Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-05-10

times Wntu ne Woulu whisper In MS raw
ings Of Jennie Lee, when he fancied he
felt the touch of her soft cool hand up
on his burning brow, and he muttered,
"Child, l am dying. 1 want your forgive
ness God knows l never meant to teach
you to love me, but your sweet, calm face
won me away from my sinful life and with
you was better man. Again in fan-
cy, Margaret Ligntner was beside him.
SHOW beautiful you are with those roses
in. your hair aud the moonlight shining
upon you" A strange look stole over
his face now, and he reached out his arms
to grasp the imaginary being, but II had
vanished, and he muttered 10 himself of
his mother whose grave was far away be-
meath the blue skies Of Ohio.
The days wore on, yet still he fingered.
Margaret Lightner and Jennie Lee came
from their distant homes TO see him ere
life's light went out from the glorious eyes.
1t was sunset, and the lingering rays
lighted up q strange, beautiful picture
within the rude walls Of the hospital.
They touched the sunny curls Of Jennie
Lee. who knelt beside him, with such a
tender glow, that they shone like buinish-
ed gold. They shone upon the proud,
still face of Margaret Lightner, until tho
lines about the stern mouth softened and
became womanly In their expression. The
dying soldier moancd and tossed in his
wild unrest-talking of home and friends
of Jennie" and sMargaret," but at last
all this passed away and reasons light
shone in his eyes. Kneeling at his couch,
with clasped hands and bowed head, was
Jennie Lee; his hand rested lovingly, ca
ressingly among her curls--while near
them stood her whose life he had darken.
ed; all the pride which her father had be-
queathed her, looked out Of her eyes, and
the scene before her caused the demon
Jealousy to rise higher in her heart But
her love was stronger than pride, for when
moment after Ray Morgan held out his
hand she clasped il eagerly and bent o'cr
him to catch his whispered words. "For-
give me-loye Jennie Lee for my sake
no word Of comfort for her-no word Of
love to brighten the future. She pushed
back the clustering waves of dark hair
and printed kiss upon the white brow.
There was quick breath, futter Of the
heart, and he was gone. The living clasp
ed hands above the dead, and forgave him
who now lay so still and calm beside them.
And when they parted, their lips met
in warm kiss Of love, while from the
grave of their buried dream there sprang
into life friendship for each other that
would live forever.
Time passed on with its freight Of Joy
and sorrow, yet three years later Margaret
Lightner's heart shows no sigh Of the
struggle through which she suffered. Her
brow is as smooth, Lcr voice as firm as In
years agone. but there are times when n
restless fire burns in her eyes, which tells
that they are with her heart aud that is far
away. a soldiers grave is the shrine at
which she worships. Atsunsot stately
form kneels there, clad in deepest mourn.
ing, and when memory swings open her
portals, grief's wild waves surge over her
soul.
God pity her, whose life light is qucnch-
ed in the dark gloom of the night time OF
sorrow. Her feet grow weary of their
way, and sometimes she is almost tempt
ed to snap asunder, by her own hands
lifes little thread of living. For her there
is no drop of sweetness in the bitter cup,
no ray of sunlight to steal through the deep
shadows. Here We must leave her, strong
in her pride, yet at times sofiened to tears
subdued and weakened, when she remem.
3ers the two whose lives were so closely
interviewer with her own.
"And they called her cold. God knows
Underneath the winter SHOWS
The invisible hearts Of flowers grow ripe FOR bios
somingi
And the lives that look cold,
1ftheir stories could be told
Would seem east in gentl,r mould,
Would seem full of Love aud Spring.
In green, sunny corner of the village
graveyard, where the warm sunshine falls
lovingly, is little mound covered with
violets and ivy, beneath which lies the
slight, girlish form of Jennie Lee She
is sleeping the sleep which is sweeter than
all-that which "He giveth his beloved =
"Gone in her child like purity
Out from the golden day;
Fading away In tho light sweet
Where the sill yer stars aud sunbeams meet,
Over the silent way.
Gone 10 seep with the tender smile
Frozc her silent lips
BY the farewell kiss of her dewy breath,
Cold In the clasp Of the angel death,
Like the last fair bud of faded wreath
Whose bloom the white frost nips.''
GRACE CHESTER.