The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1865-07-21


upper floor.
There he crouched until the house
grew still, and one by one the inmates
assembled the stairs. At last some one
stopped at that door and eptered. If,
it should prove a stalwart IMAM, hiA
task was doubly dangerous. He
peeped out, 1t was woman-a fair
woman-with golden hair and blue.
eyes, whose face he could plainly seen
and who put down her lamp and sat
beside table. From thence she took
a box, and, opening it, drew out some
letters, time-worn and yellow, min
iature portrait, and lock of hair,
which she kissed, and fell to weeping
over. Then she buried her face in her
hands and prayed, murmuring the
words over, but uttering one louder
than the first.
John Rodman almost screamed in
his agitation that word was his own
name And in a moment he knew
that this was Eva Fay, and that, con-
slant to his memory even yet, she
prayed for him.
Oh the great JOY to know it-oh !
the horror of being where he was.
Silently he wept, brushing the tears
aside to watch her, until she began to
disrobe herself, when he yelled his
face in honor of her chaste woman
hood. Intently he listened in the af-
ter darkness, until her breathing grew
regular and heavy, and he knew she
slumbered; and then by the window
he had entered he departed, and fed
for life. But before he left he had
scribbled in the darkness upon a card
these words:
EVA, / have been near you. I am
loathsome with prison life and prison
associations. I dare not let you see
me now You believed me innocent
of that crime of which they charged
me. God bless you'll l was innocent
then. Yet since that time have been
on the verge of crimes as great Pray
for me, as | heard you pray, and wait
and watch little while Ncrved by the
knowledge that you love him still,
John Rodman may yet make name
for which you shall not blush. God
bless and keep you. Adieu.
He laid this upon her table, and
went forth man again. He walked
the streets until daylight, praying in
wardly. When the sun arose he saw
glimmering on many wall and fence
new placards, posted over night The
first call for men had been made. Co.
lumbia's voice summoned her sons to
her aid, and thousands were ready
John Rodman read the words, "Re-
cruits wanted, as though they had
been written by the hands of angels.
Hard by, drums beat and bugles
blaired from recruiting Office. If
Heavens gates had been opened John
Rodman could not have felt more
thankful. He could almost have knelt
in the open street to utter thanks
giving In this soldiers love he saw
escape from crime and want, and a
path to honor and to his Eva's love.
In an hour he was enlisted under
the banner of the Union, and a few
weeks afterward marched with his
comrades from the city. AS those
brave men passed through the crowded
thoroughfare, hats were lifted and ker-
chiefs waved, and bright eyes grew
dewey. Some amongst the band had
sweet farewells from woman's lips to
cheer them; many the fond embraces
of mother, wife and children John
Rodman had but the memory of his
constant Eya's prayer for him. He
needed nothing else.
Those were hot and bloody days
that followed; but through them Pri-
waite John Rodman bore bravely-so
bravely that the fact was noted and
/ spoken Of At last he saved his colo
) nel's life at the risk of his own, and
Private John Rodmam was no more,
: for Sergeant John Rodman took his
place.
After that, brave deeds and promo
| tons followed hand in hand; and now
and then John Rodman hoped that
l Eva might sometimes read his name
His form grew erect once more; his
t eye bright; his old looks returned
and still drawer soldier never trod
| the field He was captain how. A
I gentleman and officer by rank. In
those two long years of battle be had
| suffered much by wounds priyationf
( and anxiety. Yet he thanked Goo
g with every breath for having saved