Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1864-05-25

30 l set my wits to work to escape the en-
rollment, and have succeeded
Indeed The soft brown ewes grew
large and round, parting with much of
their softness.
Yes. And I'll tell you how it was
done. And the young man tried TO get
possession of one OF Edith hands, but she
moved it out Of his way
AS soon as | learned that the enro)lius
othcer was at work in our ward | got up
little breeze with my landlady-uo hard
work at any time, for she has a quick tenn,
per-and under cover thereof left the house.
Within an hour afterwards had nv. trunks
removed. | take my meals at an eating
house and sleep at the store. Next week
L will find new boarding house. tell
you all about it to relieve your mind. But
don't speak of it for the world If it gets
out the marshall will order my arrest and
put musk ct in my hand for the war.
| had narrow escape, for the enrolment in
our block was made on the day after left
you are not the only one who has made
narrow escape, Mr.. Lotto Edths face
was almost white; but her voice was firm.
She had drawn herself little away from
the young man and was looking at him
sternly.
'Ah! who else has made an escape?
Il have :!
Your
Il asked a week in which to consider
your offer, Mr. Lotto Edith's tones did
not talter. If you had been soldier in
the field, or on the eve of marching to the
defence Of our imperied country, [ would
have yielded this hand without an instants
hesitation. But your lack of courage or
patriotism, l know not which, made me
hold back and question your fitness to be
my husband. Now know you to be un
worthy. | might have looked past nat
urai shrinking from the hard and danger.
Gus LIE OF sOldier-excuSed you on the
ground OF constitutional impediments, if
you VIII call them so-and on this plea &C
cepted your failure to spring to the rescue
when your country was assailed-stil hav-
ing faith IN your will to do right no mat
ter how stern the demand might be when
1t came clear and unmistakeable [ can |
understand that there may be good rea
sons why one may hold away from the act |
OF Volunteerlng-and gave you the bene.
fit of tl.is assumption But when the dan
ger becomes SO imminent that an allotment
has to be made for defence, only the mean. |
est spirits seek to evade their duty. John
Lotto, L am speaking plainly, for | do not |
mean that you shall misunderstood me. |
Our ways part to night never to touch |
again, and in parting leave with you hard
words that may do you good. Take my
advice and give in your name to the enroll.
ing officer If drafted, 90 cheerfully and
stand up with brave men for your country's
safety. There is a worse thing than death /
it is dishonor =
He attempted in confused way, to re-
ply but Edith had arisen, waved her
hand, saying:
Leave me, SRI The argument is clos.
ed Our ways have parted, and they can
not meet again =
1 have passed through a great trial
aunt " said Edith in reply to anxious ques,
tlons. Aunt Grace had found her, not
long afterwards, lying on sofa in the par
lor In state Of partial stupeiaction. She
had not been weeping. Her face was still
very pale; her eyes had parted with their
tender sweetness; her lips were almost rigid
On returning fully to herself she made this
answer.
'And come out purer and stronger,
trust Is it so, dear Edith :" replied her
aunt.
'Purer and stronger, if walking through
pain to duty gives purity and strength
said Edith.
'Trial-pain-duty These words in
clude stern meanings, Edith Mr.. Lotto
is not here
'And will never be here again, aunt. l
have made narrow escape
sHow p
The man who lacks honor, courage and
patriotism, ls false to the hearts CORE
Does Mr.. Lotto lack them p
'He has, on his own confession, by
mean trick eVaded the enrolment
You fill me with surprise ?
4 was shocked. But strength and cour-
age came to me. | rebuked him in strong
indignant language, and then told him that
here and now our ways parted-parted for
ever. A coward and poltroon for hus.
band. My whole nature rises in revolt
The pale face grew crimson with the
mounting blood, and the dull eye flashed
with kindling fires
'Poitroon is rather coarse word for nv
Edith's lips, said Aunt Grace.
Do you know its origin? Only yester.
lay, read it in French, and the signifi-
'ance being in my mind, could not re-
press. the fitting term. When bows and
arrows were among the chief weapons of i.
emi-civilized European tribes and nations,
t sometimes happened that a mean and
'owardly fellow would cut off the forcing