Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1863-11-03

I ct one would not have doubted his un-
tried courage 1t shone in his steady blue
eyes. sad with unbrOken pain; it betrayed
itself in the curl OF bis lips. the curve Of
his nosiril. They say no solder ever fought
more bravely than the gentry of England
white of hand. naughty of look. delicate
delicate of feature. Some such blood
flowed III the veins Of Ash Thornycroft.-
He was the only son Of the rich mill-owner
whose foreman, John Morgan was. He
was no stranger at the little cottage and
even in this sorrOwful hour there was no
danger of his being unweIcOme. He was
the first to speak.
ut il hard on you, Morgan, this draft -
NV father was saying tonight that he did
not know how he should cOntrive to spare
you. 81 we'll as you're doing now. too
already comfort and competence for you
and you're, and better things 10 pros
pect.'
"It's useless thing. l think was rot
born uUdeE lucky star. W were. Mr.
ThOrnycrOft's son, to begin with (; young,
rich, without a tie to fetter you; aud of
course the draft spared you"
Without tie! Do you call that happi-
ness ?"
John Morgan's eyes fell beneath that
sad, steady gaze of reproach. lie remem-
bered then one who had died in March, on
whose grave the lonesome spring rain had
wept tears which sprung up again in roses
and viulets-the gentle girl whom Ash
Thornycroft had loved so long and so
well.
Forgive me-" he said,ln low, penitent
tone.
The other went on:
81 think you forget yourself little when
you repIne to this stroke as il il were the
worst thing which could have happened -
Would you give up your wife. or one of
your children even. to escape from the per
lie Of this war;"
"Did you think / was coward ?' an6
the honest soul looked Indignantly out of
John Inorganic eyes. "If we're to fall.
what would they do? l have struggled
to shield them, so far as l could, from
want, care, or privstion. How are they
fitted to tread the woIll's rough paths
alOne?"
mo, did not take you for a coward
If had, | should not have thought your
life worth saving. / think know how
shoud feel in your place. 1t is q place in
which shall never stand am going to
enlist, John. tits my duty, for l have
nothing to keep me at hume.
am ready to give all that have to my
country. If fall, shall only go the
sooner where all my lOngings tend. What
is to hinder my sparing you to your happy
fire side? | came to propose myself as your
substitute
1t is not-are you sure it is MOTTO
spare me? Would you go in any case p
John Morgan asked. with little doubt in
his voice
DO not fear that l am going for your
sake. / made IN my mind as soon as the
call came for volunteers. ] only waited for
this very tbing-the chance, if should
not he drafted myself, Of saving some man
who was, to the woman who loved him.
| am glad it is you John, nv good old
friend. TO whom / can render this SER
vice"
John Morgan was a man Of few words
of feeling which lay so deep that they sci
dom rose to the surface but there wac
something which Ash Thornvcroft need ed
no language to interpret 10 the look of his
eyts. and the grssp OF his hand, as he bur
ried out Of the room.
TEornycr,'ft was one of those men with
q vein If tenderness in the midst of their
strength which always allies them more
nearly to women than to men. Left alone
with Mrs Morgan. he said what he never
would have said to her husband. It was
when she thanked him, with earnest
words, aud s0bs and tears ofjoy yet more
eloquent.
There was one, Mrs Morgan, who low
ed me as well as you love John. You do
not need to thank me. All that / ever
could do for any other woman, ] would do
for her sake. You have seen her; you
fnnw hnw fair and sweet she was; but /
think ne one save me knows all her purity,
her saint like goodness I have had only
one hope since she died thatI might be
Fl to go to her III die in this good cause,
think Of me as happy with an unRpeSkable
happiness. 1t will be hut opening the gal.
den gates the sooner. | shall not see
you a2a'n, SO l will bid you good bye
nos"
Her toars fell upon his hand-her lips
touched it. She whispered brokenly her
blessing. the blessing Of one who owed TO
him more than her life; and 90, amounted
for his work. as it were. by those holy
teaTs and prayers, he went away.
The girls at the door saw bic face 10
the moonlight. while get radiant and ten
their childish questions
What made Mr. Thorn croft look SO p
What was he here fort"
Father is not going awav Mr.. ThoTny-
croft is going in his stead. We shall keep
father at home
And then, wGmanlike, she fell to bag
giDg them and crying over them; and
just then John came back, and took the
three altogether 10 his strong arms.
l was one Of the supreme moments Of
life which, whether ofjny or grief. picture
themselves clear y to OCT minds and need
30 description.
Ash ThOrnvcrOft walked away with a
firm tread. He turned aside " hen he came
to the church, with the old buryiDg ground
in the rear, full of grass grow n mouuds.-
He went in there. and kneIt beside a grave
on whose head stone the names of Con-
stance lretOn CLEANED white and clearly
out in the bright moonlight.
80, my darling, my darlingW he cried.
with his lips pressed to the sod.
If the dead could hear, that still heart
beneath should have thrObbed again to the
accents Of such love. Many night had
he talked to her there, as now, with q
strange sense of nearness-a full belief 10
the communication Of their souls.
You ore not here, know, and yet l
know you hear me. / am going away to-
morrow, Gods soldier and yours. Give
me your blessing, Constance, and pray
for me, you who have already seen the
Fathers face, that may do my work
without faltering, and the end may come
soOu."
1t was but dream of his own over
wrought fancy; but he seemed to see a
cloud drawn near, from which a face
iooked-a while, sweet face, sad with
waiting, yet clarified with immortal hope
And he seemed to hear a voice, which
said:
Go forth, my beloved, and do your
work. Soon will the struggle be over, and
the reward is long and sure"
| For an instant he seemed to see the smile