Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-10-26

could move him, steeled to vindictive
ness by the look of white pain be had
seen on Alice Devon's face. He made
no response. The next morning he, too,
went away.
Somehow, even Aggie French's heart
was touched by his hopeless, drsary
smile as bade her goodbye. Ger
tainly the Lady Magni6cent's visit had
not been productive of the expected fun
Miss Everett had gone away the night
before with Alice aud The Shoals babe
faiE to be presently deserted.
All that was last year-the summer Of
'62. 1t was September when Howard
Thorne found himself a soldier, with
the commission, urged upon him hslf
against his will, of first Lieutenant. He
was with the army Of the Eappahannock,
and before the summer came again he
had seen hard fighting, and held Colo
ners rank by virtue of his cool courage.
Courage, did Say Recklessness, per-
| haps, would have told the truth more
nearly. He wanted to dieeand so took
every possible opportunity to throw away
the life Of which he was weary Fer
that reason,. perhaps, Shot and shell
passed him by. Ever in the front, and
no ball hit him. They began to say he
bore charmed life when they saw him
with no scar on bis bronzed, handsome
face
At last came Gettysburg and the bull
let which sought his heart It was
turned aside little by book he ore
the book which held the blue treasure
.trove-so that, ghastly aud terrible as
was his wound, it was not instantly NOR
tai. There was small hope for him,
however; and one who loved him as
brother asked, when there was leisure
after the fight, if there was any one for
whom he would wish to send. All his
I pale face frightened gloriously. This
was the hour for which he had longed
and waited. lie dedicated only these
u VIC SEas S2s s2s .~Fszzz.
/ believe what J tlsprv- 90 say ,rnsn 20.
know it is my last words.
This, with the address of Alice Devon
on the cover.
Then he waited.
Five days were the least possible time
in which, allowing for no delays, she
could get the letter and come to him. He
thought his strong will would keep him
alive so long.
On the evening Of the fifth day he lay
with his face toward the wall Wrapped
r in thought, and tortured with searching
pain, he heard no football, heard moth
ing, until low, remembered voice, said,
, | am here
Then he turned his face, and saw Alice
Devon at his pillow.
= He waited for no greeting, ne inquiries,
y but spoke the uppsrmost thought first
Alice, did love you-only YOU
. That scene which you could not under
. stand was q momentary madness. She
touched me with her missry-hints o.
h the long, hopeless love she had cherish
4 ed for me all those years. was moved
= on the surface only. tell you, as dy
= ing man, that my heart never wavered. -
~ 1t was yours then, as it is now-as
=. will be when 60 back whence came
= to darkness and mystery
~ I believe you, said the low, swee
a tones. L began to believe it when
- heard of her marriage, six months after
4. I knew she had been disappointed, and
"A had been wrong and hasty.'
s No, not wrong; you had reass
- enough. You shall not blame yoursel
q. l never blamed you. But are you free
al Is this my Alice at my side?'
Your Alice; yours, and none others
ar Then shall die content
~ Throug gh all the hours of that nigl
re she sat beside him, holding, his hand
;fs hers, charming away his pain by h
IA voice and her touch. When the daw
- crspt softly up the slopes, and kindl,
the eastern sky to fame, he was sleepil
he a calm, restful sleep, for the first time
". all those days since he was WOUNDED
70 and the surgeon coming in, and standil
no watchfully beside him for a while, sai
an as he turned away:
dare not give you much hope, bu
ant begin to think think it just possible tn
mo he may live.'
on A little later, he swoke, and still !
,9e ices hand was in his. He turned to 10
at her dear face, and saw new light
the tender brown eyes. She bent o.
at him and kissed him, in the morning t7
. ohl light through which the sun had not
!. u broken, and with her kiss she whispers
ins The surgeon has been here, and
says it is possible you may live. Y
her you, try, for mef'
was 'Ay, that [ will answered his d
his tones, ferVently. Life, that was re;
she TO throw away, is dear enough now.
we mnst be that shall get we'll, now b
she Alice to live for. Pray for it, my q
,eak ling. God will hear such lips as you
Last week an invalid came bock.