Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1863-03-12
MoraI Gales.
THE ANGEL OF THE DEPOT;
'.....- OR, tsr4 ..t. ..
WHAT CAME OF A KISS.
By sYLvAyUs ooBB, JR

.s#
WHAT CAME OF A KISS.
ny sYLvAyUs ooHB JR. .fr ---.
The great depot was crowded
The -th Regiment was about to leave
for the seat of war andit was known
that the brave fellows were going
where fighting was sure to come. The
cars had backed into the building
and the engine was shrieking impa.
tiently. The regiment had filed into
the depot, add as the soldiers rested
for a few moments upon their arms
fond friends gathered around, and
words of parting were spoken. There
we're tears, and sobs, and blessings
there was wringing Of hands, aud
wringing ofhearts /! Wives were part
ing with husbands mothers parting
with their sons {; sisters bidding good
bye to brothers and fathers were
speaking the last words of caution
and care. 1t was a season of painful
anxiety for the departing ones were
going away with their lives in their
hands, and the Offering on the battle.
altar might speedily be made. -'-
Corporal Walter Evermond leaned
upon his rifle, and gazed upon the
scene. No one came to kiss him
none to bid him farewell. Not over
one-and.twenty was Corporal Wal
ter Evermond. He had a fresh, hand
some face, and bright, pure eye
and his frame was one of those mar
vels wherein q magnificent physica
Structure is developed with small
body.
81 declare" said the corporal, wip
ing a bit Of moisture from his eye,
am glad that have nobody here tt
weep and sob for me. Yet" he added
with a longing look, it would be pleas
ant to bear away one parting kiss i
But | shan't get it."
"Pll kiss you, if you'll let me !"
Walter Evermond felt a hand upol
his arm and the prettiest, sweetest
face be had ever seen beamed upon
him with smile.
"I'll kiss you, sir And the girl
placed both hands upon his shoulders
and pressed her lips upon his bloom.
ing cheek. ".. ..
Thank you ! Bless you !" .
"Fail tn I Fall in!"
The corporal pressed the hand o
the beautiful girl gave one more lool
into her bcaming face, and then fel
into line and ere long the cars rollet
out from the depot, bearing the vol
unteers towards the field where patri
otic duty called them.
In little while the train was ou
of sight around the turn, and tn,
throng of friends gradually disap
peared. s... ....,.. ...-.
Nellie I am astonished at you I"
Astonished at me ?"repeated Mel
lie Preston, looking up into the face ot
John Gainsford, who walked by hel
side to a carriage. ...... .....-
Yes. How could you do such a
thing?"
"Such thing as what?" "w
As kiss that fellow in the depot.
Goodness gracious What were you
thinking Off"
Il was thinking" replied Nellie
with perceptible flush of feeling
"that lie might be a poor, motherless
sisterless boy, who had no one in the
world to love him." ....-......
Aud so you thought you'd love him
ell ?"
al love all those brave, noble mer
who have gone out to offer their lives
for their country's welfare !" said the
girl, with deep emotion. al never
knew how well loved my own broth.
er until saw him going away today
| hope God will keep him, and return
him to us in safety"
Did you notice." said Mr.. Gains
ford, after pause, that your foolish
behavior caused considerable remarkg
I'd rather you wuldn't say any
thing more about that, Mr.. Gains
ford?"
"You are ashamed Of it, eh?"
q" am ashamed of you, sir You
need not help me. can get into my
carriage alone"
Two days after this, Judge Preston
came home looking very thoughtfully
After tea he called Nellie to him, and
asked her if she had made up her mind
to be the wife of John Gainsford.
81 have made up my mind that
will not be his wife |" was her promp,
reply.
Il have no wish to urge you, my
child"
81 do not love him, father and ]
should prefer to have no more intima
cy with him. l never liked him. He
is unkind to his poor sister; and be
might be unkind to me-"
You are right, my daughter ant
| am now free to confess that an
pleased with yonr decision. AImos
the last thing your brother said to me
before he left with his company, wa
that he hoped that you would not max,
John .Gainsford his brother.in-law
He knows Gainsford well, and has u,
respect for him."
The Judge kissed his child, and tn
matter was settled. Gainsford wa
the son of one Of his Oldest friends, an,
thus the intimacy had commenced
and he had been willing, for his daugh
ter's sake to try the young man bu
he felt sense Of relief now that th,
trial was over.
/ George Preston. the Judges onl,
son. bad gone as Captain ofa company
and the family watched anxiously 10
the news that was to bear to them in
; telligence Of the movements of the I'll
Regiment. By and by intelligence
came. The regiment was at Pooles
vile. The regiment was at Balls Bluff
The regiment had been under fir
nearly the whole of that terrible day
and fearful havoc had been made il
its ranks. Where was George? q
, how anxious was Nellie Preston now
, More than ever before did she know
that she loved her brother.