The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-08-22
The Ordeal By Fire.

her Dluc eyes num!u win indignant tears,
and an angry pallor overspreading her
cheek and brow. IA coward, aud / will
never speak TO him again"
"Nevel is a long word, Georgia." said
her sister, quietly.
"Ah, you can easily moralize on the
matter" was Georgia's angry re,ort.-
ole is not your lover-your pride is not
hurt by his singular conduct. Think Of
il, Eve yn-at time when every man is
hurrying TO protect the standard of his
country, he alone fingers. What can it
mean, but that he is a coward p
"Perhads he finds more urgent duties 10
perform at home" nterposed Evelyn,
quietly stitching away al her embroidery.
NO." said Georgia, striking her slen.
der fingers restlessly on the table /; "there
is no duty more urgent than the call Of
our country. o, il | were only man to
set an example 10 this recreant, OF wha,
man should be 70
elias he been here this morning ?"
asked Evelyn.
"Yes, with long array ofexcuses and
excavations, but did not listen to them.
1t was enough for me 10 know that he
had not seen fl TO obey my requests, and
l dismissed him without ceremony"
Evelyn paused with suspended needle.
Georgia ! you have not broken your
engagement ?"
"Certainly l have" said the young
lady, haughtily. IL would rather die an
old maid than unite my destiny to that Of
a coward !"
Il think you will live to repent it, sis
ter" said Evelyn, with grave brow aud
compressed lips.
II do not" said Georgia, tossing her
head, and walking out of the room with
the step of an empress.
She had loved Elwood We're dearly
she loved him still-but her pride was
sorely hurt by what she deemed his nm
manly conduct; and that very morn.
ing, when she had refused even to
hear him speak for himself, but spurned
him from her presence, she could not
Danish from her own mind the look OF
pain that had darkened his broad brow
She wished she had been less impetuous /;
il would have done no harm to hear aOhy
he had not rushed to his country's stand
ard with the rest OF the young chivalry Of
his native State. Yet still, a coward!-
Every drop Of blood in her slight frame
tingled with scorn at the mere idea.
She cried bitterly that night before she
sank to sleep. but nevertheless she re-
solved that no earthly power should shake
her firm resolution never TO speak TO FL.
wood We're again. And when Evelyn
stole quietly in, some two hours after
ward her young sisters cheek lay against
The pillow, wet with tears ,and flushed like
a carmine rose after an April shower
As Evelyn stood watching the fair sleeper.
she stirred uneasily, and deep sigh
fultered up from the current Of her rest
less dreams.
"Poor Georgia." muttered Evelyn
"She has taken decisive step this day
may it never shadow her life with regret"
Day after day went by, and Evelyn's
endeavors TO alter her sisters resolution
proved totally in vain. Georgia grew
more detrmined, and al length Evelyn
desisted, merely saying:
"You will break the noblest heart that
ever throbbed, dearest Georgia, and |
fear the day may yet come when it will be
n source of the bit;erest regret to you"
The young lady smiled contempluously
it was too late now TO retrace her steps
along the path of destiny. yet if Evelyn
could have penetrated into the recesses Of
her secret heart, she might have judged
her far differently. Alas! that we cannot
read the sublime mysteries Of the human
soul.
And the Cliffdale regiment marched
away to the wars, the silken folds of its
superb banner floating TO the breeze. and
the air resonan; with fife and drum and
pealing bugle and Georgia Lane was
foremost among the ladies who rained
bouquets Of flowers upon its way, but Ell
wood Vere's place was vacant in the en-.
thusiastc ranks.
"That was terrible conhagration up