Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1863-04-02

iect of his enlistng, and concluded TO wait un.
til Charlie was at home thinking perhaps Mel
lie could let him go with brave heart il Char
lie was with her.
Charlie came. Nellie had not been quite
herself since the night when Harry had spoken
of enlisting until now She had been very
anxious about Charlie and had expected every
day that Harry would speak of leaving her.
But now Charlie was at home and DIR. d. had
said was doing well. Harry had not once since
that night spoken of entering the army, and
she hoped he had given up the idea. Again she
was the gay, bright Nellie, winning evcrybodys
heart.
Harry spent every evening with them now.
Not an evening passed without the subject of
the war being brought up. Nellie could but
tremble now and then, when she noticed how
interested Harry was in everything concerning
the war-and heard him often express an earn.
est desire to be among those who were serving
their country. But she endcavored to believe he
would not go.
Now and then her patriotism would be raised
high and she would almost decide to tell Harry
that she gave him her free consent to enlist
But after the excitemont woo over and she
thought Of the deprivations, the sufFer;ngs and
dangers of a soldiers life, shiver would pass
through her and she would sigh Il cannot!'
AT last Harry broachcd the subject again.
The lovers were left alone, for while one eve
ming, after listening to Charlie, who had been
unusually earnest and entertaining, for couple
of hours. The conversation had been chiefly
upon the demoraizing influences of camp life.
At the close OF the conversation Charlie had
said,-
81 do not wonder that you at home fear that
our young men will return home with tainted
morals. You would fear it more did you know
more Of the influences which beset a soldier
If we could have few earnest working chris.
tians in every company much OF the danger
might be averted" then turning to Harry alb
ruptly, said Harry, you ought to be in the ar.
my-you are just the kind we need-you could
do good seryice-just ask Nellies permission
and return with me-"
Harry made no reply in words. He looked
towards Nellie but she dropped her eyes and
turned her head away he received no encour-
agement there.
As soon as they were left alone Harry asked,
"Do you remember, Nellie, a conversation we
had the evening before news of the last battle
came ?"
He had not given the idea up, then What
should she say to him? She could not say he
~ Nj a. A
moment she hesitated then moving ne arer him
she laid her hand upon his arm and looking up
into his face with those pleading eyes she said,
"Cant you give this up for my sake, dear
Harry?"
1t was hard for Harry to resist this and his
face grew sad, but he thought he knew his duty,
and he would try to do it. Passing his arm
around her he said, "Dear Nellie had hoped
that you would give me encouragement now
since ,vu hu,v hoard Jha,iie tsu or a.. r.--s
need of men,"
"But Harry, there are so many that can go
better than YOU"
"They and their friends very likely think
differently. Nothing but my love for you has
detained me so long. Ought that to keep me
from my duty? You would not wish it to-"
81 am not sure it is your duty" persisted
Nellie. "V- has sent her men, let other
towns send theirs"
at can do no harm if few more than the
specified number should enlist. All that will
go are needed. l know you love me Nellie,
and every day of my life shall thank God for
the sweet blessing which will ever enrich my
| life. Think, how poor return, to our good
Father, it would be, should let this keep me
from my duty. There can be no need of my
telling of the love my heart bears for you
You know that love and trust must be great
when leave a matter of duty for you to decide
for me. l have promised to abide b. your de-
cision One week from to-day will you give it
me?"
Stronger and stronger, as Harry spoke, grew
the feeling that she never could give him up, it
would surely break her heart, and Nellie
thought she could give her decision now as
well as a week later, but she said she should be
ready at the requested time.
Harry soon let her and then she began TO
think. 1t seemed cruel for Harry to ask her to
let him go when he knew how she felt about it.
He had left the matter for her to decide, to be
sure-but then he seemed confident that she
would say go-would he have left it to her il
he had not been thus confident She had given
two brothers-all she had but Harry, to her
country, was not that enough-must she give
all? There were those who had given nothing,
let them send some of theirs and leave her one,
But then, Harry thought it his dmy How
the poor child's mind was turned about none but
those who have passed through the same ordeal
can know. She had thought she had more
than she could bear bef-re-how could she
take this upon her
The evening before that on which Nellie was
to tell her decision, Harry came to spend the
! evening. He talked with her long and earn
estly upon the subject.
Charlie had this day told Nellie that he must
return TO his regiment in a week. Her heart
was heavy enongh before, and now to have
Harry plead for permission to leave her also
was too hard she thought.
As soon as he was out of the room after bid
ding her good night Nellie threw herself upor