The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1863-12-04

/ "''' .'"' 'l'NN'ii' iiS 'ii'Ni HN'O'
her.
lie went away into the world short
| " aftcrwward; the Hall passed out o
/ the hands of his father, who remove,
to distant State. aud Hildrcd knew
nothing moro Of the family. No on,
ever mentioned thcm to her: she mad,
no inquiries; she said to herself sh,
did not care to know.
Life passed on monotouousll
enough she hardly noticed the
change of seasons except as aQricul
tural interests compelled her to dC
so. She took little thought for the
things OF the morrow; she never look
ed forward, it was doubtful even il
she realized the present She might
have interested herself in the poor
but she did not; she gave nothing to
! bcggars; satmuo sanctuary, and lived
n life hidden from the view Of all.
That November night Ilidrcd, fol
( the irst time in many years. was look
. ING back over her past life. Some.
how her heart felt sortor--thcrc were
tender memories at work. the spirit
of mercy plead with iron breasted JUS
tice. she almost felt that she could
forgive Paul Lancaster all he had
made her suffer. A rap at the door
aronscd her She waited, expecting
old Francis or his wife to answer the
call; hu! evidently they did not hear
and. {. king up the lamp, she went
herself The air WAS thick with snow,
and on the door step, in his blue over
coat gray with the feathery fakes,
stood a man in the Federal uniform.
He lifted his had and spoke with
courtesy:
''Is this the residence of Miss Hill.
drcd IIaync?"
"Itis,' she answered coldly: "whai
is Your husiRoss Z
The Young soldiers bronzcd cheek
flushed Mt her naughty tone, but he
replied with feeling. "Madam.
have in my charge q wounded officer
who was given over to die. by ON
rygimcntal surgeon: and oil bis dis
charge from the hospital, he made
one solemn request, probably his laSI
one. He asked 10 be brought here
that his dying breath might be draw
in the place where the only happincs.
of his life he'd came to him. /, as hi
, friend and Subordinate. have compile,
with his request. Shall l bring hin
/ iu;'
Miss Haynes cool hand trcmbIec
slightly; faint quiver of scarlet sho
up to her forehead,
| What is the gentleman's name?' sh,
asked
( Col. Paul Lancaster"
Sls E4la a l4s.,'--s,e e.s.t as if to clos,
the door hgt thc soldier put himsel
in the way.
"ATa7am, youmay he refusing shell
ter TO q DYING man. Reflect bcfor,
yon decide. Col. Lancaster was once
your friend. VIII you shut the doc
Of vour house upon him whou Pee asks
with his expiring breath. the cover O
It's roof
Miss lIayno underwent . struggle
hut it was only momentary. Shl
threw open the door and called ol,
j Francis.
Garry him in there" she said
pointing to the warm parlor; Il viii
come to him directly"
She went mp to her chamber. an,
I locked herself in What fearful tria
she passed through was known onl,
TO her own soul
In little while she came down
pale and quiet, and entered the rool
where they bad taken her guest. Th
sofa was drawn up before the fire
and thc'pule, wan face that was lite
to meet her eyes, was hardly reco1
nizahe rs that of the Paul LancGste
she had once known.
\ SLIGHT tinea OF color swept tn
ashcn white Of his check; he held on
his LEFT hand-the other he had lost.
"Hildrcd." he said, fecbly, "at In.
| have dared to return to You Sh
took his hand; her face soitaueC
there was little tremor in her voic,
II am pleased to welcome you, Co
= Lancaster"
"By the memory Of the sweet pas
O, Hildred, let me stay where ! a
, sometimes look atyou! | only ashc
, God to let me live until I could CON
! here to die! until, dying, could plea
foi and obtain your forgiveness! Go
+ will not refuse me, IIildred?'
, II have buried all my enmity,' st
said. slowly and solemnlv; 1--WE wi
forget what has been and be friend
, Where shall / address letter to yor
! rclativcs?'
II have none near enough to con
for my misfortunes. My father
= dead; my sister sleeps in n forcig
grave. have neither friends or re
[. atives."
, She looked Mt him with dumb wor
j der. Perhaps he understood L
doubt expressed in her face for
p said, as if in explanation:
c "No, Hildrcd; / have never ma
= ried, The first love Of my life WI
p the one true love OF my soul. NJ
/ fancy for Isabella Courtland bri
5 passion. 1t died Il speedy death, ~
It I buried it out of my sight. llildrc
Y | have never loved any woman sa
q rour'
/ She laid her hand on his rorehc
If softly, the hardness and gloom we
II out of her face; the lines OF determi
e alton around her mouth were smoot