The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-11-21
NOVEMBER 21, 1862

ngo and hope, 'he will do his best" Tor
saw Il plainly then. that between the chance
Of going back to my mothers home, and
the chance Of meeting all the unknown
terrors of Southern prison or Southern
mob, my only hope in the wide world was
the fidelity Of this one impulsive boy.
What long night It was! Sometimes l
sat still, trying to gather my whole soul in
to the resolution neither to hope nor fear,
neither to think nor feel, only to keep my
faculties steadily poised for action when the
time should come. Then l would 80 about
my room, making what preparation could
safely make for my departure. And then,
when my heart ,couid choke me, and my
eyes ,oouid fll in spite Of me, ! would come
back to my chair and try to tread under foot
these merely personal troubles, IN awe OF the
fearful future impending over the nation
The twilight faded, and the moon made the
shadows black under the trees. No one
came near me. The clock below stalrs
struck seven; then in strangely short time
for 1t seemed to me that an hour ought to
appear an age-it struck eight, and then
nine, and ten, and eleven. But l was
growing weaker. The suspense and the ut
ter helplessness grew heavier rs the night
deepened and the house became still. I took
up my Bible, but I put 1t down again. 1t
told inc too much Of what had been mine in
the dear North; what would be mine again
IL ! could only be there once more. AT last
came and knelt down before my chair and
laid my head on my arms. / said not n
word-I felt that there was no need. He
knew the whole, and Hc could help me-
And so by degrees camc that other feeling,
and lie was near me-was my fricnd-would
arrange everything for me in his own way (;
and with that feeling came rest and patience,
and finally forgetfu!lness.
Something startled me. twas something
Mt the door. The whole must have flashed
on me in an instant, for was there when
the door was flung open. Mr.. Baker stood
there with lighted lamp in his hand.
Pack up your traps, said ho, boat starts
in half an hour. My compliments 10 Yam.
kee land
Did any other lady ever pack her trunk in
fifteen minutes? did that night, leaving
chaos and wild misrule in the wake Of the
process. Just as il was finished / went out
into the hall to take my hat from its nail,
and paused moment-I must confess it, |
suppose at hearing Harry Kcnt's name
spoken in Mr.. Bakers tones in u side pas
sade.
The fellow kept us there said he, talk
ing chivalry till after midnight. COn.found-
ed shame! Sach q case ought to have been
dealt with some different way. Tha. chap
would never take no for an answer
found the chap at tho door when went
down. He merely took my satchol in pass
ing, and left me to his companion, subs'an-
tial gentleman of the place. going to Carles-
ton on business, who politely offered to take
charge Of me. When was seated in the
carriage, my travelling companion choosing
the outside, Harry looked in moment to
say goodbye. At FIRST he gave me his hand
with all proper ceremony, then suddenly
looked up, in his quick way, and said, as If
he hardly meant to say it:
viii you think of me as rebel. Miss
Carr, or only as Harry Kcnt?"
"A rebelT said l, bending forward, and
speaking very low. .Oh, think of 1t once
more, Mr.. Kent
TOO late, now,' he answered, 'l've enlist
ed
Ard the carriage moved away.
Months afterwards was returning home
late one evening, and there, talking with
my mother in the lighted parlor, sat Harry
Kent. lie was so pale that my FIRST aston.
ishment changed to sudden alarm. WAS he
ill?' l asked.
NO. only wounded he replied, smiling.
"A mans normal condition now, you know. ;
Even then saw it, but It was not till
long aftcrward that l realized fully how
much he had changed. Ho had grown older,
as men do grow older in these earnest times.
The boy had passed at step into full man.
hood; and the young, lavish overflow Of
energy. had settled into enduring, effective
purpose for oil the future. did not wonder
when heard his story. He had remained
in the rebel service. he said, tho misgivings
which had entered his mind on that evening
growing stronger every day. When the
news came that his own State had been in.
vaded by the Southern armies-tben he at
once resigned his commission and returned
home. His father received him as the prodi.
gal was received. Don't be false to your
own State, said the true-soulcd Kentucki.
an; go to work, II you must do anything,
to rid our own soil from these INVADERS
And Harry had obeyed. II was under his
own country's flag that ho received the
wound which had sent him to the North for
healing. Il couldn't deny myself one day
in Westmore,' he said; but the day became
six weeks before Il was over. Then he went
back again to his great work. with my
mothers blessing and mine. And ever since
seem to live only to read and answer those