The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1865-07-05

| lucy let MIN resi- alIer tnat, untl he
grew strong and doubly desperate. With
his wrongs heavy upon him-with those
thieves his only friends-he fell at last.
A dwelling was to be robbed, and John
Rodman was amongst those who were to
pillage it. His task was dangerous one
He was to enter the house, conceal him
self until safe hour, and then let in the
others.
AT twilight, while the household were
in the dining-room, he crept in at back
window, made his way up stairs, and hid
beneath bed on the upper floor.
There he crouched until the house grew
still, and one by one the inmates ascended
the stairs. AT last some one stopped at
that dopr and entered. If it should prove
a stalwart man, his task was doubly dan
gerous. He peeped out. 1t was n wo-
mana fair woman-with golden hair
and blue eyes, whose face he could plainly
see, and who put down her lamp and sat
beside n table From thence she took Il
box, and, opening it, drew out some let
ters, time-worn and yellow, a miniature
portrait, and lock Of hair, which she
kissed, AMI fell weeping over. Then she
buried her face in her hands, and prayed,
murmuring the words over, but u,tering
one louder than the first.
John Rodman almost screamed in his
agitaton-that word was his own name
And in moment he knew that this was
Eva Fay, and that, constant to his men,
ory 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 te.,rs aside to watch
her, until she began to disrobo herself,
when he yelled his face in honor of her
chaste womanhood. Intently he listened
in the after darkness, until her breathing
grew regular and ncavy, and he knew she
slumbercd 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 card these words:
Eva. | have been near you. | am
loathsome with prison life and prison as
5ociations | dare not let you see me now
You believed me innocent Of that crime of
which they charged me. God bless YOU
l was innocent then let since that time
| have been on the verge of crimes as
great fray Tor me, as heard you
pray ana wait ana watch little while.
Nervcd by the knowledge that you love
me sun, oo"h i'onina'i may yet make
name ,or which you shall not biusL-
God bless and keen Won. Adinu"
lie ia'u TINS upon her table, and went
iorti, man again lie walked the streets
nn''' daylight praying lnwarily When
''i' sun arose he saw eimm'ring on
many wall ana fence new placM'ds,
fo',1d over "@It' ne hrrt call tor men
''' oe'n made IoiumniaS voice sum
n'o''" h'r sons 10 her AL ANA thousands
were re'uy' Jo'n holman read the
words hecrnltS Nan'ed, rs though
'hey iad oeen written by the hands OF
Angels. Hard by' drums beat and bugles
oialred from recruiting oillie' II i1eav-
ems gates had opened John Kodman
couia NOT nave ieIt more thankful. lie
coulu almost nave kneit N the open
street 10 u'ter thanksgiving. In this
Soidler 5 love he saw escape from crime
ana want ana Il path to honor and to his
hVas love-
In an hour he was enlisted under the
banner oi the union, and few weeks
afterwards marched with his comrades
rom the CITY AS those brave men pass
ed through the crowded thoroughfare
mats were lifted and handkerchiefs waved,
ana bright eyes grew dewy. Some amongst
the band had sweet tarewells from wom-
ans lips to cheer them many, many
iona embraces OF mother, wife and
children John kodman had but the
memory OF his constant Eva's prayer for
hlm. lie needed nothing else.
Those were hot and bloody days that
loiiowed but through them Private
John hodman bore bravely-so brave
mat the TACT was noted and spoken of.
AT last he saved his Coloners life at the
FISK OF his own, and Private John Rod
man was no more Tor Sergeant John Rod
man took his place.
After that brave deeds and promotion
followed hand IN hand and now and
then John kodman hoped that Eva might
read his name Ills form grew erect
once more his eye bright his old looks
returned and stlll a Drawer soldier never
trod the field. lie was captain now
A gentleman and an officer of rank In |