Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1862-10-31
CHAPTER ~.

Orleans the Stars and Bars are unblush.
ingly untolded to the breeze. Regiments
are quartered in every open space. The
streets shake beneath the tread of troops
of armed men.
Two miles out Of the city there is de-
lightful villa-the residence of Colonel
Grosyenor, once United States Senator,
f., now an officer in the Confederate army.
: Near the villa, temporary camp has
: been established, and the officers of the
regiment stationed there. diversity the
5 tolls of war with feasts and hirtations.-
Blanche and Lucy are in their native ele-
ment As for Isabella she has been
, strangely dropping since her return from
the North and shuns all gaicties. Mrs.
, Grosyenor, who has always been delicate
grows daily more an invalid, and sits
most of the time in her own ROOM
Looking into the drawing.room one soft
evening in early summer, we shall find
Colonel Grosvenor and Isabella aIOhe.-
ue is in full uniform, and looks finely.
"You 60 tonight said Isabella, with
tender sadness. There is no doubt she
loves him, for in this cruel daily life there
is 10 one else who is kind to her.
" Tonight, darling Belief"
And you do not bid them all good
byc"'
I" Pshaw who cares for or will miss
me-who but you, darling?" he said ten-
derly
She looked up into his face with an ex-
preston of simple, innocent affection. A
cloud swept over his countenance: lie
pushed back the massive, dark bralds
from her forehead and looked into her
eyes
DO you love the better than any ono
else in the word, Belle ?"
She did not answer.
"Speak r' he insisted, in voice that
trcmbled with emotion.
81 love you dearly" she said, and
with this he was forced to be contented.
But when the final parting came she
cune to him and wept passionately. As
he rode away, her innocent kisses fresh
on his lips, his heart beat with a keener
pleasure than he had known since carly
youth. If, as the hours chased each 9th.
er through that long night journey, We
could have looked into his heart we should
have wondered at the conflicting passions
which struggled there for the mastery
His thoughts were a strange mixture of
rood and evil, as indeed, was the man
himself'-passonate unprinclpled, loving,
tcnder-hearled, INSCRIPTIONS, cruel, win.
dictive, diplomatic, and brave
Dreams of future renown haunted him
visions of rcquitcd love mingled with
these Isabella, peerless, beautitul--why
should she not sometime ee his wife >
People who are always sick must die
sometime. How could Colonel Grosvenor
foresee the future If the fatal Destiny
which guided his fate had unrolled her
scroll and pointed with her wan finger to
the black lines which marked his course,
how would he have shrunk from the dis.
closure ,
Well that the picture was veilcd from
! his ewes, for it was this two armies meet
! inr-the shock, the thunderous roar, the
flowing rivers of blood one riding proud.
! ly at the head of his command falls sud-
denly, stricken to death by the unfalter.
inc bullet, No word Of prayer or peni-
tcncc, only a heavy lurch, a fall among
trampling feet conyulsive hands clutch
ing the red grass, one wild look into the
blue heavens, an exclamation of mortal
terror cut short by the cbbing breath!
Colonel Grosycnor was dead. Killed in
his first battle. The tidings came to the
gay home by Lake Pcntchartain. The
dreadful word, were whispered in the
very rooms which lately echoed his ten.
der farcwels to Isabella.
Mrs. Grosvenor rocked fcebly in her
chair and bewailcd the husband to whom
| she had all her life been Indifferent
Blanche looked grave as became her,
| Lucy sobbed till her head achcd, and went
to sleep,
Only one true mourner who would keep
his memory forever in her heart: Only
ono but thousands die and find no burial
in any human heart.
By-ana.by form lay in state in tho
great parlor, solemn words were read, and
military pageant wound slowly through
the streets, stately music marched grand.
", to slow, mourntul measures, and 80
the last signs of that lately eager life
was hid IRON sight.
And now came up the trials of daily
life again. Blanche, with her quick, pry-
ing eyes, speedily sought to know how
affairs had been left One single hope
animated her. She forced her mother to
investigate the condition of the estate.
You know papa bought Bella. l'vo
heard YOU say SO thousand times,
mamma"
Yes; but
Then why shouldn't she be sold away
with the rest Of the scrvants2"
For shame, Blanchel"
Why for shame? What is she to
us ? At any rate. if there's record Of
the purchase, and no free papers, she can't
help herself"
There were free papers, but Blanche
could no. know it for some months to
come, and in that time she made full use
of her opportunity. The threatened doom
was held over lsabela's head, inuendoes
were dropped, her position limited at to
all visitors, and every insulting epithet
applied to her.
Isabella bore it all with proud equan.
unity, A day came when she was re.
yenred