Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-02-11

l 6utCI-lnIOlnllng
| been wounded, severely, the paper stated,
| but that she had received a Geographic dis
patch from friend who was with him, assur-
| ing her that his wound was, Ill reality, very
slight, and not in the least dangerous.
You are sure of it, Esther" said the old
man in pleading voice " oh, if l could on
| ly go and see for myself that it is So"
But you know, my dear uncle, it would be
| madness, in your state of health, to attempt
| it, Yet YOU will feel so anxious-what II l
| were to 90 in your stead: :"
Bless YOU, nv dea. Father, how soon can
you set out? And Rose, she shall go with
| you-the sight of her will do him more good
| than all the surgeons in the army"
4 CLEAN of fierce passion shot from Is
theirs eyes, but with an effort she restrained
herself, and said calmly, My dear uncle, you
surely forget Yourself Would it be right for
Rose to leave her invalid mother, who de
ponds so entirely upon her, to 60 to Herbert,
when by the time we reach there, he will in
all probability be well enough to rejoin his
regiment? Would Herbert himself wish it ?"
You are right, Esther, my affection for
the dear boy renders me selfish"
"NO, uncle, not selfish, only little forget
full. But | must make my preparations i'm
mediately, and have Thomas drive me to the
depot in time to take the first train. And
YOU will see Rose to-day and explain it all to
her, will YOU not, uncle? And on no account
allow her to start, at least until you hear from
me-"
The next evening found Esther in safety at
her journeys end. Her hardest task was now
before her-to meet the cousin whom she
loved so passionately, and yet whom she had
wronged so cruelty in such manner that he
should suspect nothing of either. At the
first glance her heart almost failed. He lay
with closed eyes, and the paleness seemingly
Of DEATH on cheek and brow. As she APP
preached the bedside, he lifted his lids Ian
guishly, and then glad look of recognition
flashed over his pallid face, followed by one
of eager expectancy as he turned his eyes to
the door by which she had entered. Esther
saw it all and hardened her heart against it.
His lips moved, and she bent down to catch
the accents almost inaudible:
'This is kind Esther but where is Rose"
Her mother is sick, Herbert, and we did
think you so ue,y i'll" she answered soothing
", parting back with her soft hands the neg
lected curls that Swallowed his brow. He
lifted his dark eyes to hers with look be-
fore which her own fell. Perhaps with that
keener intuition which the approach of death
sometimes gives, he realized the whole TRUTH
but he was silent. Esther thrilled through
all her frame with a nameless terror, but she
forced herself to speak lightly.
81 will take such good care Of you, and
you will soon be well enough so that | can
take you home"
Again that strange look in his eyes checked
her. He closed them and seemed to sleep.
As Esther stood gazing fearfully upon him,
the surgeon entered. In answer to her in
tently wistful he whispered softly" His arm
Il, 10
sinking ever since. We hoped he might en-
dure it, but he had lost so much blood before
poor fellow"
As he was going out, Esther touched his
arm. She tried to speak, but could only
frame the words with her lips. GLOW long ?"
he answered, as if she had spoken-'''till
midnight, perhaps, not longer" And then
Esther was left alone with her dying cousin.
A lifetime of agony seemed condensed into
that hour, as she sat straining her ear to
catch the faint irregular breathing that, it
seemed TO her, grew lower and fainter every
moment. Her head was burning and throb-
bling with pain, and at times cold, deathly
chllls crept over her, until it seemed as if
her blood was curdling and freezing in her
veins. And still Herbert lay, seemingly I'M
concious of her presence. At length she
heard the sound of wheels without her tent,
and the hustle which announced new arrival
of friends and nurses for the wounded sol
dicrs She listened to it as in dream, but
presently there was light footstep at the
door of the tent. Her gaze was resting on
Herbcrts face, and she felt as if she had no
power to remove it. Again she saw the
white lids lifted, and the yearning look in
those eyes now dim and glaring-then a
flash of unutterable JOY broke over his face,
and Esther felt, rather than saw, that Rose
stood by the bedside. "My God, | thank
thee" murmured from Herbert's bloodless
lips, as with one last effort he raised his right
arm and drew the slight form to mis- breast.
There was not even a sob. Rose hushed her
very breath to listen to the last words of
tenderness from those dear lips, upon which,
when utterance failed, she pressed her own as
If she might thus impart the warmth and life
that were vanishing away forever.
And then Esther, still sitting speeches. and
motionless, saw a change pass over the be-
loved face, and the arm fall relaxed upon the
pillow. With one wild shrek she sprang for
ward, and fell senseless upon the floor.
And ROse-gentle, selfsacrifcing Rose
pressing one last kiss on the ifeless brow,
crushed down her sorrow into her heart, and
with christian meekness took up the next
heavy cross that lay in her pathway-the care
and nursing of the wretched Esther through
the dangerous illness which her own uncon-
trolled passions had brought upon her. AL
though well aware Of the manner in which
Esther had sought to wrong her, yet Roses
voice was none the less tender, or her vigils |
less constant and devoted. At length the
crisis was passed, and health slowly returned |
One day when Esther had been lying for
long time, apparently in a half-doze, but in |
reality watching furtively the sweet coun-
tenance that bore the traces of care and |
watching, as well as the impress of heart |
consuming grief, she broke out suddenly with |
these words:
Crosse, have often thought during my i'll |
ness that my sins were too great to be for
given, even by merciful and long-suffering |
God. But if you, whom | have wronged so |
deeply, can not only forgive me, but seal |
your forgiveness with acts of such unparalel- |
led kindness and devotion, surely | have no |
reason to despair of Gods forgiveness. l |
Will put my trust in Him for time and eter-
nifty"
Amen" said Rose solemnly, and her pale
lace seemed transfgured with kind of glory.
The surgeon who had paused at the door as |
II to enter, looked at her moment, and then
walked softly away, saying to himself, give
nearu OF angels, but | never saw one before
smell be one IN reality, I'm thinking, before |
long"
And so it proved.
Esther Allen is now the wife of Henry Har-
din, but she still sheds bitter tears over the
graves OF Rose and Herbert, in the village
churchyard.
THE TEST OATH.-The following is the test
oath adopted in the Senate, about which
there has been so much debate.
l do solemnly swear Tor affirm) that I have
never voluntarily borne arms against the
United States since I have beeD o;+;,o, |