Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-05-04
From Harper's Bazar.l
A Recompense of Reward.
BY MRS. j. C. r. DORR.

"What. Hugh p
"Will you give yourself to me before L
go, Agnes, my beloved !? 1t will help me
in the camp and in the field to know that
I have left my wife behind me, and that
her prayers ascend for me to heights my
own may fail to reach"
The words were spoken calmly and
lquietly. But underneath their stiffness
Agnes felt the fiery passion of the strong
mans heart holding itself in leash lest II
should startle or annoy her.
DIT will not be the bridal of which we
have dreamed, and for which we have
planned" he went on, after pause, dur
ling which she made no sign. sit will not
be the bridal I should choose. But we
were to have been married so soon, and
life is so uncertain. want you. Agnes.
I want to feel that you are indeed mine
my very own, my wife-before L leave
you. And if nything should happen
if I should never come baek-it would be
a ioy to me even in death to know that
you bore my name. You, too, would be
happier, my Agnes, and less utterly
alone"
The pair of lovers who stood that even
ing in the bay-window of the library at
Hazlehurst, were not boy and girl, bat
man and woman; each in that early ma
turity of manhood and womanhood which
of itself makes life seem SO rich and grand
and beautiful But to them it was especi-
ally bright Both were young both were
rich both belonged to families who could
trace back their lineage through a long
line of noble ancestry. Upon both nature
had lavished her choicest gifts and love
Ii 4 af hnfh bin ~
them to see visions and to dream dreams
such as belong only to his anointed.
Her tears were dropping now like
rain.
at is all so sudden" she said.
"Everything is sudden nowadays" he
answered. "But little time is needed for
this. Tomorrow at ten o'clock, if you
will say the word, I will be here with our
good DIR. Thompson, and two or three
other friends. The regiment leaves at
noon. Agnes, Agnes, do not hesitate, but
place your hand in mine, and tell me that
you will do me this grace"
The moon came up and shone in at the
bay-window, even as it ehone upon Adam
and Eve in Paradise Much was said
upon both sides. There were passionate
words of love and entreaty, there were
signs and tears, and caresses holy as pray
ers. At length it was decided that at
ten o'clock on the morrow Agnes Darling
ton should become the wife of Hugh
Chester
1t was strange, hurried bridal. Agnes
gave one look at the satin robe and veil of
costly lace she was TO have wOrn month
hence. Then she smoothed down the
shining folds with a tender, lingering
touch, and laid them away forever. This
was no time for orange blossoms yet,
with woman's longing to make herself
fair in the eyes of the man she loved, after
putting on white gown of simplest tex
ture, she brought from the garden q hand
full of white rose-buds, wet with dew, and
laid them where they cleaned like pearls
amidst her braided locks, and rose and
fell upon her breast with every beating of
her heart This done she went down to
the little library, where their VOWS were
to be exchanged.
Her lover was already there.
II came in advance of the Others" he
said, II wanted you al to myself for
moment. Bless you for this, my Agnes,
and fer these" he added, laying his hand
| lightly upon her sleeve, and touching the
roses reverently with his lips. Il hardly
expected 10 see this fair, white vision this
morning. [ feared my bride would not
come to me in snowy-robes today"
'But she did, you see," she answered,
the soft color coming and gniue "Thir
| Is our Wedding day, dear Hugh, and l
could wear nothing but bridal white, even
though my heart should go in mourning
afterward."
He held her eff at arrns-length and
1COlyaJ bar ul 49,
her to his side again.
Pardon me-" he Whispered, "but I
want TO daguerreotype Your image npon
nv heart and brain. | want TO take it
with me a. it is at this moment-not a
| line nor shadow altered: the soft, dark
hair, the delicate oval of the face.
the eyes 40 filled with tender light, the
pure cheeks changeful glow, the mouth
so firm and yet so strangely sweet. I
shall carry them all with me, Agnes and
| shall see you as l see you now until God
gives me back to You again And if that
day never comes" he added, solemnly, az
he kissed her quivering lips, "then even
thus will my memory behold you while I
await your coming in the better land"
as beauty, then, SO much TO you,
Hugh p
w n' si'' '5'' N".J,S "' nov hno"
y" "'' ',"' "'o' 'u,- % "uu
| peA"'y "Ie ''"'' ''n no, "@'e or
"'Sc''h"F'' e""' can nov 'ninh OF you
come the carriages -
Ioere que '''''" i'.'R' c'"'e en-
6race. thPn h'li a"zen Hl'ho~ came IN
and In ten minutes me ceremony was
over. A we've " cI"cK c"P,7n CheSter
lett town WIN ms o"yS III pine, hnd me-
~l'e tnrhFo away rom h"'i'F'nln"g' half-
re r'n' ""n3r7'"i''i''"H' "a S'eN 'he qn'er
OF htr i"ne'y room
D+y1; wee Ks mon 49,, year went oy.
La All ''',7 '''ne orp'a'" GotT.e' rt9'-
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ye' MA u'T 'i7 i''e SINCE