North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1867-05-15
A WOMAN's LOVE.

aneScent as snowflake, and about as
warm! Whoever heard of woman dy-
ing for the man she loved, except in sto-
ries where such circumstance merely ex-
listed in the writer's own silly brain q
Look at those women in there, Ralph -
Do you suppose their thoughts ever rise
above the furbelows on their heads p
Humph! That is their seventh heaven !"
Will Harke's lip curled scornfully as he
looked in at the open window on gay,
laughing, chatty party of the sex he was
abusing. Will Harks was a cfusty old
bachelor, fair reader, as you might know,
for none but a sour, narrow-mihded spcci-
men ofthat order, or chicken-hearted,
henpecked husbend would have made the
above assertions. .t..
"Hush~ Ralph Delane laid his hand
on Wills arm, and looked sternly into the
surprised face of his friend. Then raising
his great, dark eyes, he looked in at the
French window, with its silken draperies
and rich lace. His eyes rested on a slight,
little body, half reclining on the crimson
velvet cushion sofa, her face lit up with
bright smile as she listened to some merry
tale or other. Brown eyes and hair, a
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 caressing 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 love! You
will take back your hasty words when you
hear it. You remember when we were
married, and how soon l 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. ltwas
about such silly, frivolous thing, will
not mention it. But you know my proud,
stern temper, and Effie in there was the
most wilful, obstinate, and tantalizing little
piece that ever bleathed. She would
have died rather than rel!nquish anything
she had set her heart on, and I--Will, |
should have borne with her-she was but
child--scarce eighteen when | married
her.
/ 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 thin and pale, but she
wouldn't unbend from her stately dignity.
Oh. welived along in such miserable
way. and Just then 1 was offered a cap
taincy in the-volunteers, and in fit
fit of desperation / accepted. l said moth
inc to Eflie, but she found it out someway.
saw it in her eyes, and yet the little
white teeth were shut closely together, as
though they would never open to speak
loving words to me again. The morning
was to start / sought her out, thinking
"she will not--cannot let me 60 without
one word of peace between us!' Her face
was white and cold, her small hands were
clenched together SO tight the nails pierced
her tender flesh, but she bowed coldIy to
me, and returned it-that was our part
ing In my cruel sefshness and con-
ceit, never thought that l was to blame
that if would open my arms, she would
fly back to her resting place. My poor
little bird went away the most wretch
ed being on the face of the earth, and VOW
ed that if Death did not find me in my
first battle, it would not be my fault.
We had been in camp only few weeks
when lot of recruits arrived to fill out our
company, as fine set of fellows as | ever
saw. Among them | noticed frail, girlish
looking boy, with great soft brown eyes,
that dropped like girls when you look at
them. Somehow they made me think of
Effie's ewes. That was why / took such a
fancy to them, I think. His face looked
pure and innocent, as if it had never been
away from mothers loving icare before,
and | thought, "What will this sensitive
spirit do among these rough men? L will
take him into my own tent and care for
him as for brother" | sent for him that
night, and finding him we'll educated, I told
him l would keep him as my clerk. ''He
should be my tent mate" | said smiling.
He crimsoned, aud finding my gaze embar-
rassed him, l went on talking carelessly,
and found his name to be Ellis Lee. He
would tell me no more of his history.
From that time be was always with me,
and grew to love the boy as though he
belonged to me. He won all the mems
hearts by his gentle, timid ways, and they
never were rude or rough when he was
near, but grew gentle as they would in
their far-of' homes in the presence of moth
ers and sisters. He would share every
danger with me, and sometimes when I re-
fused to let him 60, he would look at me
defantly and say, 81 dare not keep him
from his duty!'
At night when we were out scouting, and
lay under the sky, the cold, pitiless rain
beating on our heads, / have gathered the
form of Ellis up in my arms and tried to
shield him from the storm. | have gone
to sleep, and dreamed sweet, tantalizing
dreams of my darling, and awoke to find
his head nestled in my bosomjust as Efie's
81 ,,1,,lo Al o,o .roe M ,uo,I