The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-12-05
,AY MORNING AT ONE DOLLAR AND FIFTY CENTS PER YEAR.
BIDDEFoRD, MAINE, FRIDAY MORNING,

are YOU not? You will think Of inc some
times, and be sorry for me little, IL iall?'
You will not fall, Ethel said, resolutely,
forcing back the tears that threatened to
choke her. i shall think of you, and when
you como back shall welcome you, and be
proud of my friend
IF do not come back, he said, wringing
her hands as he turned away, God bless you.
! have not changed in my estimation Of you
because your heart would not let you be al
together mine
He went away with those words, and then
Ethel knew how she had loved him.
The next day came-thc soldiers were gone,
and Ethel Darricott tried to take up cheer
fully the remnant Of life left to her.
So the months passed on for moro than a
year, even to the terrible six days OF fighting
before Richmond. In all this time Captain
Revere had never been seriously wounded,
and had never left the post Of duty. Other
men took slight furloughs-some on slight
pretexts-and came home he never. Per-
haps he felt that he had no true home, and
no hope to lure him Northward, and so grew
reckless Of lite. Miss Darricott meanwhile
watched the papers anxiously. She saw his
name often where brave deeds were told,
heroic valor praised; and still he was I'M.
harmed.
But at last fate and the rebels were too
strong for him. In the battle OF Centreville
he lost an arm, and was severely wounded
besides in the hip. The hospitals were full |;
and as soon as ho could bear moving he was
sent home. II was some weeks before he
could walk at all. and then he was told that
sea AIR would help to recruit his exhausted
energies, and sent of by his physician to
Newport.
Perhaps he went the more willingly be-
cause he knew that the Darricotts had a sum
mer cottage there, and in his secret heart he
was conscious Of longing to SEQ Ethel again.
And yet Grace had been right when she d..
yined that he would never ask a second time
the question he had asked on that February
night. To have been twice rejected by the
samo woman would have been to him q NOR.
al impossibility.
He had been in Newport week before he
called on her. He had trusted to meeting
her FIRST by some accident. But she was ev.
identity very retired. He concluded that for
tune was not on his side and as he really
wanted to see her very much, gave over wait
ing for lucky chances, and went there.
She was alone when his card was brought
to her. She knew OF his wound-knew what
changes to expect in seeing him. She staid
in her room long enough to fortify herself,
and make sure that she would betray no un-
called.for emotion. With face and manner
schooled to mere friendliness she went down.
Her selfcommand almost failed her as he
came to meet her with halting step, and she
saw tho empty coat-sleeve hanging at his
side.
Il am home for good now,' he said, with
an evident effort to bear himself cheerfully.
1T is great disappointment. l had so ho-
ped to be able to help on the good cause till
it reached the triumphal end, which is sure
to come
Then you have no doubts Of the final re-
suit? Ethel asked, forcing herself to speak,
and knowing that she could not trust her
voice on any subject less general.
Not doubt The great cause OF human
liberty is not to receive its death.blow in
this land or this day. The world has been
tending for centuries toward this culmna'
ting point. The battle is not between North
and South merely, but between anarchy and
government, honor and dishonor, right and
wrong. Our country is only the great bat
tie. ground for the conflict Of all the ages
Do you think in such an epoch the right
could fail ?
Ethel's face kindled in response to his ca
ger glance. Then she looked at his arm, and
signed as she said, softly,
'How much it cos,s!'
We set small value, you know, on that
which we do net buy dear he answered,
with that grand, bravesmilo ofhis. u think
no price could be too great to pay. would
have given life as cheerfully as gave what
did; but then that is not so much to say
for man who has no ties to make lie pre-
cious.'
.woald you have staid AT home II i had
answered you differently that nisht9'
Ethel never could tell how she came to ask
this question. The words seemed to utter
themselves without her volition. She could
have bitten her tongue of for speaking them
moment after.
He looked at her, little surprised per-
haps, yet not displea'ed, for the kindness of
his smile did not change and his voice was
almost tender as he replied,
No, I should not have staid at home even
in that case. Duty is duty just as much
when man has everything to make 1t hard
to do it, as when any great disappointment
makes all sacrifices easy
Embarrassed beyond expression by the
question. she had asked, she did not know
how to take up the conversation. just then