Bloomsburg democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1867-1869, 1868-05-13

| uIouI 30 su0 eomo suVu8us Osssbu9 -
his breast that We two should have met be
forc? a .l ~'ela' ta
II am very sorry" he said, after tho
short pause, that am not 10 have tht
pleasure Of seeing you again: We gsrrul
Gus old men like good listener, you know, u
he added with . kind smile.
'"Then you reside here now2" asked.
"Only for little time. am on fur.
Tough now, and am going to meet my wifs
who is spending the summer With some oi
her relations here" -' '' a"' C..
Shall I confess il? I felt for moment
wronsed and dehsudsd when he spoke that
name !. felt as If that unseen wife had rob.
bed nc Of something which should have
belonged to mo. For the first time l had
met some one whom could love with blen-
ded affection, respect and ideal worship
and that woman had stepped between me
and him forever. heavcd o sigh us I
thought Of it, and then, checking it smiled
sarcastically at my folly.
We were silent for time, and then he
took . cark from q tinny silver case, and
gave it to me. read the name.
"Msjor Leslie Underhill, U. 8. A."
"Will you favor me with your own name"
I gave him my card in return.
"Mary-Mary," he said, and had never
loved my name half 50 much befre. "Why
that is my favorite name above all others,
l always said I would marry Mary. But
my wife's name is Katharine"
What was there in that simple speech
that should make me blush? could not
tell, but blush I did, to the roots Of my
hair.
The stage rolled away from the Office, and
stopped before a handsome stone house
standing back from the road. Lights were
blazing in all the windows, and on the wide
portico gay group were standing. Fore.
most among these I saw stately, blackeyed
woman richly dressed in purple velvet, with
q single diamond sparkling on her forehead
that seemed to burn into my brain.
He rose from bis seat and held out his
hand.
"We may never meet again, my child"
he said, very kindly, but I shall not forget
our pleasant ride. Give me one flower from
your boquet in memory Of it"
I gave him one-the fairest rosebud there
and saw him hide it within his vest.
And what shall I leave you for token
Of the old mau?' he continued gazing deep
down into my eyes. u
Au eagle button, torn away by some acci.
dent, hung suspended by one frail thread
from his coat. Ipointed to that.
1T will remind me more wildly than any.
thing else of you"
He placed it in my hand with gratifed
smile.
ut has been where the bullets raincd
like hail, my child. Good bye, and if We
never meet again, God keep you"
He pressed my hand, and spraug out from
the coach. saw him go up to the laughing
group, and heard the joyous welcome they
gave him; saw that stately lady bend her
proud head as he kissed her hand with all
the gallantry Of knight errant; heard her
call him "my dear husband" and then
sank back among the cushions as We drove
away, and thought how lonely and forsakcn
I had always been while to others were given
such welcomes and such friends. And 90,
among these he loved, I left him, and went
out into the great world alone.
Three years passed away. Ny grand.
father, who, in life, had never even given
me kind word, died and left me mistress
Of splendid fortune. Not because he Low.
cd me; he was cold and severe man, in
whose heart love had long died out, but be.
cause was the last Of his name, and the
only one who could rightfdlly inherit bis
vast property.
No longer alone, took my place in the
gay world, as q leader of its people, My
summer friends focked around me; I was
followed, Hattcved and caressed. Fortune
hunters by the score were at my feet, aud
mammas and rival bellies looked on in dire
dismay.
But through the whole, I was unspoiled.
I despised my Aatterers too much to be
duped by them. I was called cold and
naughty, when I was only weary and sick
OF heart.
But more than al, one memory saved
me. The memory Of that kind honest face,
seen but once, but never to be forgotten.-
There were none like him there: none with
his gallant bearing, his noble face, or good
heart. Beside the picture in my heart, the
men around me sank into utter inigni6cance;
they could not win thought from me, when
absent.
An eagle. button, set in q rich chasing Of
rough red gold, always glittering like star
upon my breast None knew its history,
though many longedt to know. But l looked
upon II as q talisman which would one day
bring its giver back to me.
had not once lost sight Of him during
all those weary years. The beautiful lady
who had once greeted him, would never