The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1864-01-06

thought of parting with yoa thss. But IL mns
be. had much to say to you, Bertha-mucl
mat cannot write noE-can never write a. tb
tongue would utter il. I shar write the mo
meut hsTe leisure, and God wiling We shall
meet again--hsppiiy trust Do YOU wish i
snoul1 De 90; can write nothing more nov
save FareTell1
" 1t be had only told me that be loved me
nurmured Bertha, clasping this letter to her
heaft aud weeping over il in the bitterness q,
her disappointment aud regret. "If he bad on.
y to.l me that might have written telling him
uC" my heart was well nigh breaking while |
uahceu and laughed, and pretended 10 be 40
cariessy happy. | could have asked him 10
iorgVe NE, and promised TO be bis whenever
1nls dreadful war Is over and be claim me- And
u'lnk ought 10 write now, and DOT let him 70
on leeiing tha, have been flirting and playi0g
WIN MS hearI Atany rate, will ask him TO
forgive me-"
W nat pretty penitent letter it was-demure
aAu proper 10 every line, aud oh, so carefully
~orded, yet everywhere betrayins the secret
,.@' ma "as 70 De 20 securely hidden. How Hugh
nOutoh would have clasped il to his heart and
/ .lPs' ana What strange, absurd acts lie wouH
nave committed, none can tell Bertha carried
u herself to the PostofIice, and her heart vas
hghtened someVhat Of its heavy burden wien
1t was on its way.
For days past there had been frequent skir
mishes along the lines. Scarcely had Moulton
aiis hted at headquarters and reported for dutv
OeioIe ne was ordered to proceed, with portion
vi n'7 company, TO certain point among the
mus where a small force of he enemy was said
10 be lying
10" lovely locked the Virginia hills that bril-
Hant winter morning, ;her dark topmost line
cutting clear against the deep blue OF the hori.
Ioh' tneit softly undulaIing sides cleaning white
y WIN the new fallen snow Of Yesterday Can
tam MonlLon drew a long breath Of the clear
crisp air. lie had not felt 90 much a man for
weeks. How plain and poor seemed the en-
pioyments and trumphs of that artificial life he
had been leading.
Ihis Is manly work, he said, half aloud. as
ne rode at the head of his men. and am glad
10 De at it once more. f it were not for leaving
i''ie bertha. l think she does care for me |
NUE. 3iess her, though she tried to brave il out
wen was gong. Bless her again | must
me- 7"' - "
And then he fell into a deep. smiling revs,ie
that lasted long time, as the troops wound in
ava out among the defles of the hill region.
Lasted tll, crack crack score Of rnnsLats
reused the rocks to mocking echoes, AMI tum-
Oled more than one man dead or wounded from
his saddle, aud awoke their commander to the
fierce rage OF the conflict.
Letters, bOysl" cried the gay Lieutenant in
bis cheeriest voice. 81 just picked them up.
ls came in from the town. We should not
bad them, else, till morning. Two for YOU Nv.
ers, one for your humble servant-from the best
mother IN the world, one for Moulton. Blythe
bye. where is he? l heard he had got back to
camp"
Aye, Alvord, and for the last time"
" Deads"
Killed to day in that skirmish with the bush.
Nhackers among the bills. What pretty hand
writing 1t Is; some dear girls heart will break
when she hears OF this days work"
Aye; but perhaps its from a sister. But
lo-he had none; he was quite alone in the
world. He'll never read this letter, now; but I
Will lay 1t 10 his coffin, and bury it with him"
And he did. When the sods fell upon Hugh ,
houlton's form, they covered the letter that. ;
wing, would hase quckened amos. to bursting )
he heart now still forever ,
Perhaps he knows now that Bertha loved him. !
nd forgives her. Alas for the young life sad t.
iened by its great sorrow: Bertha will never p.
orgive herself; her grief aud her penitence are
like unayailing. q