The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-01-31

is and Apollo and Mercury all in one.
for aught l know" / replied; Il will
not dispute you. But it does not fol-
low that you have any occasion Tor
jealousy"
My words stung him, and he sprang
up from the log on which he was sit
ting.
"Jcalousyp p he cried. "Am / jeal-
Gus? DO you look at it in that way?
Jealous ~
"But what else is it," / asked
"Look here, Hal. Do you think that
because woman is engaged or mar
ried, even--she must become at once
blind and deaf? / can understand
how cultivated woman may enjoy
the society of a cultivated man, and
yet not have the slightest idea of fall
ing in love with him.
spoke with some heat, for had
always liked Thyrza Harrington.
He turned white rs sheet.
"You do not comprehend, he said,
with certain quiet dignity. Il am
casting no aspersion upoo Thyrza. 1t
is not easy for man To say what l
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
has come in between her and me-
But / see it; aud what am To do
about it? Am TO sit still, like u
craven. and let her drift hclplessly in.
TO my arms, when / believe she would
be happier in the arms OF another ?
What am | 10 do about il, Grey ?"
"For Gods sake, do nothing rash r.
/ exclaimed, drawing him out into the
road, where the few remaining rays of
daylight fell upon his face. Il do be-
lieve you are mistaken, Hal. For
Gods sake, and for your own souls
sake, do nothing rash !"
~ will not act hastily; aud | will
try TO DO what seems TO be right" he
said, putting his arm over my shoul-
der "But life plays at cross purposes
with us. from first 10 last"
! He stood for moment looking off
into the west, where the camp fires OF
the grand army stretched away for
miles, twinkling like stars in the dis
lance. Near by. our own white tents
looked ghost-like in the gathering
darkness Occasionally roll of the
drums sounded like iar-off thunder, or
n bugle-pote shot upward through the
stiffness. Hal turned toward me,
smiling sadly.
1T is just as said, Grey. II some
stray bullet would clear up this mud.
die it would he lucky thing; but the
little devils never find ont those who
would welcome them, and Hat Brain
ard is the safest man i'll this regiment.
There was battle the next day.
Poor Jack. we left his sunny. boyish
curls behind ns on the bloody field.
had ball through my right shoulder
but as for Hal, he walked in the fiery
furnace without SO much IS the smell
OF fire upon his garments.
IL would be wecks-months, per
haps--bcfore | could use my arm
aud in 4 hot, sweltering hospital
longed, with an unspeakable longing
for the fresh brcezes blowing cool
from our mountain peaks; SO they
sent me home.
The fatigue of the journey brough,
on low, nervous fever. Thyrza came
often TO see me. She was very quiet
and subdued in manner, with deeper
wotnanIiness about her that seemed 10
have been gained at the expense ot
somewhat of the old glow and sparkle
but thought her lovclier than ever
with her soft, grey eyes, and an ap
pealing look about the mouth that had
grown so wondrously tender.
She was not inclined to talk much oil
Hal, and had sort OF uncomfortable
consciousness, growing out of the rec
objection of my last conversation with
the poor fellow, that kept me silen
also.
Fayette Blackmann, as / soon learn
ed, had opened law Office in an ad
joining town, was building a flint
house, and was making himself promi
nent in political circles. He was
evidently no mere dilletante, but th'
rising man of the county; and | coul'
but acknowledge to myself that If h
chose to enter the lists he would in
deed be formidable rival. Whethe
he had done so or not, every weel
J. brought him to Hilltop.
One evening / saw them ride by oil
horseback-he and Thyrza. Perhap
it was only the exercise and the ex
citement, but there was glow upol
her cheek, light and radiance abou
| 81 II
: return, and Blackmann's eyes dwell
upon her in undisguised admiration
My heart hardened against them botf
at is the old story of the one ew
lamb I mnttered, as the graceful
riders disappeared over the brow Q
the hill. Verify, verify, history re
) peats itself"
There was another great battle, an,
: again the heart of the nation was stil
red to its centre. Two nights after
wards, as l sat upon the piazza, wit
9 Thyrza Harrington on a low seat be
side me, the daily Tribune was place
in my hands.
: fearful lists that had become so terr
bly, familiar !: killed." "Wounded
Missing" As run my eye hurriec
ly down the long columns, in the yer
first I read the name of Hal Brainart
u My face must have told the tale, fc
did notspeak one word; but Thyrz
0 sprang up with clasped hands, strus
|. gled for q moment in vain effort
utterance and then sank at my feet
t huddled, pitiful, white heap.
!" My arm was still powerless, and