The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-05-13

he had been our constant escort. | knew
that he loved Marcia from the depths of his
strong, true heart, and longed to have him
win her. They were both so dear to ne, |
thought my Happiness would be complete if
| could see them made one.
[ roamed around like a restless ghost
while Marcia was avay on her walk. Once
came upon Charley, perambulating in a
similarly restless manner. He siezed upon
me at once.
Where's Marcia? Where have you kept
yourselves? Such dull morning.
Gone to walk with Captain Saltonstall
and it vexes me. ] don't like him.
Charley sighed
Don't be unjust, Ruth. They say he's a
splendid soldier. His men worshiped him.
They would follow him to the jaws of Death.
He 60. tnat scar on his forehead leading a
forlorn hope, after which half his men never
saw daylight again
an the worse said. i don't like him.
see something cold and cruel in that cool
gray eye Of his. 1t may make him a good
soldier, but it wouldn't make him a coed
husband
! You ars exceptional in your opinion
| You see how the women worship him. Ruth,
love Marcia
! Did YOU ever tell her SO -
/ 'No, she never would let ME get near
enough to heG to talk about il. But she
knows i, think. Yet don't want her if |
can't make her happy
: 1t isn't that You could make her happy,
but She don't see it. She is mad, like all the
rest Of them, after hero. If You could on
Iy 60 10 war
Charley smiled.
Yes, if could. But low can with my
mo- ner opposing il as .he does? Have | /.
right when am all she has in the world
Besides. that would never win NE Marcia.
II she cannot love me now she would not
then. Perhaps this Captain Saltonstall is
the RI ht one for her.'
welt away from him. | felt cross.
wa, provoked with him ior speaking So sub
mi.sively of giving up the one hope Of hi,
I'fo. was provoked with the captain
Most ot all was provoked with Marcia.
F. Why could she not see as saw
She was gone nearly two hours. When
>he cane back shr was in one of her radent
moods. stood on the piazza as she came
up the walk, aad thought again OF The
Ireslyan.' there was more than one point
of resemblance. Marcia had the proud
b@oyant step, the faultl4ss step, tn" VI
oiet eyes, the lorg, rippling chestnut
har. and the little red mouth. She
looked Ike a picture il her short scarlet
cloak, and her Tudor nat with black cock
feather noading over its upturned brim.-
Her cheeks were as bf:sh. as her lips. Hel
eyes were sparkling, and her whole face was
glowing with interest. did not wonder a
the almiriag soze of Captain Saltonstail.
Il was hard after that for Charley or | tc
get many words out Of ner. The cool cap
tain maintained his pos. Through the day
he was constantly at her side. At night
wien had her to myself, she was always el
,her too sleepy or too tired to talk. AT leas
she said Sc. And yet knew by her restless
motions that she lay awake long after fe
head prosstd the pillow.
Sometimes, vii Il she thought was ASLEEP
she would get up very softly, fold a sha"
about her, and sit for Il long tine at the oper
window locking cut toward the sea. | knew
not what dreams came to her with the sal
sea breath Ny sister had shat me cut 0
h,r conlI.nce. believed size was growIni
d ely Interested in Captain Saltonstal; bu
| loi.!d lot make up my mind whether HI
Was il earnest or only trii.ns with her.
telt utterly at loss what to do. | longec
for the time to come for US TO go away. In
deed, suggested once to Charley Cahill tha
we had better go. knew he could easil,
persuade lis mother that we had best leave
and Of course her decision would settle tn
matter for Us all. He looked at me wit
kind houest eyes.
/ kuow what you mean, Ruth, and VIII
YOU want to 90 but believe NE it would nc
be best. /. is better to let her stay and Sc
il ou- Let her understand herself and him
= and ,aen, ii he can make her happy, Go
bless them.
knew how keen paug rent his homes
. feart at tne thought of Marcia made happ
10y some onc else; and honored him 70
his unseltish wIsh that she should have tim
and opportunity to choose her fate. On tn
Il whole, | was convinced that he was righ
and Yet waited very anxlolsly.
u One Hignt | was sitting alone on roc
!. by the shore, looking at the sea. A cliff jut
tin5 up behind NE just screened me trol
Il sislt, and they paced along a narrow pat
: just back Of where was sitting-my siste
it AID Captain Satonstali. l heard sing
e sentence only OF their talk. 1t was the cal
tam who spoke.
| i ought to have told you before, Marci;
4e | should, if lad dreamed of the possibilit
le Of cur loving each other"
It vas just enough to set me thinking
re What was this which he ought 50 have toI
er her Was it some secret which would inte