The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-11-04

for my cousin Cecile, to makearry adieux!-I
She's somewhere in the grounds, suppose?" /
"Just back there, under the great elm
where / left her, not aminute ago!"
He watched Medway's tall, slender figure
vanishing through the trees with feeling
akin to envy. HeY Aes Sss
She viii be glad to see him. he pondered
They Were playmates together in childhood F
some one once said they were sweethearts
before she met me, but was rich, and George
Medway poo, nd Good Heaven what
am saying what injustice am rendering
to Cecile !' 81 .5s-s 81. .sel5z
And so the two young men went away to
battle through the calm hush and sunny glow
of the July morning -and Cecil stood at the
door, her husbands cold, constrained kiss still
seeming to touch her lips like ice; his quiet
" Goodbye, Cecile," yet sounding in herears.
!" He never loved me never I" she sobbed
hysterically. al never held the key to his
heart! Else he would not have left me SO
calmly and coldly, when We have been we'd
ded scarcely year. Even George Medway
wept when he babe me adien; but my hus-
band leaves me with fearless eyes! No-he |
neuerl loved me !' p
How many;o of life's darkest riddles would
become clear as the day, could we but pierce
the veil of clay and look into one another's
hearts zsEI., zisza
The grim old Brigadier- General, sitting on
horseback, in the midst of believing artillery,
lurid clouds of sulphurous smoke and col
umns of moving soldiers, pocketed his silver
snuff-box as calmly as if he had been in his
own parlor at home. War was to him little
more than a scientifically played game--a
magnfed system of chess.
"Well," said he, composedly, as flushed
| and breathless officer rode headlong towards
him, that was bad business, that retreat
of yours, Metlway am told, however, that
Stewards company charged very finely. Hope
you haven't left many men to fall into Sc
cesh hards::''
No." said Medway, ashen pale, and gasp
ing for breath, g not more than ten or a doz-
en-; but, General, the captains down, and
what's worse, we couldn't bring his body
away :.
What, Stewart? !? Dead, do you mean h'
i Medway nodded, literally unable to speak,
"Ahm ejacnlated the General, raising his
grizzled eyebrows, sorry to hear the was
a fine fellow. Here comes Maynadier-now
we shall get some idea eff the left wings ma
4 neuvres.'' e
/ SO the fallen soldier was forgotten by the
man whose orders were his death warrant
And George Medway, reelng in his saddle
thought vaguely: el
How shall tell Cecile ? who will break
g the news to her ?"
The summer waned slowly away. Autumn
turned the fresh verdure of tree and forest tc
mantles of scarlet and russet foliage, and tn,
winter SHOWS lay white and silent on all TIE
| uplands, cleaning ike frozen pearl in th'
Echill moonlight, while festive lights shon'
through crimson curtains in the house wher
$ Hugh Stewart had once dwelt
There were but few stragglers at the sigl
of the Golden Eagle that night, for the wine
was bleak, and the air bitterly eold--so coli
indeed, that the landlord was inclined to tainl
obviously of the sanity of the traveller VIII
sat away from fire and candle in the dee
shadow of the window seat, his face muffie
in furs, and his very figure hidden by multi
tudinous wrappings."
! Better sit nearer the fire, sir, and have
bit O. something warm! !''
The strong man shook his head.
"Well, just as you please mere matte
of taste,'' said mine host, little offended
and then turning to the little circle rourd tt
cheerful blaze, he resumed the topic on whic
they had been previously conyersing.
, $ So you see they were married last weel
~ and a nice, handsome couple they make !''
9 Yes" said little, old man opposit
S whose face loomed dimly through a halo
: tobacco smoke; but weren't they in consi'
erable of hurry about it 7? It's not mo
d than six months since Captain Stewart die
o and; r- -
: "Oh, well ~ interposed another. aever
n body knows that Mrs. Stewart and sLieute
d ant Medway were old sw"ethearts, and nj
,r isn't apt to hesitate long about marrying
rich widow when she's willing" h =
| There was general laugh, and the subjc
was dropped in favor of something else.
.. At twelve O'Clock, when the guests We
all dispersed, mine host was not little 81
prised to see. his silent guest sitting in t
ID same posture and attitude as ever, and apI
l. rently as little disposed for conversation. =
ct "Stay here all night, sir? We've go
le beds and first rate accommodations"
n But the stranger rose up without a wo
OF and went forth into the freezing moonlis
e, to resume his journey.
p0 As he stood beneath the stately colonna'
a of the house which once had called him m
: ter, a low. wailing cry broke from between
parched lips.
ca Forgotten forgotten land she has m
,or ried again !! Oh, Cecile, had it been gou v
m died, 1 would have meurned you to my Ii
na end Itwas my love for you that kept
20 from the very jaws of the grave. i 400
ba not die and leave you-and I love you S
AZ though you have forgotten evensmy meme
ND Sweet wife-I would give life itself for
glance into your eyes yet no what is
love worth which will not cruelty itself
.seaI the dear ones sake ? will pass by, silel
w. and unknown, and you shall never DIRE
ely that that | am not iylng N a iAr-oi grave
mt. happy, Cecle, though my heart should brea