Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-03-03

detect lurking snccr in those hlaek eyes,
and he could not forget the evident de-
lestation of that unsuardSd mument.-
/ Clara. too, remembered it there was tho
same deprecaiing look in her soft eyes
during .heir brici conversation and rs
they turned To go, she sail, hall aside;
"Mr. Milton, have t. thank YOU for
Your kindness.
OF course, Harry walked at her silc. as
he replied, puzzled 10 know exactly to
/ what she referred. whether 10 the camp
chair. or something more important. II
can never sec lady in distress without
wishing to help her"
You are very good she went on.
looking at him so earnestly that the young
soldier felt his heart beat more than it
would under an tnemy's fire. 81 shall
not forget those words, perhaps some
day may want YOU 10 help me, and
shall remind you CT them"
"Any thing yen order shall be done.
/ Hurry burst out Believe me, Miss
Haywood, shell n,ver swove from that
pronise."
"Thank you" and Clara held out her
little hand, saying hurIicdly, my uncle
is sometimes very strange forget all you
/ have seen today"
"Excepl ysu," answered Harry. rs he
/ pressed the little fingers and internally
cxccraled The rules hat kept him prisoner
within the camp ground
Ilarry's dreams that night were haunt
, cd by Clara's soft. brown eyes, and all
the next day he Nas wondering how and
where he could see her again. lIo did
not mention thcesuspicions her unclc'a
strange conduct had awakened. 10 any
one, but he made some inquiries rcspcci-
ing him, and was surprised to learn that
he was from the southwest, but supposed
To be of undnuhtel loyalty. Fortune or
design brought about the meeting soon
er than Harry had dared to hope. -
The next evening Clara and her dark
uncle were again at the parade, aud as
This time they fingered long afterwards.
Harry was ablo To pass 4 blissiu half.
hour with her, and later. through the
kindness Of an officer. 10 get leave 10 ac-
company her home, which was at quiet
boarding house on side street.
After this /. WAS easy forthem to meet,
IS not only Clara but her uncle always
welcomed Harry with warm cordiality
that on The part of the old gentleman
was very poinicd. He seemed eagerly
desirous of cultivatins the young soldiers
acquaint,ncc. and throwing him con-
stantly into the society of his neicc. If
it WAS n trap, it was one into which Harry
was quite readyto itll. Every day found
him only more devoted, more willing 10
DO anything tor this beautiful girl.
Thus several weeks pls7cd'away, and
Harry had listened ;, often to Mr.. X. S
protestations of devotion To the govern
ment aud admiration OF tho army, that
he had almost forgotten his first nniayor-
able impression. th Iu.h sometimes he
surprised the same half sal, half dcprecat-
ing expression in Clarl'S brown yes. yet
il changed so soon 10 u soft sweet smile,
that he could attach no more than Saguc
Importance To it lIc knew that those
smiles w,re more precious 10 him than
auoht else in the world. and no longer
ATTEMPTED 10 conceal from himself that TO
win this young girl tor his own had come
To be the chief object OF his life.
Yet no word OF love had passed be-
tween lhcm; and 80 the days stole by un-
Ill one night when Harry had leave and
was starting away to visit Clara, he was
stopped by stirring murmur that ran
through the camp.
IAN advance! and our regiment goes!
Then cheer after cheer ran through the
summer air. Only a sholt time to pre-
pare, for at midnight .hoy were tu move.
/ Harry knew that once across the Potomac,
his chance OF seeing Clara would be very
small He must see her to night, then,
/ il bu, for moment; and after Il hamy
/ word with his officer, he started ut rapid
I pace for her home. She was there 10
meet him, pure in her white robe rs IN
angel.
'Miss Clara, must gee you alone"
His III amer was so agitated that she
yielded at once. and together they went
out on quiet balcony.
II can trust YOU with secre; that is
already half public, he said I'VE cross
into Virginia to night"
Even by the dim light from within he
could see how pale she grew.
Tonight" she gaspcd; ait will be
very dangerous"
"No, fancy not" Harry hogan but
he could no longer restrain himself ;
seizing her cold and trembling hand, he
burst out But, darling Clara, before
90. must tell you how i!.uch love you,
with all nv heart, desrcst and will you
not promise to be mine9"
Her only answer was low sob, but it
was enough he drew the beautiful head
/ down on his shoulder, and was whisper
ing at once protesiations OF love ana as
surances that he was really in very little
danger.
Alter the first excitement was over,
they could talk more calmly, and for the