The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-11-29
4 HONAN'S LOVE.

g A wonan's love! Bah! it is as ev-
anescent as a snow flake, and about as
warm! Whoever heard of a woman
dying for the man she loved, except in
stories where such circumstance mere
ly existed in the writers own silly brain?
Look at those women in there, Ralph.
Do you suppose their thoughts ever rise
aboue the furbelows on their heads:
Humph! That is their seventh heaven"
Wit Harke's lips curled scornfully as
he looked in at the open window on a
gay, laughing, chatty party of the sex
he was abusing. VIII Hanks was a
crusty old bachelor, fair reader, as you
might know, for none but q sour, mar
a authenticated, henpee!Sed husband
would have made the above assertions.
'Hush!H Ralph Leland laid his hand
on WHIPS arm, and looked sternly into
the surprized face of his friend. Then
raising his great, dark eyes, he looked
in at the long French window, with its
slken draperes and rich lace. liseyes
rested on slight, little body, half re-
Ginning ON the crimson velvet cushion OF
sofa, her face lit up with abrightsmile
as she listened to some merry tale or
other. Brown eyes and hair, sweet
witching little mouth--no wonder the
gray eyes grew dark and tender as they
gazed on the beautiful picture. One
little white hand was earessing the great
Newfoundland dog That sat by her side.
the other was resting in a silken sash.
Poor, little withered hand! its work was
over. We will listen to its story.
"Will, do YOU see her-my wife? |
will tell you of a Woman's !ove-her
love! You will take back your hasty
words when you hear it. You romem-
Der when we were married, and how
soon I enlisted after that had taken
place? Well, it was our first quarrel
that sent me away. Don't shrug your
shoulders, and smile in that sarcastic
way, but hear my story. 1t was about
such silly, frivolous thing, l will uot
mention it. But you know my proud,
stern temper, and Fife in there was the
most wilful, obstinate, and tantalizing
little piece that ever breathed. She
would have died rather than relinquish
anything she had set heart on, and l
Will, / should have borne with her
she was but a child-scarce eighteen
when married her.
81 was very stern and cold with her.
| thought she would grow tired, and
come back to my arms again; but [ was
wrong. The child grew pale and thin,
but she wouldn't unbend from her state
| " dignity. Oh, we lived along in such
miserable way, and just then / was
offered acaptaincy in the-th volunteers,
and in fit of desperation I accepted it.
| said nothing to Ettie, but she found it
out someway. 1 saw it in her eyes, and
yet the little white teeth were shut
firmly together, as though they would
never open to speak loving words to me
| T To c%c ri
sought her out, thinking she will not
peace between us!'' Her face was white
and cold, her small hands were clench-
ed together SO tight the nails pierced
her tender flesh, but she bowed coldly
to me, and returned it--that was our
parting! In my cruel selfishness and
conceit, l never thought that | was to
blame; that if would open my arms,
she would fly back to her resting place.
NV poor little bird! / went away the
most wretched being on the face of the
earth, and vowed that if Death did not
find me in my first battle, it would be
my fault.
weeks when lot of recruits arrived to
| fill out our company, as fine set of fell
lows as l ever saw. Among them l no
ticed a frail, girlish-looking boy, with
great, soft brown eyes, that dropped like
girls when you looked at them. Some
how they made me think of Etfie's eyes.
That was why ! took such n fancy to
him, think. His face looked pure and
innocent, as if it had never b. en- from a
mothers lovingcare before. and thought
What will this sensitive spirit do among
these rough men: ] will take him in
to my own tent and care for him as for
a brother l sent for him that night,
and finding him we'll educated. ! told
him would keep him as my clerk.
He should be my tent-lnate,' | said
smiling. He crinsoned, and finding
my gaze embarrassed him, | went on
talking carelessly, and his name WAS
Ellis Lee. He would tell me no more OF
his history.
"From that time he WAS always with
me, and grew TO love the hoy Il. tho
he belonged To me. lie won all the
mems hearts by his gentle, timid ways,
and they never were rude or rough
when he was near, but grew gentle rs
they would in their iar-otf homes in the
presence of mothers and sisters. He
| a. IL