The Republican journal., 1871-06-15

| accompanied ltlcm with Il note Statln.
| that he desired TO have nothing furthe
to do with her. His wound disabled hin
from active service, and he was muster
ed out and returned to ST. Louis. Bu
he never went to see Lou.
After such treatment she could not pos
sibly make any advances; nor did sh,
| feel quite certain that he had not trump
ed up the whole wonderful story. in OF
der 10 Get rid Of her.
Five or six months after the battle
Lou WAS sitting in her room, listlcssl,
dreaming over the events of the pas
year, when She heard the door-hcll, and
soon after the servant announced n gen
tleman in the parlor. She went dow
| stairs, and on entering the room behcl(
4 tall, thin, pale, haggard gentleman
who wore Il heavy beard and who arose
and looked at her in silence. She did
not recognize him, and said, somewhat
doubtfully, "Good evening, sir"
lie smiled and said, MAY be you'll
remember my voice better than my face
"llarry Merci1uI heavens! How
you look and you are not dead and Joe
didn't kill youo The villain has lied ~
"Easy, easy" said Harry, 81 don't
know in what other respects he may OF
may not have lied but in my case hc
told the truth; l was as good rs dead.
You see that came to life again, though
| understood that the authorities here
never molcst returned soldiers. and So,
after recovering sufficiently to travel,
concluded TO come back homeH
You don't look quite recovered yet"
mo, | still lack something of being
fat. Lou, do you know what I'VE lust
now heard? ~
GLOW should I?'
Il heard from good authority that you
and Joe are no longer engaged Is it
really all up between you?"
Lou said yes and incontinently burst
into tears.
"Don't cry, child, | didn't mean to
hu4t your feelings. You still love him,
then -
"oh, Yes. 50 much," She said, sobbing.
II can't help loving him. Oh, Harry,
| do wish he'd come back !"
lie gave Il sigh and said, swell, it was
foolish in me to hope, but | thought of
course, that You had discarded him; and
| knew in that case | could have YOU
Wasn't right ?"
She smiled through her tears and laid
her hand on Ills. "Perhaps in that case
You would be right; but oh, Harry.
never can think of any one or love any
body but .Ioe.' She cried little moro,
and then said;
Don't think I'm sclSh feel sorry
for YOU Is we'll. Poor Harry, can't YOU
stop loving me? Please do. won't you 2"
she added coaXingly.
lie laughed u little, II don't wish to,
why should |? But tell me what the
deuce has got into Joe ?"
Interrupted by many little sobs and
some tears, she proceeded to tell the
whole story, and accused Joe Of having
made il AL up, in order to get rid Of her
''For YOU know She said, "that never
did write 10 you.'
II guessj do" he said. ''But now
listen. lie did not make up the story; it
is true, only the letter was his own, and
| wonder the fool could not see that, per-
hap~, though-ycs, that must be it; he
did not have the envelope, he left ii in
my pocket when he took out the letter
Our fellows captured mail, and amused
themselves by opening ana reading let
tcr-; caught Il soldier with that one,
and took it from him, intending To return
il to YOU
"Oh, how relieved feel. Ii | only
had that envelope and
!, y have the envelope at home. ! kept
specimen of your han,lwritinethat havc,n
he remarked little bitterly. ''But since
| owe Joe some good viii and gratitude.
suppose, tor robbing me Of my sweet
heart and nearly killing me, III have to
givr il to him, | guess, ANA explain and
make things straight.N
"Oh, Harry! will You really p
II could do no less for you, Lou,
can't get You, anyhow; why should |
want you to cry your pretty eyes out 90
.'You are the dearest, best man in the
world"-''but YOU needn't tell Joe about
that"
Between these two sentences she had
suddenly flung her soft arms around Ii m
and kissed him.
Next morning Harry walked into the
reading room Of the Planters where he
found Joe reading paper. He tapped
him sharply on the shoulder. Joe look
cd up.
.lIalry !-Jc-hosaphatm = Then, after
Il pause Of astonishlent, II thought
had sent YOU to everlasting glory
II give YOU credit for the intention, all
the same. You remember the letter you
took out of my pocket ~
Il should think did," said Joe. start
ing up angrily.
swell" said Harry, coolly, 'here's 5
the envelope that belongs 10 it. You
forgot that Good morning"
Joe looked q long time at that enycl-
opc. Then he went to his room and
hunted up that letter, and looked at it 4
long time, too. The thing was just as
clear to him now as il had been the first
time, only more so. OF course it was
written to him; rs il happened he was
not addressed III name. That was all
We may feel sure that Lou let her pen
tent lover beg awhile before she forgave
Inn, though it was hard work for her tc
conceal her 10y at his return.
She did forgive mt last, and poutingly
consented to be kissed and pctted into Z
good humor.
But she had seen too much of his ical
ousy to say anything about those other
kisses; those that Harry had stolen, an(
those she had given him voluntarily
Perhaps after they were married awhile
she told him. don't know