rebel
lion. detest the very names of the
leaders of it. And yet l am compelled
to GO about with lies on my lips, and to
act lies, till l detest myself more than
all else. ! have consoled myself some
what by making flag and worshiping
it in secret. / will get it and show it
to you."
"This," she continued, returning
with miniature specimen of the dear
old flag, " is real flag, the emblem of
living nation, must be kept hidden,
its glorious luster fading away in the
dark vile that" pointing to where the
stars and bars were fluttering in the
breeze, "that miserable abortion is in
solently before our eyes, nothing about
it original or ugSestive-except its
stolen colors, reminding us of tie finan-
cial operations of Floyd. Oh! if hope
could be prophecy-it life that is an
unceasing prayer for the success Of
Federal arms could avail, it would
not be long before this bright banner
would wave in triumph over all the
land, its starry folds cleaning with a
purer, more glorious light than ever"
AS she stood there, with eyes uplifted
as in mute Prayer, and fervently kissed
the silken folds of the flag. Hugh
wished that his station in life was that
of an American flag.
Time passed OH and the prisoner was
to be exchanged for rebel officer of
equal rank. Captain Dumars brought
hum the intelligence, and was surprised
with the seeming Indifference with
which he received it.
"You don't seem particularly elated
by the prospect of getting among the
Yankees again."
81 am eager to take my sword again !;
but my stay from here has been far
from unpleasant. You, Captain, have
been away so much that | have not
been able to thank you for making my
imprisonment SO pleasant. l am at a
loss to know why You have shown such
favor to me especially"
"This is the cause" replied the cap.
tain, laying his finger on a breastpin
that Hugh always wore upon his coat,
at the same time unbuttoning his own !;
"you see that wear the same"
1t was simple jewell, embellished
only by few Greek characters, but it
was the emblem of one of these college
societies i'm which secrecy adds charm
to the ties of brotherhood. And it was
this fraternal tie, stronger than that of
Freemasonry, because more exclusive,
that made lIugh's pleasant imprison-
ment and made him happy in the love of
one faithful among faithless, loyal among
many traitors. For of course the read
er has surmised-for poetic justice
demands it-that Hugh fell desperately
in love with Annie, and Annie ditto
with Hugh. How he told the tender
tale, and how she answered him
whether with the conventional quanti-
ty of bushes and sighs, or not-is none
of your business, reader, or mine; SO
don't ask me amy questions.
1t was the evening of the day before
Hugh's departure. They, Annie and
Hugh, sat in the little porch, silent and
sad, watching the shadows slowly
creeping up the mountains side toward
its sun kissed summit, like somber
pail OF sorrows shrouding bright
hope.
And tomorrow you are Free"
"No, Annie, not free. My sword
will be free, but my heart will still lin
ger here a prisoner. But when the
war is over and the old flag is re-
stored"
"Then." and here her eyes were
cul al. .L, srl.,r;ouo l;,,bt sc ,.r,,