Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1864-04-21
Volume xxx

III = AeAAA Al u A-- A---3 - --~
second.
sit down, Jim,' said the farmer
Amy mail for us tonight
Nothing,
What strang smile passed ovel
his face as he saw the sudden down
warn droop of Bessie Atterlys eye
lashes-the quiver around hel
mouth.
.Nothin'! That's queer, You see
Bessis's feelin' kind o'worried cause
she dou't hear nothin' from Henry
Ives
James Grayling paused, a little
maliciously, to notice the sparkle in
Bessie's eves as she leaned forward
with reddening cheeks snd intent
look.
'What does he say?' she gasped,
as Grayling spoke something to her
father in whispered tones.
We'll, I m fraid you'll feel badly
about it; but a-frierd has written him
a letter; in which he says Harry
Ives's captured, with half a-dozen
others, by skirmishing party a
week before he wrote.
'Captured?'
Yes; and that isn't all. He says
that they didn believe Harry Ives
cared whether he was carried down
South or not; for he had taken good
notion to some pretty girl down in
Virginia. planter 5 darter, l believe
-and-'
Il don believe it, James Grayling
said Bessie, springing to her feet,
with 1as hing eye and passion Grim
soned forehead; 'Idon't believe
word Of it. You are repeating some
vile falsehood.'
Il knew you d feel bad, said Gray
ling, with provoking mildness; but
L thought that you ought to know
how matters stood. can show you
my friend Sans letter, if that will be
any more satisfactory. l never had
much faith in Harry Ives-a care
less, dashing fellow, who.
Hush! l will not listen to another
SENTENCED calculated Bessie, angrily,
and with a cestain strange dignity in
her girl face and slender form.
Mr.. Atterly,' said Grayling, with
aggravated moderation and calm
ness, 'how long is it since your daugh-
ter received letter from Harry
Ives
well, it's consid'able spell, said
the farmer; but letters do take time
to reach rs: ynn know
Yes, particular when there never
sent,'' sneered Grayling.
Father, don't listen to him. cried
Bessie, passionately. If the whole
world were to tell ME Harry Ives
was untrue; 1 wouldn't believe
them
And Bessie tainted quietly away
with her chestnut braids Of hair
dropping over her fathers knee.
Poor child Could she have fore
seen the weary months of waiting
for the letter which never came from
the far-off Southern hills; the hope
deferred which maketh the heart
sick, that were in store for her, she
might have been sorry that she had
not died there and then and there,
holding fast to that firm faith in Har
ry Ives fidelity.
James Grayling--a crafty, patient
man-bided his time. 1t CAME at
last when the tender green of the
hill sides shrivled and grew brown
under the starry, silent frost Of the
bitter December nights, and the keen
wind rushed with thunderous swell
through the lonely pine forests in
these wild solItudss.
Daughter, it s the dearest wish of
my heart, said Farmer Atterly, sol
emily, as he sat with Bessie in tine
old silent room-'1'm gettin well on
in years; and if / could but see you
married to some good and true man
before l am taken dway, L should
rest much easier in my grave James
Crawling has been almost a son to
me these months of trial and trouble.
He is coming for his final answer to-
night. Let it be YEs!'
Bessie shdddered. That year Of
sick, wistful grief had changed her
into pale, fragile girl, with large,
frightened eyes, ever rowing from
side to side. as if seeking something
which never came.
Wait father she murmered, ca
gerly; as if pleading for life itself,
wait a little longer-only little Ion
ger!' ,le
Il hare waited Bessie. 1t is a year
and over since Harry Ives has sent
you either word or message. He
may be dead-better dead than 6
scoundrel!-but James Grayliug has
been as true as steel to me all this
time. He deserves you, Bessie; and
when you are once married. you'll be
sure to learn to love hin1. Shall We
say this day month for your wedding
daughter
That night Bessie laid her cold
hand in James Grayling's eager
palm, and said Yes,' dreamily, to
whatever he proposed. What had
! life left for herr AS well be James
Cravings wife as anything else, since
God willed that she should live and
suffer on, and the dreary path OF
years lay spread out before her list
/ less feafi