Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1863-04-02
NELLIE's CONSENT.
MABEL PAYSON.


slight tremor was in the sad, but sweet voice,
as these words were spoken and the glance,
which the speaker threw up at the young men
by her side, was full of tender reproach.
Harry Moore the betrothed husband of the
young girl who had spoken, drew her still near
er to him as he answered.
"1o leave you Nellie All, that it is which
pulls so hard at my heas 'he bonds that bind
me to you are hard to break -Ahad it not been
for this should have been fighting Tor my coun-
try months ago. But how could leave you,
my own promised bride-my heart ached at the
very thought, and so weakly staid. see now
that was wrong. Self ought and must be put
aside at such times as these. Now when so
many are needed TO uphold our country, my
patriotism, my manhood, bids me refuse my ser.
vice no longer"
"And you will leave me?" Every drop of
blood in her body seemed to rush to her heart
which gave wild throb, and Nellie Blair asked
the quest on with pale lips, in mere whisper,
sorrowful and low
"Not without your consent, my Nellie-but
that hope to gain, Harry fastened to say,
giving her loving kiss the while.
"Not without your consent" Nellie seized
upon these words, entirely passing over the re-
mainder of the sentence. Not unless she con-
sented? Nellie frightened up Immediately. He
would not leave her then, for she never could
consent to his entering the army; the dear child
shuddered at the very thought. Looking up
into Harry's face with bright smile she said,
Trhanks, thanks dear Harry; l thought you
loved me too well to go away from me-"
"God only knows my darling how dearly 1
loye you, but this
Nellie interrupted him. Playfully placing
one hand over his lips she raised the other as if
in entreaty saying half laughingly, half in earn
est, "Not another word will hear Harry then
continued more soberly, 81 know all you would
say, but never can consent to this"
After receiving an ardent kiss, the hand was
removed, and then, with it casped closely in
his Harry said,-
"My, sweet Nellie, does not think now, how
great is the need of men-does not think, that
our only hope OF restoring peace, to our dis
tracted country, lios in largo army. When
she thinks of this, am sure she will give me
God speed and bid m. go
81 cannot Indeed cannot. 1t would break
my heart"
'Breall your heart No indeed-I know
your heart to be strong and brave in need"
"But cannot let you go-do not ask me ~
Nellie pleaded.
Very beautiful Harry thought the face that
was turned towards him with that beseeching
looll-and he felt truly thankful for the love of
| so loving heart-and he answered while car
essing the pretty head
"Well Nellie dear we will let the subject rest
for tonight. You are to decide the matter, and
l do not wislryou to do it hastily. feel sure
that when you have considered the subject, in
all its bearings you will agree with me that l
ought to CO."
A little shake of the head, said Il shall not,
but Nellie was only too glad to dismiss the
subject from her mind
T But long after she retired that night, did she
lie awake thinking of what Harry had said.
How the mere idea of his leaving her, hurt the
loving heart He must not go she said to her
self Her conscience accused her. Harry had
promised to abide by her decision. Would it
be honorable, would it be right for her to keep
him back from what he plainly considered his
duty? Her patriotism too bade her give him
to his, and her country, but her heart pleaded
| AGAINST hnih Sha 1ovpd him so
And then, she was not sure that more men
were needed. The full quota for V had been
filled. Even were they needed there were 9th
ers who could send some one of theirs
better than she her all. Other towns might
send their men as well as V. No, Harry must
stay.
All, Nellie, Nellie can it be that you are the
girl who few months ago wished you was a
man-and who said if you was you should be
ashamed to be seen at homen
Nellie Blair the heroine () of this sketch
was an orphan. Two brothers she had in the
Federal army-these two loved brothers and
the maiden aunt with whom she lived were the
only earthly relatives she had-so reader dc
not Judge her harshly, that she clung so to hel
betrothed, that she was loath to give him up
even to her country
Circumstances delayed the further urging oi
Harrys plea for several weeks. The day fol
lowing that on which the foregoing CONVERSE
ton occurred there came news of Il terrible
battle. The regiment in which Nellie's brothers
had enlisted was engaged in the fight, and Har
ry instead of endeavoring to gain Nellie's con-
sent to enlist, hastened to her as soon as the
news came, to comfort and help her keep W
, brave heart, and hope for the best.
a weel, of anxiety passed and then came {
letter from one brother, informing Nellie thai
both were safe, but that Charlie was wounded
lie was doing well however, had obtained {
furough and would probably be at home with
in a week or two.
This was joy indeed for Nellie, She i'm
mediatey set about making preparations fol
! his arrival, fer he should enjoy himself while HI
was at home, if possible
! Harry could not bear to throw a shade owe