The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-11-14
NOVEMBER Ia, 1862 Number AZ.

friend wept also, and the tears were a strange
solace. She took Emily home with her-her
sister from henceforth. She might 60 back
to school another year, perhaps-at present
they had need Of each other.
How dreary the months were which fol.
lowed Emily was the first to learn resis-
nation for the loss OF her dead, who died 80
gloriously. Kate was haunted forever, as
she had feared she would bc, by the idea that
she had sent him to his death and not even
tho memory of his own assurances, those
generous last words of his, could give her
comfort.
The summer came-the summer OF '62-
bringing bird, song and blossom. The love-
ly salt scented sea breeze rippled the waves,
and shook the pine trees into melody. From
alar Miss Barclay seemed to catch scent and
sound. It reused her to wish to tread the
sea side rocks, and press her careless foot
steps In the white sands Of the beach. They
went to pleasant, quiet nook, which, US
yet, not enough people had lound to spoil.-
And there the roses began to come slowly
back to Miss Barclays cheek, and the light
to her eyes. She might grow cheerful again
in time, sho thought, If only her fancy
would cease to picture one awful scene-a
battlefield, where the setting sun searched
with red beams for the slain, and found one
face, q face she knew, with clear honest eyes,
and mouth that would never smile more
Did they wound him-mutilate him after he
was dead? She had heard such things-she
wished she could forget them.
Walking alone one day, she heard, on the
path behind her, voiccs--Emily's and anoth.
er. She turned suddenly, were her senses
dazzled? Did she dream? Do the dead
walk? She saw face over which Southern
turf must have grown long ago. unless it
bleached white long ago, unburried, on the
ghastly battlefield. Sight and sense failed
her. For the first time in her life shc faint
cd. When she recovered she only saw Emf
ly. The child spoke eagerly:
1T was my brother, alive, himself. lie
was wounded, not dead. They took him
prisoner. and last week he was exchanged.-
When he came to New York he found we
were here, and followed u.s.
She had poured the words into Katc's ear
with might and main, bent on making her
understand the truth. lest she should iaint
again. But such swoons don't happen twice
in one day. Miss Barclay comprchcnded all
now, and was herself again ready, with
courteous greeting, for him who came down
tho path-the returned warrior, with the
scar scanning his broad brow, and showing
how near he had come to the fate she had
feared.
lie had furlough to get well in, he said,
and then he was going back.
OF course he staid with them there at Sea
View for while, and Of course they nursed
and pettcd him as women always do their
returned braves. Ii was strange how soon
all the sadness went out OF her manner
One day he said to her:
You are too kind to me-.
Il do not feel as il could be- she an
swered, 'when I remember how much you
have suffered, and who sent you forth to
fight
He did not speak again for moment, and
then he asked u stransc question.
Miss Barclay, what should you think of
man, an honest man, who loved woman
dearly, and felt in his very soul that he was
her peer, hut did not ask her to marry him
because she was very rich and he was poor,
and he knew the world would brand him as
lortune.hunter
Miss Barclay blushed, but she answered
bravely,
IL should think poorly OF mans courage
whom the worlds opinion could sway in the
most bacrcu matVis VI hio hc"t anu hio
and IL he believed the lady would ever re-
member on which side the fortune was, l
should wonder at him for thinking her wor.
thy Of his love-
His eyes-thosc honest, earnest eyes
looked at her with something in their glance
which thrilled her heart with strange, new,
timid JOY. He only said:
Kate. you know love you. When I
fight again who will pray for me at home 2
Whose soldier shall be?'
l think her looks told him before her
words did, but he bent tenderly to hear the
answer:
'Mine!'