The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1863-12-07
".Anv mails for us to-

| msr, heartily. ".Any mails for us to-
nightP w g@(fL< f[E II.
Nothing -.9 =. - .Yt
What strange smile epassedover his face
as he saw the sudden ..drep of Bessie At
terly's eyslashes-the quiver around her
mouth. l-
"Nothin'i That's queer. You see our
Bessie's feelin' kind O. worried cause she
don't her nothin' from Henry lves.'
81 got q long letter tonight from my
cousin, who is in the same company, you
know He says" 6Iy
James Grayling paused, little malicious
ly, to note the anger sparklein in Bessies eyes
as she leaned forward with reddening cheeks
and intent look.
"What does he say?" she gasped.
"Wel, I'm afraid you'll feel badly about
it; but he says Harry Ives was captured,
with half dozen Others, by a skirmishing
party about week before he wrote"
Captured !"
dyes: and that isn't all. He says they
didn't half believe Harry Ives cared wheth-
er be was carried down South or not; for
he had taken a great notion to some pretty
girl down in Virginia. planters darter-
and"
81 don't believe it, James Grayling,'" said
B essie. springing to her feet, with flashing
ewes and passiou-cr -crimsoned forehead; |
don't believe word Oft. You are repeat
ing some vile falsehood"
"I knew you'd feel bad" said Graylnng
with provoking mildness, "but | thought
you ought to know how matters stood
can show you Sans letter, if that will be
any more satisfactory. never had much
faith in Harry lves-a careless, dashlpg fel-
low, who"
"Hush! will not listen to another word, y
calculated Bessie, angrly, and with Ger,
tain strange dignity in her girl-tace and
slender form.
"Mr. Atterly," said GrayliEg, with aggra,
vatiag moderation and calmness, chow long
is it since your daughter received letter
from Harry lves?" ,r
"Well, its a pretty consid able spell,
said the old farmer; "but letters do take
time to reach us you know"
Yes, particularly when they are never
SENT" sneered Grayling.
Father, don't listen to him" soobed
Bessie, passionately. "lfthe whole world
were to tell me Harry Ives was untrue
would not believe them"
And Bessie tainted quietly away, with
her chestnut braids of hair dropping over
her fathers knee.
Poor child! Could she but have seen the
weary months of waiting for the letter which
never came from the far off Southern hills,
the hope deferred which maketh the heart
sick, that were in store for her, she might
have been sorry that she had not died, then
and there, holding fast to that firm faith IN
Harry Ives fidelity.
James Grayling, crafty patient man,
bided his time. 1t came at last when the
tender green of the hill-sides shrivelled and
grew brown under the starry silent fFosts
of the bitter December nights, and the
keen winds rushed with thunderous swell
through the lonely pine forests In these
wild soitudes.
daughter, it's the dearest wish OF my
heart" said farmer Atterly, solemnly, as he
sat with Bessie in the old, silent room.-
'Tm gettn' we'll up in years; and ii could
but see you married to some good and true
man before am taken away, | should rest
easier in my grave. James Grayling has
been almost a son to me these months OF
trial and trouble. He is coming for his
final answer o-night Let it be Yes!'
Bessie shuddered That year Of sick,
wistful grief had changed her into pale,
fragile girl, with large fragile eyes, ever
rowing from side to side, as it vainly seek
ing something that never came.
"Wait, father" she murmured eagerly,
as if pleading for sweet life itself: "Wait a
little longer, only little longer"
81 hare waited, Bessie. 1t Is year an
over since Henry Ives has sent you either
word or message, He may be dead; better
dead than scoundrel! but James Gray
ling has been as true as steel to me all this
time. He deserves you, Bessie; and when
YOU arc once married. you'll learn to love
him. Shall We say this day mouth for your
wedding, mother"
That night Bessie laid her cold hand in
James Cravings eager palm, and SAID
Dyes dreamily to whatever he proposed
What had life left for herl As well be
James Grayling's wife as anything else,
since God willeG that she should live and
suffer on, and the dreary path of years lay
spread out before her listless feet :!
The old smoke stained walls were wreath
ed with feathery garlands of ceder and pine,
with the scarlet berries Of the mountain ash
glowing here and there; the great fire roar
ed up the chimney with festive sound. and
all the neighbor, were gathered round Farm
er Atterly's hearthstone; for pretty Bessie
was to be married that night.
"She don't lock as bride ought TO- some
how" whispered Mrs. Deacon jennings to
her companion, Nahala Bird. "She seems
to me jest like one O them white snow
wreaths lyin' down in the holer yonder
"Maybe it's that white Dress" said Ma
hala; shut she doe, look like corpse. Land
O. Goshen ! what be | a-sayn'2 1t amt
good luck to talk about corpses on wed
ding night"
For the pretty bridemaids had Just led
Bessie in, robsd in pure sbeeny silk, with
snowy geranuims in her hair, and not a
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