The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-03-20

dressing room between their two rooms,
and talked together as girls do after balls.
Only Ethel was more silent than usual, and
her cousin Grace watched her anxiously
but furtively.
"Have You lost something's" Grace
inquired at length, with covert meaning
in her tone.
"No, l believe not" glancing at rings
and bracelets.
"Lost not good word, perhaps. Imean
have you not thrown away something to-
night which you will want, and seek for
vainly as the year goes On?"
Ethel's eyes fell beneath the keen yet
kindly glance which searched her face.
Her cheeks colored Her answer was a
question scarcely to the point
SLOW do you know everything, Grace
How did you guess this?"
81 saw it all in a pantomine. Words
could not have been SO expressive as your
face and his. I am sorry for believe you
love him."
81 fear l do. But he did not ask me
that; he only asked me if could be his
wife,"
"And you told him no? l am sorry,
for do not think he will ever ask again.
If you love him why not marry him?"
because feared l might stop loving
him some day To live the listless aimless
life we women do is bad enough. 1t Of
tends both my tastes and my principles to
see man idling away his life in this work,
where SO many harvest fields are wait
ing"
Grace looked at her cousin with a
changed expression.
81 thought understood you Ethel and
yet | should never have given you credit
for such reason. What you say is GER
tainly right in the main, only l do not
think it applies to Mr.. Revere. There is
a difference between an idle, aimless life,
and one of waiting till ones right work
comes"
"What makes You reckon Mr.. Revere
among the waiters?''
Because it is not in his nature to like
idleness or inacton | can see that he is
FESTIVE under it. But he is not fond Of
vain labor Or wasting strength. Did you
never learn that those who wait serve al
so? Howard Revere's time will come, and
his lite will be one not to shame any wo-
man that loved him. But it's useless talk
ing now. 1t would not be like him ever to
say over again what he said tonight
Ethel DarricOtt tried to be light-hearted
when she was alone; but it was clear
failure, and she gave up at last to the tears
that would come. Her Cousins words dis
qnieted her strangely. Had she, indeed,
thrown away the one pure pearl Fate would
profleT her in this life, and would its white
glory never again gladden. hearts and eyes,
though she should seek a place of repent
ance even with tears?
so it went on till the surrender of Sum-
ter, and the call which summoned the loyal
, North to arms. Among the first to vOlun-
| teel his services Was the man she had
| thought so fond of ease and sell, so fearful
Of fatigue, so lGggard in the race of life.
, Ills name was eurollcd is 1t private at first,
but his company chose him for captain,
and so Captain Revere led them on to the
, defence Of Washington.
/ Before he Ictt he caiic,l 10 bid Ethel
gGol-bre, but other guests were in the
drawing room, and ne did not see her
! alone. Only when he was leaving she
/ stepped to the GooT, with him, and he held
| her hand f." q moment. Perhaps that
touch coI!i.!red lis soul to lis lips. At
! any rate he said What he had not meant
! t. say.
! ''lou are not all to me that l once
, hoped YOU would be, Ethel! but you are
l1y iiiend, arc You not? You will think OF
lie sometimes, and he sorry for Inc q little
! il I f,ll:"
! "You viii not fall, Ethel said resolute-
| ~, forcing back the tears that threatened
to choke her. s.! shall welcome you, and
! be proud Of my triend'
II | do not colre back" he said,
wringng her hand as he turned away,
Good bless you. l have not changed in
my estimation Of you because your heart
would not let you be altogether mine"
He went away with those words. and
then Ethel knew how she loved him.
The next day came-the soldiers were
gone, and Ethel Darricott tried to take up
checrfully the remnant of life which was
lett to her. The best half and the dearest.
she felt, Was gone with him; but much re-
manned 70 do, somewhat even to rejoice
in. She was not more exacting of others
than she was Of herself To have yielded
idly TO her grief would have been to be false
to her ideal. Even her own father saw
no change in her.
So tie months passed on for more than
a year even to the terrible six days OF
fighting before Richmond. In all this time
Captain Revere had never been seriously
wounded, and had never left the post OF
! duty. Other men took furloughs--some
! on slight preteXts-and came home but
lie never. Perhaps he lelt that he had nc
true home, and nc hope to lure him north
ward, and so grew reckless of life.
Miss Dalricott meanwhile watched the
papers anxicusly. She saw his name often
| where bravo deeds were told, heroic valoI