The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1863-06-11

raised himself on his elbow, and was
gazing wildly around the tent.
"ls that yon, Hugh: And they said
I should drift out with the turn Of the
night! That hour is at hand-and there
10 something I must say to Hugh Go.
vinp,on first"
II am here, Charley-close BY you
what is it, old friend ? What shall say
to Marian for your
The head dropped low on Covington's
shoulder, and his strong arm received
the sinking form.
| "There is letter in my breast pocket
he gasped. "Oh Hugh, l have wronged
yon, sorely; bu, yon will forgiv. me
now Marian's letter."
They were The last words he ever
spoke, and when Covington laid the
heavy head back among the pillows, he
knew that Charley Dacre's soul had
gone upon its long journey, through the
solemn hush Of midnight.
Mechanically he rendered the last few
Offices to the dead, and then sought az
mechanically. in the breast pocket indi.
Gated by Dacre's last words, with an
indistinct sense of some unfuilled mis-
sion on his mind. 1t was not vain
search. for he drew forth n letter, folded
in piece Of blank paper. But the let
ter was in his own hand writing, sealed
and directed to Marion Howard-.he
very letter which, more than year ago
he had entrusted TO Charles Dacre. 10
place in Marian's hands-the letter
avowing his own love. She had never
then, received it, and Dacre had woed
and won the lovely prize with this stain
of treachery on his soul!
For moment the blood .urCcd hotly
to his face for moment bitter sense
Of resentment cut keen!y to his heart
-bnt. even in the same breath, he
knelt down beside Charles Dacre's dead
face and murmured half aloud
"Charley- my earliest friend may
God forgive me, in my hour Of sorest
need. as truly as I forgive you"
For he felt neither anger nor resent.
ment were meet in the awful presence
Of the death angel.
The red autumn leaves :ay in heaps
above CT aries Dacre's grave in the vii
lage church yard, and the same leve!
sunset that gilded The edges Of the
marble tomb stone, smiled in through
the muslin d,aperies of Marian Howards
little bondoir. She was a l!ender,
sw ct faced girl with violet eyes, lor 2
soft auburn curls, and cheek ordinarily
pale, but just now it wore deep flush
for Hugh Covington sat beside her
talking in low earnest voice.
mo, have told you my life long
love, dcarest--is the recital all in vain
Nay, do not endeavor to spare my feel
ings ; it your heart is indeed bu,ied in
yonder grave, will bear the dissapoint
ment like a man."
"Hugh,' said she, softly, RI have al.
ways loved you. The time was once
when tancied I liked Charles Dacre.
but"
She took fr I'M her work stand the
sealed letter that had laid on the deatl,
bed among the Marylsnd hills.
"Dearest, it you will read that you
viii learn that ! returned Cha.les
Dacre's pligh:ed troth while still
deemed him living and prosperous. l
respected and esteemed him, but never
loved him."
Hugh Covington read the letter, and
knew with a thrill Of unutterable rap
tnrc, that Marian's heart was all his
own.
Even then, however, he was true to
the memory Of the dead man, and Mar.
ian never learned the false part Charles
Dacre had played toward the friend
who would have died to shield his fair
| ~ -L So -