Norfolk day book. [volume] (Norfolk and Portsmouth Va.) 1868-1880, 1869-07-22

! IOVe-WnO no uOuDG HIS DGeU
wooed by many worthier
Knight of the Sword, can stand
defantly unscathed by. storm
still living in your own calm
grandeur-alone. Yes, Sir
Knight, and her dark eyes
flashed with unusual bright
ness, [ can stand the storm of
a whole brigade of such a
Knighthood for the Gnatho's
song has many a touching note
of his tune, but alas | how soon
his chords are broken. s-o
and is it thus | am accused2
Almost upon the eve Of battle
tomorrow I leave for my own
tramping ground] and ere an
other week shall have rolled
into the great ocean of the
past, l may fill warriors
grave-but there will be none
to pity-none to lam ent the
fate of the sycophant Neal'--a
moments pause, and then he
added, farewell? but allow me
to say, that I fear you have the
selfshness-the inveterate OBJ
stinacy-the persevering cruel
ty of the Corsican conqueror-
but remember though | would
wade through slaughter to
crown, I could not be SO heart
less as yourself, to shut the
gates Of mercy on mankind. -
During his rehearsal, for I did
not know what else to term it,
| recognized him as the one |
had seen on the boat, whom
some friend had Familiarity call
ed Lonnie-and [ had imagin-
ed he had made the same kind
of overtures to Annie Leigh.
AS a veteran of the field his
visits were Of course, not ire
quent, but | knew of their cor
respondence and of the vows
and proffers which had fallen
in such copious showers from
his lips-I could but soliloquize
as | gazed on scanning
every feature Of his face, watch
ing the deception which kim
died to such brightness in his
pa-ae- aud wonder how a heart
so false to woman could ever be
true, even to HIS God or his
country.
CHAPTER ~.
went to my chamber after
the close of our evening party,
/ think a wiser woman than
before. studied over the de-
ception of human nature, and
even wondered if there was a
reality in friendship or love,
and while thus muslng | al
most shut the door of my heart
against such a passion forever.
The rose is fairest when it's budding
new,
And hope is brightest when it dawns
.. from fears, .5.
The rose is sweetest washed with morn
ing dew,
and love is loveliest when embalmed in
tears.
in this state | threw myself
on my couch, where weary ma
ture soon sought repose.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT there was
another faithless heart-and
that it was owned by Arthur.
Yes, dreamed that the pure sun
shine of my life would be cloud
ed, black as the midnight dark
ness--that 1 should feel no
more JOY at his coming.
Thus my slumbers were dis
turbed until morning when |
awoke with an unutterable sad
ness about me-but like the
rest Of my race, | presented an
exterior that was not inwardly
felt-throwing my smiles lay
ishly upon all. just after we
lett the breakfast table, the mail
was announced, and among
the letters handed me | recog-
nized one from the Army of
Northern Virginia in the bold
handwriting of Arthur's. |
returned to the seclusion of my
chamber, for / had long craved
the sacredness Of repose, and
ere l broke the seal, a gush of
tears sprung to my eyes, but
brushing them back I read
'On the eve Of battle permit
Arthur Dermont to say he yet
loves, and holds the memory #
Del Malcomb, sacred as the
first treasure of his heart, and
she alone will move him to win
honor to lay at her feet. Not.