Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-06-06

time; "the one for my mother you can
send, but the other you must give yoWSeD
to Adele, and [ have told my cousin that
you have such letter, in case anything
should happen to you, old fellow"
/ solemnly declare that would then and
there have confessed everything to him,
had not brother officer entered the tent
that minute.
s. rose and wished me goodbye,
wringing my hand with warmth; and as
he went out remarked he was going into
the trenches, for from beneath his pea
jacket peeped the leathern case of lis re-
volver.
Two days later was strolling about the
the camp, when staff officer rode up and
asked me the way to my own tent
81 am Captain F." | replied.
"Then why on earth were you not at
the funeral this morning" he demanded,
holly.
"Whose funeral3" asked, as my heart
began to sink within me, for it dawned
upon me that SIS cousin was on the
staff.
"Why, poor Arthur's. He was buried
this morning"
"When was he killed ?" exclaimed,
staggering as if from blow.
"Just as he was entering the trenches
on Monday night replied his cousin.
He had fallen within an hour of leaving
my tent.
| wrote to break the sad intelligence to
hi mother, and inclosed his letter, and
the last thing | did before leaving the
Crimea was to pay farewell visit to his
grave. | am sure that neither Russ OIL
Tartar would injure the white marble
cross that marks the spot, if they only
knew what good fellow was placed be.
meath it.
On my return to England after peace
was declared | got leave and ran up tc
town, and was lucky enough to find Adele
at home on her way through, for it was ir
autumn, and Grosvenor Square looked DIES
olate. AS | walked up the staircase my
heart beat quicker than it did when | went
in at the Greek Battery with the light
company of my regiment for had deter
mined to confess the whole truth, how
basely had acted with regard to her let
! ter.
Adele was sitting by the fire when | was
announced, and the color fled from hel
cheeks as she rose to greet me.
81 have brought letter which 1prom
ised the writer / would myself place il
your hands" said
She did not ask from whom it came but
I saw by the freight that tears were gls
tening in her eyes.
tell me all about his sad end" she
said, laying first her small hand upon my
arm, and then pointing to a chair, toward:
which she drew her own.
did poor S justice, for / told hel
how changed he had grown, how reckless
he had become, and how certain | was
that this was all owing to the love he had
borne her.
"Then why did he not answer my let.
teri" she sobbed. more to herself than tc
me, as finished speaking.
"Will you ever forgive me2 viii you
not always look upon me as the basest Of
menu" | exclaimed, passOnately.
81 do not understand you, she replied,
opening her large blue eyes.
lie never got your letter. | tore il
up" | continued, my ears tinging with
shame.
"You tore it up" she repeated with in,
creasing surprise.
Yes, I tore it up into atoms, in mo-
ment OF pity for your husband. Yourlet-
ter arrived after Arthur had gone"
She sank back into her chair; and
seiziNg my hat, rushed from the room.
reached the hall. but she had followed me
to the head of the stairs, and called me
back.
"Captain F, one word before you
CO." she cried, and when ! returned she
added, holding my hand, 81 not only for
give you, but thank you most heartily, and
so does poor Arthur aOr.'
I have seen often since her bright, hap
py face, and the sight of it softens not a
little my remorse.