Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1873-01-03

''For Gods sake, do nothing rash!'
| exclaimed, drawing him out into the
road, where the few remaining rays Of
daylight fell upon his face. 81 do be-
lieve you are mistaken, Hal. Fol
Gods sake, and for your own souls
sake, do nothing rashp'
II will not act hastily; and I will
try to do what seems to be right" he
said, putting his arm over my shoul,
der. "But Life plays at cross purpo-
ses with us, from first to last
He stood for a moment looking of
into the west, where the camp-fres Of
the Grand Army stretched away fol
miles and miles, twinkling like stars
in the distance. Near by, our own
white tents looked ghost-like in the
gathering darkness. Occasionally q
roll of the drums sounded like far-ofl
thunder, OF bugle-note shot upward
through the stiffness. Hal turned
toward me, smiling sadly.
cit is just as l said, Grey. If some
stray bullet would cleanup this mud
die it would be a lucky thing; but the
little devils never find at those who
would welcome them, al Hal Brain
ard is the safest man in this regiment. D
There was battle the next day.
Poor Jack! we left his sunny, boyish
curls behind us on the bloody field
[ had ball through my right shoul-
der; but as for Hal, he walked in the
fiery furnace without so. much as the
smell of fire upon his garments.
Itwould be weeks-m0nths, perhaps
| could use my arm; and in
the hot, sweltering hospital | longed,
with an unspeakable longing, for the
fresh breezes blowing cool from our
mountain peaks; so they sent me home.
The fatigue of the journey brought
on low, nervous fever. Thyrza came
often to see me. She WIS very quiet
and subdued in manner, With deeper
womanliness about her at seemed to
have been gained at tie expense of
somewhat of the old gl5s ynd spark
le; but Z thought her lovelier than
ever, with her soft, grey eyes, and an
appealing look about Ils mouth. that
had grown SO Wondrodsly tender.
She was not inclined to talk much
of Hal, and had sort of uncomfort-
able consciousness, growing out of the
recollection of my last conversation
with the poor fellow, that kept me 81
lent also.
Fayette Blackmann, as I soon learn
ed, had opened law office in an ad-
joining town, was building a fine
house, and was making himself prom
inent in political circles. He was evil
IDENTIFY no mere diletante, but the
rising man of the county; and I could
but acknowledge to myself that if he
chose to enter the lists he would in
deed be formidable rival. Whether
he had done so or not, every week
brought him to Hilltop.
One evening [ saw them ride by on
horseback-he and Thyrza. Perhaps
it was only the exercise and the excite
ment, but there was glow upon her
cheek, light and radiance about her,
that [ had not seen since my return,
and Blackmann's eyes dWelt upon her
in undisguised admiration. Ny heart
hardened against them both.
"It is the old story of the one eve
lamb" [ muttered, as the graceful ri
ders disappeared over the brow of the
hill. "Verily, verify, history repeats
ITSELF"
There was another great battle, and
again the heart of the nation was
stirred to it's centre. Two nights af-
terwards, as sat upon the piazza, with
Thyrza Harrington on low seat be-
side me, the daily Tribune was placed
in my hands.
I Iopened it. There were the three
fearful lists that had become so terri
bly, familiar: "Killed," "Wounded," !"
Missing" AS [ ran my eye hurried
ly down the long columns, in the very
first read the name Of Hal Brainard.
My face must have told the tale, for
[ did not speak one word; but Thyrza
sprang up with clasped hands, strug-
gled for a moment in vain effort at
utterance, and then sank at my feet in
q huddled, pitiful, white heap.
My arm was still powerless, and
was, besides, worn with fever. | call
ed to my mother, [ screamed, [ shout
ed; but there was not a soul within
hearing, and [ could only put back the
hair from her white forehead, and fan
her with that fatal newspaper. After
a few moments, that seemed ages, she
sat up and looked about her with an
air of beWilderment.
'"The paper" she said at length; 81
want the paper"
[ gave it to her silently-what was
there to say?-and she looked at the
name for a moment with fixed, tear
less gaze. Then she slowly gathered
herself up, and, with the paper still
clasped in her hand, walked unsteadi-
ly down to the gate. and disappeared.
Months passed. | had been dis
charged from the service, for it seemed
impossible that [ should ever be strong
enough to return to the field again.
Thyrza, saddened, patient woman
now, rather than the sparkling, bril-
liant girl who had so bewitched poor