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

stress of danger and fatigue; but tho
name of Thyrza Harrington had never
passed our lips since that day in camp
at Brattleboro'. Hal was always ret
icent. lie was the sort of man who
hold you at arms length, if he pleas
ed; aud any subject he chose to ig-
more was sealed book. lie had not
chosen to talk of her, aud so Jack and
/ had been silent. But that night the
spirit moved me strongly, and
spoke.
He started, ms have said, and his
bronzed face flushed. But after
moment he answered quietly:
~ do no, expect to be killed, Grey;
for have learned, since came down
here, that il takes deal of ammuni.
ton TO kill one man. But if should
TALL, / think Thyrza would manage to
endure it," he added in low tone, rs
he tossed pebble into the road with
the toe of his boot.
Manage to endure it - / cried.--
"What do you mean, Hal? Is she
not your promised wife p
"I-suppose-so," he answered
slowly, according TO the letter OF the
law. But what is the letter good for
when the spirit is gone What is
the body worth without the soul Z"
The flush had faded, aud he was
pale as ghost.
Il am sure you are beside yourself,
Hail." l said, laying my hand upon his
arm; "but it will do you good to
break the silence in which you have
wrapped yourself. Make a clean
breast of il, man, for your souls sake.
What is trouble with you aud Miss
Thyrza:"
Trouble enough" he answered,
doggedly. Il have reason To believe
that she made n mistake in engaging
herself TO me. Ii l should happen TO
he picked off by one of these internal
bullets" he added grimly, at would
be fortunate circumstance. II would
set her free, you see, without any
fuss
There was stern compression OF
his lips, metallic hardness To- his
voice. Yet Hal Brainard's nature
was brave. tender. womanIy. |
probsd him with questions rs sur
geon probes wound.
And YOU" l asked, shave you
made 4 mistake, too"
"'!f she H. not fair TO ne.
What cars how laiE sls be-
he quoted lightly. Then, as if some
wave of feeling swept over him, tear
ing his pride from It's moorings, he
seized my hand IN vice-like grasp.
Il love herr he cried, whether
! have made . mistake or not. / have
loved her all my life long. do not
even know when l began To love her
That's the worst of il, Harrison Grey
| We We're silent Tor a while. The
sun dropped lower and lower, and the
soft twilight wrapped us in its tender
folds. | knew | should hear the
whole story, il had patience TO wait
for ii; but Hal Brainard was not one
TO be hurried.
Il do not know that blame her" p"
he said at last. The truth is, Grey,
Thyrza aud are too unlike. | am
no mate for her. She is gay, bright
and airy, full of sudden sparkles and
flashes, that dazzle and bcwilch me
out OF my senses. But | can not fol-
low her. can not keep pace with
her flights. ! can not half comprc-
hend her. There is something in her
. life which my life can not grasp
r And then she looks at me with a
vague reproachful wonder in her eyes,
b. which is too much for philosophy
, She is skylark aud ciod."
"Bat admitting your comparison
/. for moment" / said, "skylarks build
e their nests upon the solid ground
| Did it never occur TO you that your
a hardy, rugged strength might be
t more to Thyrza Harrington than all
1 the brilliant parts, all the merely
I aesthetic cultivation, in the world p
Besides there is a certain sort oi
{ knowledge-whether it comes by in
:. tuition or otherwise, that women gain
a earlier than men,"
D Hal shook his head.
O "All very well in the abstract" he
remarked, "but, you see, it does no,
touch this case. What is man to
:" do when he sees that the woman who
a has promised to marry him feels de
u ficiencies in him, and when he knows
that his failure to meet the want o.
e her nature, and to give full sympa
s. thetic recognition to what she regard,
as best and highest in herself. is con
8, slant trouble to her? Tell me that.
Y. Twas silent, trying to think what
should say-what it was best to say
Presently, his hand fell heavily on my
l. knee.
n "Tell me one thing more" he added
,. in a low, intense voice. "What is ont
). to do when he believes, even if b,
does not know of surety, that ther,
" is man in the world--ln her world
N too-who could be to the woman b,
l loves all that he has failed to be p
" What should he do in such q case ?"
"Halm
l. II believe just that Grey. l hav,
n- believed it for six months. Pleasan
d state of things, isn't it?
At "Now that you have said tha
O. much, you must say more" l answer
,e ed. "What do you mean by thes
,e strange words 2"
"Have you seen Fayette Blackmanl
% since he came from Heidelburg ?"
al Never. Haven't had a glimpse Q
d. him."
ut "That is because you were away s.
k much. for months before we enlisted
fe He was in Hilltop half the time."
of "He used to be good enough sor
d, of a fellow before he went abroad,