The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-10-17
BlppEFoRD, MAINE, FRIDAY MORNING, {

other with fearless face. and the wall Of
yet deeper agony-'And told him would
not pray for him = Each with one purpose
Of fastening to her hero.
Miss Gage didnot delay. She put on her
bonnet and went at once to his mothers house.
Mrs. Dare received her coldly.
Il do not understand your coming here
now she began. am in too much trouble to
receive visitors. Do you know-have you
not heard
Everything. Can't you sec that it is kill
ing me? Even though you are his mother,
you would forgive mo if you knew what !
have suffered. | love him. ! did love him
all the while. / must, will 90 to him. /
must hear him speak my pardon before he
dies
Mrs. Dare's warm. impulsive heart soften
ed to the poor, anguish-torn creature, who
sank imploringly on the floor at hcI feet
She knelt down beside her. and folded her
arms round her and raised her up.
You shall go Clara; you shall go with
me, and pray God that We may yet look
upon his face again in this life. The train
leaves at four. Can you be readyT
You will find rue waiting for you at tho
depot
1t was we'll for Clara Gage that she had a
proud woman $ forti,ude. Once assured that
sue might go to him, she did not suffer her
limbs to treinble. or hor face to botray her.
With step us lofty us ever, she went home.
She met her father going up tho steps.
Father she said, speakins>with the calm
ness of one whose plans are all dxed--.Dey-
ereux is dangerously wounded, and am go.
ing to him. shall start at four with Mrs.
Dare.
Seldom rs q woman in any. position moro
entirely her own mistress than was Miss
Gage. Her father never thought of disput-
ing her will, or interfering with her purpos.
es. Moreover. he had never been informed
Of the dissolution Of her engagement, and
thought it but natural that she shOuld re-
solve to 20 to her lover. Hurriedly her prep
arations were made, and when Mrs. Dare
reached the station she found her companion
waiting Tor her.
II was midnight of the second day, when,
after long travel and many delays, they reach-
ed the hospital. For moment Mrs. Dare
held parley with tho surgeon.
Was /, safe to 90 to him? Would he
know them? Where was Ills wound?
Clara Gage listened for the reply, clasping
Mrs. Darc's arm with her nervous fingers till
it ached.
Yes they might sec and tend him; 1t
would do no harm but he did not know
them. he was delirious. His right arm was
shot away. and he had besides, severe wound
in his chest
WAS there any hopc?'
"A little-there might be a chance for him,
with good nursing. II looked more like 1t
now than it did two days ago.
Then they went to his bedside--thOsc two
women who loved him.
He lay there, his cheeks flushed, his eyes
wild with fever. lie was talking incohcrent-
ly-living over again, as itseemcd' the brave
charge in which he had fallen. At last he
murmured in tender tones.
You said you would pray for me, mother
Arc you praying for your boy now9'
Then, indeed, tears rained from his moth
er's eyes rs she stood bending over him.
But Miss Gage could not weep; had she not
said that she would not pray for him'
For days they tended him-nlmost 1t seem.
Cd without sleep or rest {; hardly knowing in
their anxiety, whether it was one day OF
many. There were slow steps from despair
toward hope; and by.and.by there came an
afternoon when he looked at them with caln
eyes. and spoke to them in his own voice.
Mother, you herc7 This makes home In
a strange land, Aud Clara
Miss Gage was not too proud then to sink
on her knees by the bedside, and her voice
shook SO with her sobs that he could hardly
hear her say,
Forgive me-,o. can your Ibid not mean
il when | said YOU were my enemy, and
would not pray for you. l have prayed tor
you Devercux.
And / have forgiven you, Clara. Not at
first, though; the sense Of wrong was too
bitter then. II was just before that last
charge. The bullets were raining thick .nnd
knew il was an even chance whether came
out of It alive. Then thought of you.
remembered how had loved you. The bit
terness went out OF my heart, aud that nigh
ty love surscd back. When the rest shouted
their war-cry only cried Clara y and on
we swept
No more talking. ladies, unless you would
lose all we have gained
1t was the surgeons voice as be went biz
round. and it put an end to conversation
that gave hack to Clara Gage hope and youth,
II was not until they had been able to 70
move the beloved patient by easy stages to
Boston tha, anything was said about the fu'
ture. Then, one day. he drew from his hos.
om ring fastened to his neck by a blue rib.
bon.