Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-04-06

But instead of the golden-haired |
little girl that Ben had pictured TO /
himself, what was his surprise 10 /
find Ella a tall, graceful woman OF |
eighteen, who met him with the |
sweetest ofssmiles gave him the soft |
est of little hands, and told him IN |
the sweest Ofvoices. that he was wei |
| come.
Charlie was right. This t0as a new 1
and rather awkward situation for
| bacherlor Yerging close upon forty; /
one, too, who mad always feared the /
| girls. and had summed them until |
they had set him down in their lists |
as perfectly hOrrid, crusty, sour
old bear.
"And so YOU expected to find a |
little girl, that you could take upon |
YOUR knee, and fondle, and kiss to |
YOUR hearts content?" said kind, |
| MotherIy. Mrs. Granger to Ben, one |
day when Ella was out of the room. |
eyes" said Charlie from the sofa,
"and YOU ought to see, Mrs. Gran |
GER, what loads of sweetmeats and
| TOYS he has in his trunk, and do |
believe he also brought her a doll. -
Ben blushed; blushed like school
girl; blushed clear up to the roots OF
his hair, until the crimson tide could
be plainly seen in spite of the tan
which his Southern Campaign had
left upon his handsome face.
But no one could get angry with
merry, light-hearted Charlie.
| Mrs. Granger soon grew to like
him almost as her own child, and
little, as they all called her, would
spend hours by his sofa, reading to
him in her soft, rich voice.
With such sweet care, the time
with him went by upon golden
wings, each day finding him q little
stronger.
.0Tis but right >" said Ben to him
self. as he watched them day after
day, she reading to him, or listen
ing TO his tales of the war. lis
but right: they are both young, and
will make each other happy" But
somehow, each day, rs he saw them,
he could not help wishing he was
not so old and weathcr-beaten, and
griZzled, and awkward. And some
how, each day he seemed to grow a
great deal older, and more weather.
beaten, and more grizzled and awk-
ward.
"I am afraid Ben is not WELL"
said Mrs. Granger, one day alter
he had left the table. ''He doesn't
seem to eat much of late"
Poor Ben did not know himself
what was then the matter with hlm;
he only knew that he did not feel
right, as he watched those two day
after day. OF course he did not
know that he was in love. People
are often sick without knowing 1t.
"You must take good care Of
Charlie, MOTHER" said Ben, one
morning at tho breakfa tstDtc-- Al
leave of absence has expired, ana 1
must be off to the wars again.
'cNo need to tell her" thought he,
: as he saw the blush upon Elias
r check.
) A few mornings later, the good
f bves were said, and he was gone:
= Gone. after holding again that
soft, little hand within his own for
a moment, and looking again into
h the misty depths of the violet eyes
. that had once smiled so sWeetly up
q on him, fancying he saw there just
the smallest tear of regret.
"Of couI Sc she's sorry to see me
: Co.' said he to himself dozen times
Z a dav, "sorry as for father or elder
brother. Only this, and nothing
He did not know-he did no
+, dream-of the face buried III 1t!
II pillow, of the tears that dimmed
If those violet eyes up in Elias room
a home, while he was being. spec
away, plucking at his sun-brOwl
II whiskers, and wishing he was no
" so old, and grizZled, and awkward
N We never know such things a
m these. But let us not grumble q
IN fate.
But little time did Ben find TO
III repining, for his regiment was or
10 dered into active duty almost im
c, mediately after his return.
or Surely he missed his merry, light
la hearted Charlie.
er Letters from home did not com
. very regularly, for communication
he were often cut of, but in each on
ut that did come his mother spoke
lie the invalid as still slowly impro7
er ing, and Of her and little Elias am
iety and care for him.
n But one day there came Il lett'
of with black lines around the margl
no and Ben knew before he opened
ito that poor dear Charlie was I
ou more.
ler we made his grave in the churc
ward besice your brothers." MI
Granger wrote, and, and, ''and i
er- tie Ella has sodded it with grai
yer and planted flowers about the hea
ng stone"
is Among all the rough, strong hear
that were saddened at this news
ON and there were many-none knew
ar the fierce struggle that was going
in the breast of Lieutenant Ben
" Etgrccr- than IN -i5Srurt1 E.-.--- =
,ad contest between friendship and nc
or upon the one side, and love up
uld the other.
fer All! who will undertake to S
which will be the victor?
hat ben Granger, you are brute
he he would say to himself alm'
tiercelv, as he went mOodily abe
ro- his duties.
BHt And this seemed to be about
inc only conclusion he ever came 10
ard the matter.
non At last came Sherman's march
can the sea, and with it the terrible t
tie of Resaca.
wk- Many noted the wild, reckl
for courage with which Ben pluu2
des. into the thickcst of the fight on I
my bloody day.
When it was over, he was lyi
at" pale and faint, upon the sanguin
let field, with a terrible wound in
his shoulder.
r to Poor fellow! 4 bad easel" S
ach- the surgeon, as he went his rou
] in that night, and found Ben sIcepi
lids after his wound had been Or
ed '1But what is this?" picking L
1 an small pocket diary that lay upon
ar table.
sred "That," !" said the waiter, sis so
new ohing that fell out when they t
: sad of his coat. Perhaps you had
ter keep it till he RECEIVERS"
: left EEAh! L see," said the doctor, .
,ome a picture. Sister, or sWeethC
perhaps. Pity she isn't here
icht nurse the poor fellow"
cTaa- And so he went on his round,
very ing the picture with him; pic
that reminded one wonderfully
home the girl away off among those No
Ella ern hills-the girl with misty,
! his let ewes, and sunny hair.
-IoIr The same who, two days Ii
him. looking over the paper, saw an
n he the list of the wounded inthat [
little BILE battle, the name that was de
in his to her than any other.
The same who, five DAYS
ne ex- knocked at the surgeons offic
,rinth that hospital, and made inquiry
were a wounded soldier, whose des
Jusly, ton Ben answered precisely.
I p esrrA a - 10,