The Placer herald., 1873-01-04

Nov that you have said that much, you
you mean by these strange words ?"
Have you seen Faycte Blackmann since
he came back from Hedelburg? p
"Never. Haven't had glimpse of him.
hat is because You we.e away so much
for months before we enlisted. lie was in
Hilltop half the time. !" p
He used to be good-enough sort Of
fellow before he went abroad" said, 81
hope they have not spoiled him over there.
But it is not he yo,. are talking about.
"lt is though he answered, his face
darkening. 'But tell YOU what it is, Grey,
| will not do the man injustice lie is just
The one to charm The fancy of Il girl like
Thyrza. lie is all that am not-al that
she wishes was. lie is interested in all
the things that interest her-in poetry, mu-
about lie can lead her where only fol-
low her aiar OF; and with all his careless
grace Of manner, his easy flow of talk, feel
like great, clumsy idiot beside him. "
" Fayette Blackmann may be Adonis and
Apollo and Mercury all in one, for aught
know | replied ''I will not dispute you.
But it does no, follow that you have any oc-
casion for jealousy"
My words stung him, and he sprang up
from the log ON which he was sitting.
jealousy - he cried. cam jealous
DO you look at it in that way? Jealous y
"But what else is t?' | asked. Look
here, Hal. Do you think that because Il
woman is engaged-or married, eveu-she
] 1;,,l
understand how a cultivated woman may
enjoy the society Of cultivated man, and
yet not have the slightest idea of falling in
love with him. ="
spoke with some heat, for had always
liked Thyrza Harrington.
lie turned white as a sheet
"l on do not comprehend, he said, with
a certain quiet dignity. 81 am casting no
aspersions upon Thyrza 1t is not easy for
man to say what have said tonight ;and
you may have misunderstood the words
wrung from me by pride and passion. do
not think she is even aware how this man
com, in between her and me. But see it
and what am to do about it? Am to sit
still, like craven, and let her drift hepesely
into my arms, when believe she would be
!
to do about it, Grey?'
"For Gods sake, do nothing rash y
exc. imcd, drawing him out into the road,
where the few remaiGing rays of daylight fell
upon his face 81 DO believe YOU are mis-
taken, Hal. For God's sake, and for your
own souls sake, do nothing msh!'
81 will not act hastily, and Will try TO do
what seems to be right, he said, putting his
arm over my shoulder. "But Lille plays at
cross purposes with us, from first TO last.
He stood for moment looking off into the
west, where the camp-iires Of the Grand
Army stretched away for miles and miles,
twinkliug like stars in the distance Near
by our own white tents looked ghoslly III the
gathering darkness. Occasionally Il roll OF
The drums sounded like far-ofi thunder, or "A
bugle-note slot upward through the stiffness.
Hal turned toward me, smiling sadly.
1T is just as said Grey. If some stray
bullet would clear up this muddie it would
he a lucky thing; but the litlle devils never
find on, those who would welcome lhcm and
Hal Branaid is The safest man in this regi-
ment
There was battle the next day. Poor
JACK! we left his sunny, loyish curls beh nd
us on the bloody field had II ball through
my right shoulder; but as for Hal, he walked
in the fiery furnace without so much as the
smell of fire upon his garments.
1t would be weeks--monlhs perhaps
before | could use my arm; and in the hot,
swelering hospital | longe1 with an un-
spcakable longing, for the fresh breezes blow
mg cool from our mountain peaks; SO they
sent me home.
The fatigue of the journey brought on a
low, nervous fever. lhyrza came often to
see me. She was very quiet and subdued
in manner, with deeper womanlinass about
her that seemed to have been gained at the
expense of somewhat Of the old glow and
sparkle; but thought her lovelier than ever
with her soft, grey eyes, and an appealing
look about the mouth that had grown so
wondrously tender.
She was not inclined to talk much Of Hal
and had a sort Of uncomfortable conscious
ness, growing out Of the recollection Of my
last conversation with the poor fellow, that
kept me silent also.
Fayette Blackmam. as | soon learned,
had opened a law Office in an adjoining town,
was building fine house, and was making
himself prominent in political circles. He
was evidently no mere diletante, but the
rising man o the county; and ! could but
acknowledge TO myself that if he chose to
enter the lists he would indeed be formid
able rival. W---ler he had done SO or not,
every week brought him to Hilltop.
One evening | saw them ride on horseback
he and Thyrza. Perhaps il was only the
exercise and the excitement, but there was
glow upon her cheek, light and radiance
about her, that | had not seen since my re-
turn, and Backmaln's eyes dwct upon her
in undisguised admiration. My heart hand
cned against them both.
at is the old story of the one eve lamb. .
mu(,ered, as the gr. cefulride 5 disappeared