Newbern progress., 1863-01-24
sayin', Harry, when that day arri-

Tic nau spoken IFOIIl Suuuell lul-
pulse the words he would never have
dared to utter under ordinary circum-
stances. No recalling them now,
however, and Alice blushed redder
than the reddest hollyhock by the gar
den wall Squire Bankgrove opened
his eyes wide, and slowly rubbed his
nose, locking the while from Alice to
Harry, and back again.
"Well, I'm free to confess l hadn't
thought of tAat," said the Squire.
"But, Harry Moore, you're made O
the ri ght mettle, and I've always found
you true to the back bone. Yes; if
Alice hain't no objections, you shall
have her when you come back again" "
And thus it happened that when
Harry Moore went away to the wars a
lock of Alice Bankgrove's silky hair
lay upon his manly heart, and stirred
to the music of its strong beatings.
"Whew-w-w p whistled Trad Curtis,
as he worked all alone in the perfumed
silence of the old red barn 81 didn't
suppose the affair would turn out pre-
cisely as it has done but no matter,
things may happen just right after
all !" -
And Trad Curtis was not a whit dis
heartened at the cool politeness, with
which Alice Bankgrove put aside the
innumerable little courtesies he strove
to render toward all that fall-not he J!
There was good deal of dogged per
severance ingram to the nature OF Trad
Curtis.
The year glided away in sun and
notwithstanding roses and dreary
falls of snow-and once again the har-
vest moon hung like shield of ruddy
silver on the quiet old homestead, with
its red barn and its cluster of gnarled
apple trees. But in the west, ensan-
guined splendor, amidst clouds whose
crimson dyes seemed like a sea OF
blood. And Alice Bankgrove, sitting
at her window, thinking Of the dread
ful rumors Of battle that foated dimly
into the country solitudes, could not
bear to look as the blazing horizon, so
nervous had she grown. ..
Suddenly clear bugle sound rang
out amidst the dewy hollows, dying
away with pathetic cadences IN the
in the woods, where a score OF whip
poor-wills were moaning their sad re-
frain.
"There! the stage has passed by
and the mail is IMP exclaimed Alice,
springing to her feet. "Papa, may l
60 down to the post office !-it's only
little way p .-.r 2 ,
sIt's a mile, child, and more, and
the dew is falling" said the practical
Squire, looking up from a calculation
he was making by the light of a tallow
candle.
''Do let her go, father" said his
wife, nudging his elbow {; don't you
see how worried she feels2 You was
young yourself, once"
Alice scarcely waited for the per-
mission ere she hurried away through
the lonely woods, dew dripping and
and full of faint, sweet fragrance.
s'No letter for week" she murmur-
ed to herself. ''Perhaps it will come
to-night-perhaps :"
"a letter for Alice ankgroves No,
there is no such letter." said the gray
headed old postmaster, sorting over
the pile of epistles in a leisurely way
that was agony to poor, impatient
Alice. ..
"No letterl are you sure ?" repeat
ed the young girl, leaning eagerly for
ward, with blenched cheeks and throb
bing heart.
"Sartin sure, Miss A1ice-tlIat is, as
sure as man can be in this onsartin
world. Stay, though" he added, as
Alice was turning away with thrill
of despair 'shere are some newspa-
pers for Jeremiah Bankgrove, Esq.
That's your father, guess"
Half an hour afterward Alice came
into the sitting room at home with
slow, languid steps. and dew drenched
hair hanging carlessly about her
shoulders. Trad Curtis sat at the table
talking to her father. He rose and
bowed.
"You have been to the post office,
Alice2 Why didn't you let me go for
yoes hope you have taken no
cold.''
''Did you get a letter, daughter9"
asked Mrs. Bankgrove, keenly scam
ming the girls face. e., p s-.- ..,rs
"No letter." returned Alice, YEARLY.
"Here are some newspapers for you,
father"
She laid them on the table and went
and sat on the broad door stone, her
cheek resting on one hand.
"No letter that's strange!" said
Trad, artfully "Now if l was off to
the wars, and had sweetheart, like
somebody know of, at home, should
write every day"
"Pity you aoassa't OFF to the wars,
with a sweetheart at home," said the
Squire, dryly; and Trad was silenced
for the moment.
"Read us the news, Irad," said Mrs.
Bankgrove. "The Squire's eyes amt