The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-11-02

hall.
80, Aunt Bell! indeed you must
take care of us to-nightv'
Take care of us Blanche:''
!" / wont let him go to a hotel-they
wouldn't let him come to the house-and
here he is, almost dead"
How pretty she looked in her distress
her mantle half fallen off, showing a
dress of rich silk, trimmed with lace
ornaments hanging from neck and wrist,
as if she had dressed for a party. She
was beautiful and dear to me as an angel
lent to earth-my favorite, my darling,
Blanche Eleanor Winthrop-a good old
colonial name. And he, the soldier and
stranger, in his coat of faded blue, with
theinsignia of a lieutenant-colonel on his
shoulders, man with frank, pure face
that Won my heart at once, Il face on
which palenessan suffering were stamp
eel.
Blanche, what does this mean ~ 1
asked.
!" 1t means that l am turned out of
house and home, and-but | don't care
a Bit" and the proud lip trembled. "I'll
never go back to them; never, nerer-
no, not if they beg me on their knees.
But let us get somewhere. know Char
ley's wound wants dressing. O, aunty
is it too late for a doctor??''
g But, Blanche darling, who is-''
:" Aunt Bell, we ran away and got
married, this very morning. | always
declared that | would never be married
inwhite, blue isso becoming, you Know"
she cried, half laughing. And-well,
of course it was against papa's will. He
said l should marry that odious Tom
Ricketts,; and Pddie first, indeed would.
And then Charley came home, Charley,
that I'd promised three years ago, and |
told him, and-Q, Aunt Bell, | know
Pm going to cry!"
| should think she was. Another mo-
ment she laid sobbing on my shoulder
another, she had tainted.
Perhaps had my hands fuil-my
arms, at any rate. Between the wound
ed Charley and myself, we carried her
into my parlor and laid her upon the
same old satin covered lounge she had
played on when a child.
off | had thought | was bringing her
to this grief" moaned the man.
" Never you fear. just hold her head
upso-thcre! It'seXcitement, poorchild;
she never could bear it, and | suppose
she has endured more than you or |
know, for days"
" Yes-my darling! my darling" he
murmured, passionately, STOPPING and
kissing her.
The act brought pain. His brow dark
ened-he pressed his hands to his side.
"There, yoa're not going to faint,
hopcv cried | +; for what would a poor
lone woman have done with both Of
them:
BY this time Blanche was recovering.
81 am Just the silliest mortal that ever
lived" she said, with becoming spirit.
sit would have been a great deal better
if / had cried as l wanted to, long ago.
We women are just nuisances in such
things. o aunty, | am forgetting Char
ley's wound! What shall we do?"
know, my dear" said ], plying the two
she started as said this, a fine blush
Redeemed her cheeks transiently, leaving
them quite colOrless again." or perhaps
l may call him Charley, too, shall go
right into my spare bedroom, behind
the parlor."
so, you darling!" cried Blanche
i" Isn't She glorious, Charley: Her face
grew radiant. Didn't I tell you she
would receive us just SO? Heaven for
give me for it, but do wish you were
my mother, dear Aunt Bell!
TO! that is not just right, my dear
Blanche. Your mother will soon come
round, and perhaps am too lenient.-
You forget that the king-eh, my little
Blanche-can do no wrong, in my eyes.
But come, we must see to that wound;
so Just make yourself at home."
/ threw open the folding-doors that
led into the best bedroom, and went OIL
in search of linen for bandages.
In morning 1 had scarcely done justice
to my cat-like sleep, when Blanche tap
ped at the door. She came in at my
summons, quite white and frightened
again, a slight, gauze-like mantle thrown
over her shoulders.
90, aunty, Charley is very, cry sick
think he is in high fever. l wanted
to call you before, but he said no."
l was soon dressed and down stairs.
Yes, our lieutenant colonel was ill, per-
haps seriously so. Through his veins
the fever-tide ran swift and hot, his lips
were parched, and his eyes nnnaturally
bright. Blanche stood at the side Of his
bed, pallid and frightened. Delay was
not to be thought Of. I despatched q
servant immediately for the nearest med
ical man.