National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1866-11-02

man the food good, honest, well-bred
people had denied him.
They let him rest after that, until
he grew strong and doubly desper-
ate. With his wrongs heavy upon
him-with those thieves his only
friends-he fell at last.
y dwelling was to he robbed. and
john Rodman was among those who
were to pillage it. His task was "a
dangerous one. He was to enter the
house. conceal himself until safe
hour, and then admit the others.
At twilight. while tine household
were i'll 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
assembled the stairs. At last some
one stopped at the door and entered.
If it should prove q stalwart man
his task was dcubly dangerous. He
peeped out. II was a woman-a
fair woman-with golden hair and
blue eyes whose face he could not
I plainly see, and who put down her
lamp and sat beside the table-from
thence she took box. and opening
it, drew out some letters. time worn
and yellow. a miniature portrait.
end lock of hair. which she kissed
and fell to weeping over. Then she
buried her face in her hands and
/ prayed. mnrmuring the words over.
but uttering one louder than the
first.
John Rodman almost screamed i'll
his agitation-that word was his
OWN name And in a moment he
knew that this was Eva Fay. and
that. constant to his memory even
yet. she prayed for him.
Oh. the great JOY to know it'd,
the horror of being where he was.
Silently he wept, brushing the tears
aside to watch her. until she began
to disrObe herself. when he yeile,l
his face in honor of her chastc wo-
manhood. lntcntly he listened in
the darkness, until her breathing
grew regular and heavy. and he
knew she slumbered and then by
the window he had entered. he de
/ parted, and fed for life. But before
he had left he had scribbled in the
darkness upon card, these words !:
= Eva, have been near yOu.
am loatlSome with prison life and
prison associates, dare not let yo.
see me now. You believe me inno-
cent OF that crime of which they
accused me. God bless you. WIS
innocent then. Yet, since that
time | have been on the verge #
crimes as great. Pray for me. as {
heard you pray. and wait and watch
a little while. Nerved by the knowl-
edge that you love him still. John
Rodman may yot make name for
which you shall blush. God bless
and keep you. Adieu.n
He laid this upon the table and
went fort, a man again. He walk
ed the streets praying Inwardly.
" hen the sun arose, he saw glim
mcring on many wall and fence,
new placards, posted over night.
The first call for men had been
made. Columbia's voice summoned
her sons to aid her, and thousands
were ready. John Rodmali read
these words Recruits wanted"
as though they had been by the
hands of angels. Hard by, drums
beat, and bug!cs barred from re.
cruiting Office. Ii Heavens gate
had opened, John Rodman could not
have felt more thankful. He could
have almost knclt in the open street
to utter a Thanksgiving. In the
soldiers life he saw escape from
crime and want, and q path to hon
or and to Eva's love.
I'm an hour he was enlisted and
under the banner of the Union. and
a few weeks ai,erward marched from
the city with his comrades. As
these brave fellows passed through
the crowded thoroughiare, hats
were lifted and handkerchiels waved
and bright eyes grew dewy. Some
amongst the band had sweet fare.
wells from woman's lips to cheer
them many the fond embraces of a
mother, wife, and children. Johl,
Rodman had but the memory of his
constant Eva's prayer for him. lie
needed nothing else.
Those were hot and bloody dayS
that followed but through them
private John Rodman bore himself
bravely--so bravely that the fact
was noted and spoken OF. At las,
he saved his Colonel's life at the
risk of his own, and private John
Rodman was no more, for Sergeant
John Rodman took his place.
Afler that. brave deeds and pro
motions followed hand in hand
and now and then John Rodma,l
hoped that Eva might sometimes
read his name. His form grew erect
once more. and his eye bright his
old good looks returned. and still q
Drawer soldier never trod the field
He was Captain now. A gentle
man and officer by rank. In thes,
two long years of battle he suffered
much by wounds. privntions and
anxiety Yet he thanked God with
every breath for having saved hin
and made him what he was.
One burning July day dawncd
upon fearful battlc-hand TO hand
tooth and nail. Southern chiNnlrN