The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1864-11-05

u Il
Come every hill .dlaia, and
True heart that wears one
Come every steel blade, and
Strong hand that bears one.
s"Lcdve untended the herd,
The flock without shelter;
Leave thecorpse uninterred,
Leave the bride at the altar;
Leave the dear, leave the steer,
Leave nets and barges
Come with your ightiug-gear,
Broadswords and tarSes !;
Helen sang it with spirit, and listen
ing to the stirring words, the blood
thrilled in Hugh's nerves.
"These are thrilling words, Helen
lust what l needed"
@Ah good evening, Hugh. You
come so softly, 1 did not hear yon. Yes,
they are glorious words. / love to sing
them over, to a tune ofmy own lmpro-
yisinr. They suit these stirring times.
Change the words little. and they will
lust express the way in which our brave
boys have left their homes, aud donoed
the lighting gear"
Then Hugh told her all his heart how
duty was urging him battleward, and
how his love for Nettie was standing be .
tween him and his country he lov.
cd.
It was hard for Helen to listen while
no told of his love Cor Ncttie, loving
him as she did, but these things happen
every day; they are only part of lies
discipline.
"IIelp me to decide, Helen "
You had but to look at the girl to
know what her answer would be. The
soul that looked out of those large gray
eyes upon the world was no common
soul, but earnest, questioning, strong.
Lie was serious thing to her.
Il do not think any one is justified in
sitting at home, Hugh, when our coun-
try needs them, aud certainly not when
their own soul bears witness to that need
aud their duty"
Helen, you have decided me. l
will see Colonel Daua this very night"
Soon after, there was fearful parting
at Ncttie's home and the girl seeming
y inconsolia able, lay all day long on the
sota. face downward, much to the worry
# her mother. In weeks time, she
was as happy and care-iree as ever con-
eoling herself for Hugh's departure by
flirting with the numerous young OH
GERS that made famous the latter part of
winter and spring.
Time crept on, bringing the usual
changes. Hugh Leicester, lying in the
hospital with an ugly feshwound in his
shoulder, thought tenderly Of his fair
haired Nottie.
II an going homc, Leicester. What
news shall l carry for you to Nettie
Lawrence'"
"Telt her, Colonel, that if my right
arm were not a plisoner-not to the
Rebels, but to pain-l would write but
I can only send my love, and this ring
by my Colonel
keep up brave heart, Leicester
said for had loved him from a hoy
and it bothered me to see him sad. "ln
Just five days [ will return to camp,
when hope to be able to meet yod in
the field again
la Just five days l returned, and the
Srst mau saw was hugh. | made him
believe / did not see him, and moved to
another part of the field. At night, as
/ sat in my tent, chewing the end of
sweet and bitter fancicS, voice outside
startled me.
"Pomp," whispered, "if Lieutenant
Leicester inquiries for me tonight, say |
am engaged with papers ofimportauce."
But. ere the order was fairly understood,
Hugh stood before me.
"Ah, Leicester | am very busy, you
must excuse me to night. L"
"Only give me Nettie's letter, Colonel
aud | will make myself scarce"
Mp face flushed, then paled, | felt it,
then determined to have it over, [ jerk
ed out, 81 have no letter, Hugh, IL"
"Not write to me Nettie, | do not
quite understandable ring, Colonel,
why have you still the ring upon your
finger!
Leiccster, my poor fellow? l have
had news for you, but you must bear it
like a man"
He staggered back against the table,
aud said hoarsely.
"Nettie is dead"
"Worse than that, Hugh--she is mar.
riedw
"To whom -
The voice was fearfully calm, but the
face was as the face ofthe dead.
"To Captain Sydeuham Travis, Of the
-th."
regretted to tell him, for Travis was
a man without a practice of honor, fond
of fast horses and wine.
Perhaps Nettie might redeem him."
he said. through pale lips but knew
better; host ofangels could not redeem
Sydenham Travis.
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