Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1862-08-13

] light was her answer. he stopped 10 KISS il
away, but voices came perilously near. The
waltz was done.
"Give me something Of yours that has been
near you" he whispered.
She undid the belt that encircled her trim
waist, and gave it, with its gold and azure
clasps, into his hand.
God bless you, keep you from all harm,
and bring you back tol.-el''
! Her voice sank so low that he could scarce
ly catch the concluding words; but there was
no time for answer. 4 sudden ray Of light
shot in through the parted curtains, soft foot
falls and silIIen rustlings sounded close by them.
He bent low over her, and pressed his lips to
hers. Merry voices called them-the PhiliS-
tines were upon them. Lutte answered with
careless laugh, he with Jest as they min
/ gled with the crowd. Who could have dream
ed Of that last burning kiss, that voiceless fare
well.
An hour after exclaimed Evolyu Devereux
the hostess, Lutte Lodor, do you know you
have lost your belt and those lovely clasps
What pityl I thought had never seen
anything so pretty. shall have the servants
look everywhere"
Lutte smiled family at the thought of such
prOftless looking. Miles away at that very
moment, it was rising and falling with every
pulse Of the heart of Jack Centyre, as he rode
steadily and swiftly on in the darkness.
Let those who have kept vigil through long
months with hope and fear, tell how the weary
ensuing days passed for Lutte, if words can
tell if there is any expression for an undying
heart-sickness, a never-ceasing terror. From
society she was presently ostracised. Came
there one day, Mrs. Rawlinson, the outward
and visible sign Of that inward and mysterious
essence, principle, or quality known as the
tor" 4" Indignation throned on her bushy eye
brows, determination ensconced about the cor
ners of her mouth.
All! come here, you naughty child, was
her salutatiou, as Lutte entered; 1--WE were
talking Of you, were we not. Miss Primly
Aunt Rachel, who interpreted Alright the
Ominous quiet Of lips and mouth in her some
what rnmanageable ward, assented feebly,
while Lutte seated herself without other reply
than bend of the head.
Il came here to talk to you seriously" pur-
sued Mrs. Rawlinson, smoothing ilcr gloves
easily, and obviously embarrassed by the
steady gaze and formidable composure of the
culPrit. I knew your mother, my dear, and
l feel an interest in you. Young people will
be indiscreet will draw wrong conclusions: /:
no one knows better than I. A pretty girl of
eighteen can't be Socrates-we don't expect
it In fact, why should we expect it? AsI
said to the ladies yesterday, berthas not bat
ties pleasure not politics, is running in your
little head"
No answer to so much eondescension; no
appreciation of such elaborate kindness, either
expressed or implied; only ominous silence
stormy eyes and mutinous though yet quiet
lips, and Aunt Primly looking on aghast aud
helpless. Clearly there was no resource left
Mrs. Rawlinson but to bring out her heavy
guns and open fire.
Miss Loder, in committee of our ladies,
it was yesterday decided" continued Mrs.
Rawlinson, that while our husbands, fathers
and brothers are away fighting our enemies,
we cannot in justice tolerate them in our
ilidst. We have a list of ladies protesting
Union sentiments, and painful as it viii be, we
are resolved to cease all association with them"
The question is then, who are the suffer
ers?' FetOrted Lutte.
" I am sorry to say that your name is on the
list"
1t is honored then"
i" pleaded your youth and beauty in vain
You are more than suspected of Union feel
ing"
Why not say more than suspected of
Christianity, love of country, or some such
heinOus offence? ?" burst out Lutte. "IfI am
only suspected, let suspicion be changed to
certainty. I know no country but the Union.
I acknowledge no allegiance to any flag but
the Stars and Stripes desire no friendship
with traitors and ingrates."
She is madI' gasped Aunt Primly.
Worse T. echoed Mrs. RawIinson, solemn
ly.
Lutte rose to her full height
"Mrs. Rawlinson, tell your friends that the
poorest man that fights for his country against
treason and secession, is more honored in my
eyes than your proudest leaders. If I were a
man, my best blood should seal my words; as
a woman, am only sorry that cannot prove
my sincerity by a more costly sacrifice"
Mrs. Rawlinson rose, reddening and swell
ing,
Perhaps. All things are possible"
You have ruined yourself" quoth Aunt
Primly, in despair. And if to be sedulously
excluded from all recognition is to be ruined,
then Aunt Rachel was right The girls, her
old friends, passed her with giggle and whis-
Pers about strong -mindedness and abolition |
ism; the men with looks of cold reproof; the |
elderly ladies with real or affected horror.
Aunt Primly read her a daily bomily; Sc
cession was blatant all about her; not one
word, not even token of any kind, had she
ever received from Jack. Yet he was not
dead; for she read, with a thrill that who can
describe, in one ofthe local papers, that the
Jack Centyre had escaped, and
was serving in Buelrs army; but she stood
o.