The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1864-01-07

lltl thVlN HultAc hoN
Esther Arden--for she 1t wns-was
wenrily putting her desk in order, and
yoiug over aud over again the visit of
the afternoon. Had Colonel Werner
rot recognized her, or had he not wish.
d to do so? If he had, did he feel still
the old scorn and loathiugy
Reader, it would not be strange if he
had not recognized in the beautiful,
self.rcliant woman, with unmistakable
ina, ks of culture aud refinement, the shy,
un;uIormed Esther Of three years ago,
"Esther."
She started violently at the voice, yand
dropped the book she held.
There seemed no cause for agitation
Colonel Vernon held out his hand calmly,
as he would to any acquaintance he had
not for long time seen.
"Do YOU like your school ? Isn't it
dull nowg' were his next questions, after
inquiries for her health.
mot dull" she said, striving tospcak
ms calmly as he bad done, "her tinlo was
too full employed to allow Of that
"Was there any society :"
YES, at ,hc ioit quite number of
the officers wives were there, and were
very social aud gay"
Had Colonel Vernon forgotten their
relation? In no way or manner Id.,he
alludc to it, aud Esther acted upon the
hint she felt intended for her benefit.
He learned that she had come there
with the wife of the surgeon, who was
stationed there, both of whom were
particular friends. On his part, he
spoke OF the various places to which his
regimen: had been scnt and its fortunes
aud successes.
They parted at the fort she 10 won
der at the manner in which he had met
her, and to blush at the consciousness
she had manifested.
She felt inclined to leave the place
directly but she wasi conscious of the
righteousness Of fleeing when there was
nothing from which to flee.
In the society of the tort, from which
she could not always absent herself, they
frequently mel. After short time, he
often joined her on her way to or from
her school. They became more than
acquaintanccs-friends. bet still that
strange reserve on his part regarding the
past. Esther sometimes questioned Ii
it were not all dream.
The evening had been spent at the
fort gayly Esther was in brilliant
spirits. Usually quiet, she was Low the
life of the gay company. She scarcely
recognized herself in this new mood, but
she did not try to check the gay flow of
spirits. at would be brief enough" ="
she said 10 herself
Colonel Vernon seemed strangely
disqnietcd as he looked at her, and
listened to her brilliant conversation.
He appeared to have some secret cause
ofanxiety. Hetook the first opportunity
TO secure tete,atcte. &C.,
A few gay sentences between them,
and silence which he broke finally and
abruptly. ..'
II am going away to morrow; Nillmy
wife go with me ~ .....
lie waited for an answer, but none
came.
"Will not Esther answer mc?" he
asked, reproachfu'ly.
Il have never heard Colonel Vernon
say before that he had a wife" she
answered, little proudly.
Esther. it was because / knew the
past would not bear recalling. Ny own
past, at least, l had nothing to be proud
Of Yes, had a wife. How, in the
fever Of my madness, I treated her, l
need not tell you. l bad my punish
ment shortly afterward in this letter,
which picked up that evening proving
her false and faithless whom | had
believed little short of an angel. Read
it.at your leisure. With the reading of
that letter the dream was over, if not
the suffering.
81 had nothing to live for. Ny wife
had fed. l sought her, but she left no
traces of her fight. l could not blame
her. / entered the Army. Often 1
thought of my young girl-wife, and
yearned to see her. | knew she was
true and pure, and learned to prize
when | had forever lost her
"One uay-uay OF uays-l came un-
Willingly upon her. found my shy
girl rl.wife transformed to a self possessed,
cultivated woman, with Wit and beauty
sufficient to have broughtscores oflovers
to her feet had she chosen. l did not
dlre to claim this glorious woman. She
would have scorned me, and banished
me from her sight forever. Loving her
more truly, more hopclessly each time
we met, my silence continued. 1t is
only now that ami ordered away that l
have courage to say:
esther l love you with ny whole
SOUL as l never loved before, revefently,
ienderly, and entirely. You ,r, my wife,
though am all unworthy. Esther, must
] 60 alone ?"
She had bowed her face till it was
L L L. u L L