Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1862-10-17
FRIDAY. OCTOBER II. 1862.

innocent.look'ng blue eyes.
Mi,s Gage met her lover cordially enough
"a wary general does not commences 'he
attack until hc has reconnoitered the field.
II be can maintain his own line Of defence
and lure the enemy to leave covert and be-
gin The battle. 80 much the better chances
10 his favor.
She talked smilipgly abou. the weather.
She was going. ne,, week, to Newport
couldn't she persuade him to go' They
would have merry times.
Il shall have To do with other balls, be
SAID. q little re-olu,cly, determined that she
should bea, no longer about the bush Of his
purpose.
She raised her eyebrow. slightly.
'Siratosa
Virginia. rather.
n bid time TO so South. In summer
Necessity make. all time, alike. Did
you no, e, my noie''
'Wha,-,ha, pleasantly you sen, me
,hi. morning abou, snli.tins' Did you
think ! DID no, know bct,er9 Fancy Dc,e.
reux Dare rudsing through tho Virginia
mud, with that rolled up bundle. whatever
they call IL, on hi' back -
Ii i. we'll to fancy Il, Clara. I, will be
real soon. ! enlisted To night"
withou, asking me-
Forgive me. Ny lie wa, God. and my
country before 1t ~as yours. knew nav
duty. dared no, run the rick Of having
nv resolution shaken by your pcr.oa'ion'.
{ should no, bs worth your loving. Clara.
III should shrink irom wha, know am
called Of heaven to do
Il though. heavens call. were Of more
peaceful na,urc--,o preach or pray To men,
no, shoe, them. What does your mother
say
'lha, she will pray Tor her ab'en, soldier
every hour in the day. Her prayer. aud
your. will - my shield
'Iwill Hoi pray ior you The sirl'slip'
wbi,eneI with anger aud resolution a, 'he
spoke.
not pay Tor me -
No unlc,, ! DO % unvi,iinsly, in the
prayer we are laugh, to oGcr Tor our enc.
mics. You are my enemy It you 60
There Va. wa, nothing weak or irrcsolu,e
in Me. Cages face. Her voice wa. quie,
and even. Dare shivcrcd as it, hrm tones
fell on bis ear.
Clara. hc erred. vha, doc, this mcan'
You said YOU loved tue l,', nlcht'
|, mean. simply that, like mos. women,
| give IN such measure a. | receive. Last
night though, YOU loved mo
And - io, God knOs,!'
DO You think believe you' Would a
man Who loved a woman go away from her
to almo., certain destruction without even
the grace to tell her hi, purpO.c until aiiu
he had hai pledged himself! Why did no,
you come here before you enli',ed''
'Becau.e | was too covarily. You have
tho honest truth now. I loved you 30 we'll
,ha, | dared not trvs, myself TO your per
My duty. hope would have
been done in any case. hut ! shrank from
the strain my hear, strings would suaer IN
doing i, when you were holding b,ek.
\ halt suppressed triumph looked FROM
Clara Gage. eyes. She liked, even then,
this confession Of her power over him. She
dsteimired to ,e-, i, fully. As his mother
had done before her. she asked.
Why do you no, &c, commission !
know you could. II would bs bad enough
10 have you 20, AZ hest. !, IL 50 much ea.
,ier 20 fgh, where the martial music clashes
and the excitement Of the hour works heart
and brain TO madness. than 10 wait at home
and open every days newspaper as II !,
/, nigh, contain your death warrant. !
nigh, bear it; nigh, forgive your leaving
mc - cruelty. IL you went in a position
worthy OF your name. you so as private
I never will
Dare's courage rose now. Summoned by
her attack. i, leaped up and formed into
line.oi.ba,tle with quick bravery. lie an.
.wercd her as he had answered his mother
beiore-.ave her. with calm patience, al!
his reasons.
Her eyes hardened, looking WIDE a, him
with q cold want Of comprehension. Of Gym.
pathy. which he had never seen Ia them be.
fore. She waited until he was oil through.
when she .aii-oh 50 quietly
My mind is not changed. Ifyou so, as
you have planned, you go my enemy, not
my bvtroihed.' :
Passion heat OF the dark browcd Deyc.
reux, tempered to drmne's by the Dare per-
.i.,ency, rose mp in his nature and took tie
reins. Had he yielded then to her CON.
mands, - urgeh,ly given, believe thn,
nothing could have appca.cd the measure OF
his .elf.eon'enp, but to die bv his own
hand, like an old Roman. She had gone
a step zoo far. lie had no more persuasion
for her how. End scant courtesy. His voice
through her nerves like the sharp
whirr OF bullet
! accep, the position toward you which
you elect! Miss Gage, YOU had better ask
God to forgive you in time; your death'bed
will not DO easy without such mercy!'
She trenbled. There was that In his tone
and manner which appalled, her. Sc began
to feel that she va. q woman. and weak:
and he was man and strong. But che had
I'D x.hla his rnn