The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-01-31
.Isahel dearost. ronr answer

"Isabel dearest, your answer"
She looked up in Walter Raymond's
handsome face, with searching glance
in her deep dark eyes.
allow long will you be awayH"
sMonths-a year perhaps. You will
come with me, 1sabel--my love-my
wife 2"
He would have taken her hand again,
but she drew it away and stood up.
"No," she said; 'now, when brave men
are fighting and dying for freedom-when
homes are desolato around US, there is
no time for wedding festivities. When
the war ends, come to me again and you
shall have my answer"
With the last words she was out of the
room, and he stood alone in the dying
light.
-Four years! The long weary struggle
of might against right was at an end
the end that so often closes such strug-
giles in this world. Might had conquered,
overpowered by numbers, the heroes who
had fought so long and so nobly laid down
their arms at last, and peace reigned again
in the land.
She was back in the old homestead.
Isabel Wyndham changed in these years
from gay girl to thoughtful, saddened
woman. In the hospitals she had been a
ministering angel; in the prisons she had
been comforter and friend, but it was
all over now, and she was back where the
old trees waved, looking at the sun go
down once more behind the misty, purple
hills.
She sat under heavy elm, dressed in
deep mourning, paler, thinner, and with
o sadder beauty than of old. Her uncle
was dead, the old servants gone, and she
sat in the tender spring twilight, desolate
and alone.
The gate opened. A man came up the
long avenue, and in tho pale cheek rosy
light came. Handsome, well-dressed,
more polished than ever, Walter Ray
mond had just returned from abroad,
with the old love stronger if possible in
his heart. In all these years they had
not met before; now he bent over her as
if they had parted but yesterday.
"Isabel, I have come for my answer"
A tall figure that had been walking
amongst the trees, drew near, but stopped
as he heard the words.
She looked up, very quiet, and very
pale. "The answer isno, Mr.. Raymond"
40, Isabel! After all these years? :"
She smiled family. "You are very
kind, but cannot marry you"
"And why, Isabel? Is it for any one
else? Is it for John Warner 1 am rejec-
ted 2"
She flushed up proudly. "You have no
right to ask that question, Mr.. Raymond"
"I have the right. l insist on an an
swer! Is it for John Warner, manned
and mutilated, you refuse me?"
"Maimed and mutiatcd in glorious
cause, Mr.. Raymond l adore heroes,
and Colonel Warner is hero"
"Then you mean to tell me you will
marry that SCARED, one-armed man Z"
"Don't distress yourself Mr.. Raymond; (;
I have not seen Colonel Warner since l
last saw you; but let me tell you, his
scars would be to me most perfect beau
ty, and a one-armed hero worth dozen
carpet knights Please to go, Mr.. Ray
mO0Q-l WISH 10 De dlOue.
He won't without word.
The figure lingering among the trees
stepped forth-a sun-burned, stalwart
young man, with his right coat-sleeve
dangling empty.
Isabel started up with scream at
sight of him.
aHave 1 frightened you, Isabel I did
not moan to. / wanted to tell you ]
have been listening. Mean, was it not 7
But L could not help it."
She covered her face with her hands to
hide her tears, falling so fast at sight of
that empty coat-slecve. Oh she knew
now which she loved best
II have come to say good bye again,
Isabel. Lam off to Spanish America. l
have lost everything | possess here, and
a one.armcd rebel like me must earn his
daily bread somehow There is an OPEN
ing out there, and so"-his voice grew
husky as he held out his Eand-"good-
bye, and God bless you, Isabel, for the
words you spoke five minutes ago, though
/ know you could not mean them"
Her fingers closed in sort of fright
over the hand she held-going away and
forever She did not know how hard she
held the hand he extended, but all the
blood in John Warmers body surgeo in
wild transportation to his face.
s.Oh, Isabel! did you mean it?"
eyes, yes-every word Oh, John
don't go"
didn't 20. lie staid in Kentucky, and
took charge of the old place and the
young lady for life; and elegant MIR. Ray
mond can't see to this day how any wo-
man in her senses could prefer man
with one arm to a man with two.