Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-09-12

she tried to make it 80. Yet doubt if she knew
it, The young man hesitated an instant, then
came in, aud up the grayeed walk.
Am intrudng2"
" lntrudlng On no.
81 should be sorry if | were, because"
" Are you alone?
|. was not Miss Bronson's custom to inter-
rupt she was too wolbredi he knew that.
Yes lie said.
II ia not safe, suppose - she questioned,
busted with drawing the Grape over her shout
ders
" Perhaps not that Is matter Of very little
consequence, however"
The shade OF bitterness in his tone could not
have escaped her, but she took no notice Of it
she occupied herself in picking blossom Of the
scarlet trumpetfower that trailed over the
trees and then threw it away.
Won you sit down? You msy ba tired
with your walk. "
lie thanked her, and refused with some re-
serve, placing the gaIjen-chair for her. She
preferred to sand
" You do not wear the gray, sec, when you
take your strolls, she said glancing at the
eagles on his sleeve. They had been bright
once, but were dull with long service low.
| iitlhlJ--hVA bhtn III tAfs uOiIlthDlC tu"us
| prefer, under all circumstances, to carry the
face as well as the heart Of loyalty. II recol-
lect rightly, believe have never been afraid
or ashamed Of this Uniform
The rough priyates dress formed strong
contrast to the elegance Of hers but It was
more than balanced by something in his deep
set eyes, and q certain pressure Of his thin lips
lperhapsa word Of Mrs Browning 's-ndStertui--
would have expressed 10. Some such thought
as this may have crossed her mind, iOf she
glanced from the uniform up into his weather
stained face. Then she looked away. She may
have remembered just then the hom3 ho had
left, the friends be had enstrauged, the hardships
and perils be bed borne and braved for this
humble place among his country's workers
MIss Bronson had many theories OF her own
concerning sham patriotism, but she knew the
ring Of the real coin when she heard it, II was
another evidence Of the justice Of that uuiash-
ionabe epithet have alluded to that She had
been loyal from the fall Of Sumter, and that she
had had the courage to say 80 when occasion
offered
"Oo the contrary with some brightness in
her eyes" you should be proud Of IT,
She was kind to think 20, he said, and said it
wondering if there were servant on her planta-
ton to whom she might not have spoken the
same words as gracousy
" IL has seen rough work in its day, Miss
Bronson, but We are rather still in camp Just
now. Are you not rvy lonely some Of these
summer evenings2
The abruptnets Of the question, asked with
the look and tone with which he asked it, would
have embarrassed many women. 10 Miss Bron-
son, question, tone, and look alike seemed to be
20 more than any other Idle chat Except for
the chill in her voice, when she said, raising
her eyelids in her slow, naughty way
Lonely? Why should be? "
M'Ginley bit his lip.
" Are not my grounds looking we'll, Mr..
M'Glnley " turning, with a polite, careless
smile, which on her face was mere glitter
4" The guerrllas have let me alone 80 far, e1-
cept that little patch oi cotton down 10 the south
field, which was OF small consequence.
4" | wish they had no! touched the south field,
Miss Bronson"
Why'that particularly it could easily be
spared.
Because / have pleasant associations with
it."
She rem embered too--hc knew she did--the
days when they had played there as children, at
mimic house keeping on the mimic plantation
the long, long sunny days bright with pictures
Of blossoms and birds and clOudless skies and
the little dark-eyed glrl who used to 90 out
among them with him, hand in hand She
must remember. Yet it she did she gave no
sgn. The incredulous arch Of her eyebrow
which was her only answer, seemed to sting the
young man lie turned quickly, some sudden
flush mounting to his forehead, stopped in his
slow walk down the path and faced her.
Miss Bronson, look at me, II you please
She complied, because she chose to size made
it very evident that was her only reason His
face just then had look Miss Bronson was
little used to meeting, much les to enduring
quietly.
You do remember"
She smiled.
"Playiug with you in the south feld2 Oh,
yes; have good memory
" You DO not remember it unpleasantly =
" Mr.. MGinley. 1t is somewhat chilly stand
ing still 30 long" lie turned sharply away
from her and stroie down to the gate. She con
tinued her walk as indifferently as if nothing
had happened to interrupt her.
" Are you going? Well, wish you pleas
ant evening and safe walk.
lie smiled bitterly.
mans life is the most worthless invest
ment he has, in these times II the little divi-
dends should stop before | see you again"
lie waited, apparently for some expression of
interest from her, But there was not word
or look She stood perfectly still, with her
eyes on the darkoning road.
" In that case thought | should like to tell
you why 1 left camp Tonight. Do you wish to
know
"0h, I'll leave that to you il you choose to
tell me, you may"
Again that look which Miss Bronson was not
used to enduring. His eyes were en- FIRE the
compression of his lips seemed absolute pain
perhaps she did not zee II.
" DO choose to tell Won. came to see YOU !:
If | had seen you for moment unknown to
yourself, my object would have been gained.
had not expected the honor Of conversation
with you. | am obliged to you for your conde-
scension.
lie waited, before he babe her good-eyening,
10 watch her moment with that look which
on name face shows the crisis Of some great
agony IN the sonl-a look which the accident
of his death might well stamp on Miss Bron-
sons memory as long as she could remember
any thing But she had not u word Tor him
not one, She stood there in her elegant calm,
50 near to him that she could hear his sharp,
hard breathing as far from him as if oceans
rolled between them. lie remembered after
ward that her silence was unusual even for her
also a certain strained repose in, the folding OF
her hands which caught his eye, but which, in
the passion Of tho moment, served only TO work
into wandering fancy of his, that he wss try
ing TO move u block of beautiful marble
Miss Bronson stood just where he had left her,
long after he had gone Once she started. with