Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-02-13
COUSIN ESTHER.
BY ADA J. MOORE.

Written for the Wisconsin State Journal
"And so Herbert you are really off next
week? Enlisted as high private in Captain
Smiths company, Ell? How in the world did
YOU get the old gentleman's consent? For
nobody, YOU see, can fill your place in the
firm"
The speaker was Henry Hardin, rising
Young lawyer-the scene, a shaded avenue III
the garden of DR.. InnisfOrd, formerly ply
stefan. but for some years past an enterpris-
ing and successful merchant.
9 Perhaps not, Henry" replied the person
addressed, DIR. InnisfOrd's only son." but l
trust YOU do not think my father incapable of
making any sacrifice for the good of his cOun-
try. for the salvation of that government
which has blessed1and protected him, for his
whole life long? 1t is not" he added in a
slightly faltering voice, it is not in pecunia
nv point of view, that my approaching depart
ure touches my father most deeply"
Henry Hardin, lawyer though he was, not
only respected, but shared in the hlial emo
ton now plainly visible on the cOuntenance
of his friend. Furtively dashing away tear
he exclaimed in a tone of earnest feeling:
1" Hang it, Herbert, if it were not for this
cursed lameness, you and L would not now be
separated. As we stood side by side in all
life, we would stand, shoulder to shoulder on
the sterner battlefield to which you are now
summoned. As it is, must try to do my
part in some other way" He paused a mo-
ment, and then resumed in a higher tone,
" And how does Ia belle cousiIse take your pro-
posed departure She, if l have read her
rightly, is not so intensely patriotic, as to
Weld lightly-wOn consent"
Consents My cousin Esther :" inteTo-
gated Herbert, III puzzled tone, that was
evidently not assumed.
''Of course | mean your cousin Esther, re-
Joined his friend in half impatient manner,
lust as if any body else was fortunate enough
to have such an imperial, sparkling, cousin
Esther. Surely Herbert, you will not try to
make me believe that she is nothing more to
YOU than simply cousin Ester"
You may believe it, or not, just as you
choose" replied Herbert cody, sit is, how
ever neither more or less than the truth. III
she was twice as beautiful as she is, the fact
that she is my cousin would prove with me an
insuperable obstacle to any such attachment
even if no other existed.
sAnd the fact is' he continued, 81 never did
have a secret Fl ON you, Henry, and will not
now You remember Rose Leland, whose
sweet blue eyes had such charm for me wheI
we were schoolmates together in Milton? She
is now residing in this place, with her widow
ed mother. The lovely bud has blOOmed in
to a lovelier blossom, whose fragrance, God
sparing both our lives, will render my future
home as near an Eden as any earthly abode
can be-"
"Is il so Herbert: congratulate you with
all NV heart | am all impotence to see your
lovely rose, and renew my acquaintance with
her, not only as a well remembered school
mate, but as the chosen bride ofmy dearest
friend. Do take me to her at once, | will try
not to make myself too agreeable"
81 have no fear of that" replied Herbert
laughingly, as he held open the garden gate
for his friend TO pass, and followed him into
the street.
There had been listener TO this converse
tiOn of whom the young men little dreamed
As their voices died away in the distance
Esther Allen arose from the rustic seat in heI
favorite garden nook, where she had been re
clining when the sound of her own name spO
ken by the lips she loved best, reused hel
reverie. Imperial she certainly is, as she
stands there in her passionate mood, half an
ger and half pride, her stately form drawn up
to its full height, revealing the beautiful con
tour of her rounded arms and shoulders, and
the regal pose of her graceful head. lit is
true, then" she murmured between her SET
teeth, abe loves this Rose Leland L hate
herr hate her." she repeated vehemently.-
A sudden noise in the shrubbery startled her
and she retreated hastily to the house.
A week passed, and Herbert Innisford babe
fearful adieu to the scenes and companions
of his youth, his beautiful cousin, his noble
hearted and patriotic father, and hardest Of
all, to the no less noble and patriotic girl
whose tenderness had never faltered i'm lay
ing all the hopes and affections of the future
har alf
1t was veteran regiment into which he
had enlisted, and, sooner than he had antici
pated, Herbert was called to encounter the
true test of a soldiers courage and endu-
rance on the terrible field of Gettysburg
Bravely and unshrinkingly he bore it, even
when, with sudden thrill of pain, his uplift.
ed left arm dropped nerveless and broken al
his side "Thank God, it is not nv right
arm" he exclaimed, and hastily binding it up
ne again pressed onward in the binding be,
wildering strife that was at last crowned with
such glorious success. Then, and not till
then, faint and exhausted with the loss OF
blood, he dropped YEARLY down under the
shade of a tree whose broad trunk was
pierced and riddled with thousand bullets
patiently awaiting his turn for removal to the
hastily improvised hospital tent.
Bad news travels swiftly, and on the morn.
ing of the second day after the battle, Esther
Allen stood at the door of the village post
office, her eyes intensely fixed on a single
line in the long list of killed ana wounded
1t read thus Herbert Innisford, severely
al must got him." was her first consciou:
thought after the dizzying trance of surprise
was over, " | am his cousin, almost his sister
il is my right. Yet" she added bitterly, a
moment after, "what use? She will go too
timid as she is, she will brave anything for his
sake. Then every tender look and tone will
be for her-perhaps he will marry her, to
give her the right to nurse him. / should
die, or go crazyI / could not endure it.
But she paused-a dark thought came in
to her mind-"could it not be prevented !
Can she not be deceived in regard to his dan
ger, and then her affection for her mother
will keep her at home"
Silently she unused, a guilty flush tinging
her pale cheek, as she walked slowly home