Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-10-05

I
cluded, that he was glad that from
henceforth there should be no secrets
between us.
| told him of the days when Charles
Bleecker's love had been all the world
to me; when my skies seemed cloud
less, and the world was so fair.
told him how the day came when the
sun went down while it was yet noon
when | would not submit, and could
only say, "This is nothing"
Il grew cold and calm at length" ]"
| continued. "No healthful, tender
sympathies stirred my heart 1t was
dreary life 3r,loIb led sgpsseGqlat6tseqa gpsG t6ea on q
like Jonah's gourd, it springs up in a
night and perisheS in a night; there
fore | will guard my life well, | will
steel it against all gentler influences,
[ will labor earnestly wherever God
calls, [ will give good heed to my out
ward lie, none shall know that it has
passed under cloud. BY and by the
love which God giveth shall satisfy
1t shall be my greatest solace. In
this mood came to Rockland a year
ago. met you, my good Doctor
What followed you know so WE'LL
You taught me (much against my will,
at irSt) that there is everything good
and true in life worth striving for,
worth attaining; that if one good thing
fails there is always a second best be-
hind 1t. John" [ concluded, this has
been a golden year, aud to have it
crowned with your love is more than
| could have asked"
1--WE are one now and henceforth
said DR.. Hale, as we rose to leave.
Il see before US the path down which
yea and will walk together, love, to
the goal the good and true should
strive for. Lean on me, Margaret,
Let me help you over the rough places,
Let me shelter you here in my heart
from all evil"
We rode slowly back to ROckland
in the twilight of that summer day
How strange seemed the landscape
and the objects by the way5ide! |
had lived new life since last pass
ed them. But little passed between
us. There was no need. Silence,
just then, was more eloquent than
words. Twas John andhe was mine.
That was enough.
A few weeks after we were mar
ried. / am very happy. only think
of the past with regret that | wasted
so fair a portion of my life in useless
Irepinings. Few wives are so thor
oughly loved and blessed as | am, so
thoroughly believed in and trusted.
| tremblc as | think of my great hap
piness, OF the daily peace which comes
into our lives.
| met Charles Bleecker once few
weeks ago. John and | were in the
fever wards of a city hospital. Brave
soldiers from Southern camps with
their beautiful lives burning out, tos-
sed restleSSly on their narrow COTS
| followed John from one low bed to
another. listened to the beautiful
strong words of healing he spoke tc
them as he ministered to the poor
suffering frame. | followed all Johns
| directions. l held up the poor, faint
ing body. parted away from noble
brows, that mothers had kissed, the
damp masses of hair. ! bathed th(
flushed brow, moistened the parcheC
| lips. | did all that woman could dc
to alleviate pain and weary unrest.
We paused, at last, in the officers
quarters, before a bed where lay {
patient flushed with fever heats
His eyes were closed, His hand.
were thrown wildly over his head
His face was familiar one | saw a
once. | bent my head nearer. Yes
it was as | thought. l had loved tha
face in other days. 1t was Charle'
Bleecker's. He opened his eyes jus
then. They met mine. He ralse(
himself slightly and said; rs this {
dream? AMI dead? lsthis Heaven
and is this Margaret Oh, [ have
prayed God 50 earnestly that nigh
see you once more!
Ny husband heard and underst0o(
all. took his hands in mine.
looked up to his face with perfect low
and confidence, This was ali HI
wanted. He looked down to tn
flushed face Of Charles Bleecker'
and said. Margaret, speak to him
Comfort him all you will"
| knelt down by his bedside accord
ingly. l pushed back from his broa'
forehead the dense moist masses G
hair. | passed my hand softly owe
his fevered cheeks.
"You are married Margaret" h
, said, solfty. This man who stand
by your side, who has ministered t
both body a ID soul in these las
, wretched days, is your husband
worthy of Margaret's love which
scorned and sighted. But, Margare
t as my stay here is so short, for I sha
not see another day, it will not b
!: wrong for me to say to you here, /
the presence of your husband, that
| loved you all the time, infatuated as
was. woke from my foolish dreal
at last, wretched, aimless man; bu
you were gone you never came agal
and not long after | heard that yo
| were married. Margaret, | suffered
| have atoned for all. Last year th
! war commenced, | was commissions
colonel of aregiment. have passe
i through scenes of blood and horro
q | have seen my soldiers fall round m
like autumn leaves; but was spare'
/ I, who sought death, who needed III
+ fiery shot nor bursting shell, can
i away from CORY battle-felds unscathe'
$ But my time has come, thank Coo
. The last enemy that shall be destro