Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1866-08-02

| face and he leaned back among MS
cushions with his eyes turned sea
ward.
In little while he had himself
driven back to the hotel, and there
fatigue was sufficient excuse for
keeping his own room and avoiding
Edna Ackland, and all the rest of
fashiondom.
At best he hated the endless ques-
tioning and commiseration-the an
swering of inquiries asto his health,
and where and when that sleeve be-
came empty. He did not enjoy the
role of hero, nor the admiring pity
of simpering misses and stout mann
mas. Edna Achand's sympathy
was the only sympathy he craved,
and that he had not. SO shut in his
own room, while the world of New
port was abroad, taking his walks
and rides when others were at din
ner. Captain Ash lived quite as
much alone as he might on desert
island, save for an occasional raid of
masculine friends, who came to
''cheer him up, and failed signally in
that praiseworthv entleavor.
The sea air was doing the Gonzales
cent very little good In fact he
was weaker than when he came to
Newpor'.
\ happy heart is the best medicine.
and hope better for the invalid than
the balmieSt breczes ever blown
These Harry Ash had not He did
not even wish to live
Sometimes OH the nights of the re
moved Newport hop" when music
came stealing on the balmy air to his
very window, and the sound of dan
cling feet timing it gayly, brought
back the memory of hours when he
was the merriest of TIE throng, the
poor Young soldier would sit with
his aching head and heart and listen,
almost believing that he could see
Edna, among the dancers-Edna. III
the white dress he loved to see her
wear, with pearls about her throat and
/ III iltI
Az, and with young Fitzfoodle for
partner, and a throng of brainless
boys about her when she grew weary
of the German. Perhaps they wills
pered praises of her skill with the
rein. Perhaps she looked and spoke
as other girls did now, not with the
modest glance and tone of the Edna
of old, and yet he longed unseen to
see and hear her.
One night the longing grew so
strong that to get rid of it he left his
room and sauntered feebly out into
the open air, and down n romantic
path where he hoped he should not
hear the music and the tinkle of dan
cling feet. But it came to him even
there. The lights flashed through
the dark fOliage-the notes of a valse
mingled with the far off sob of the
sea. That music was like his mem
DRY, he could not escape it. For
he had walked too far already, and
was fain to sit down and rest-he
who had been once so strong He
flung himself on a garden-seat and
wiped the damp drops from his
brow
Il am getting no stronger, he
thought. Il shall never live to see
the flowers die Will she care, |
wonder:"
Even as he spoke soft sobbing
broke upon his ear-thc note Il dove
mourning for her mate might make
1t seemed close to him-he turned
and looked. The garden seat rested
with its back against q tree-dos A
dos to this, facing another walk.
was like seat. On this lady sat
her head bent down-the moonlight
living on great coils of fiaxen hair
little white hands, claspcd. suppress
sed but audible to the young soldier,
heaying her bosom. That wealth of
hair. that slender form, surely he
knew them. He bent forward to be
certain, and branch rustled, and the
lady started up il alright. 1t was
Edna Ackland, and she saw him, for
the moon was bright and full upon
his face For a moment both re-
manned motionless. Then she arose
and came around the tree and sat
down beside him.
Her eyes were swollen with weep
ing, and she held out her hand to
him. What could he do but take
it:
"You are better" she said Il
feared You were very ill. You have
been here whole week and never
been near us. Was that right"
You forget / am an invalid and
not equal to society yet" he said,
coldly.
"Forget-oh no. and her
glance took in his empty sleeve
''how could L."
''HOw could you, indeed, / am
sadly altered-neither useful nor or
namental to the world. The best
thing l can do is to quit it, as | eX-
pect to soon"
She stretched her hand toward
him with a sudden gesture that look
ed almost like caress, and drew it
back blushing scarlet
NAY. you are better. The doctor
told mamma so. All youneed is eX-
ercise. You should drive out, or 90
upon the water more
The word "drive' angered him.
He answered curt: driving is very
pleasant to one who possesses Miss
Ackland's new accomplishment 1t
is not so chs III ing to one who can
never handle whip or rein again
The same with boating. Perhaps