The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1873-01-16

of Hal, and | had a sort OF UncOmfOrt-
able consciousness, growing out Of the
recollection of my last conversation
with the poor fellow, that kept me 81
lent also.
Payette Blackmann, as ! soon
learned, had opened 6 law office in an
adjoining town, was building a fine
house, aud was making himself prom
inent in political circles. He vas
evidently no mere diletante, but the
rising man of the country; and /
could but acknowledge to myself that
If he chose to enter the lists he would
indeed be formidable rival. Wheth-
er he had done 50 or not, every week
brought him to Hilltop.
OHe evening I saw them ride by on
hOrseback-he and ThyrZa. Perhaps
il was only the exercise and the ex-
element, but there was a glow upon
her cheek, a light and radiance about
her, that had not seen since my re-
turn, and Biackmann's eyes dwelt up
on her in undisguised admiration.
My heart hardened against them
both.
SIT Is the old story OF the one eve
lamb, l muttered, as the graceful
riders 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-
teFwards, as 1 sat upon the niaZZa,
with Thyrza Harrington on low seat
beside me, the daily Tribune was plac-
ed in my hands.
IopeHed it. There were the three
fearful lists that had become so terri
bly, familiar: "Killed,n Wounded, !"
missing" As ran my eye hurrl-
edIy down the long columns, in the
very first | read the name of Hal
Brainsrd.
My face must have told the tale,
for did not speak one word; but
Thyrza sprang up with elssped hands.
struggled for q moment in a vain ef-
fort at utterance, and then sank at
my feet in n huddled, pitiful, white
heap.
My arm was still pOwerless, and I
was, beside, worn with fever. |
called to my mother, ! screamed, /
shouted: but there was not a soul
within hearing, and I could only
put back the hair from her white
forehead, and fan her with that fatal
newspaper. After a moment, that
seemed ages, she sat up and looked
about her with an air of bewllder-
ment.
"That paper" she said at length,
II want the paper"
I gave it to her silently-what was
there to say:-and she looked at the
name for 8 moment with a fixed,
fearless gaze. Then she slowly gath
cred herself up, and, with the paper
still clasped in her hand, walked un-
steadily down 10 the gale and disap-
peared.
Months passed. | had been dis
charged from the service, for il SEEM
ed impossible that | should ever be
strong enough to return to the field
again. TbyrZa, 3 saddened, patient
woman now, rather than tue spark
ling, brilliant girl who had so bewItch-
ed poor Hal Brainard-this ThyrZa
and / were much together. We did
not often talk OF Hal, but his memory
was a bond between us, and l knew
at last how well she had loved him.
It had been a mistake, a misappre-
hensiOn on Halls part, growing chief
ly out of his own mOdesty, and the
slight valuation that he placed upon
his own attractions. Fayette Black
mann was an old friend, and was be-
trOthed to one of her eOusins-'Only
that, and nothing more" The young
couple were married that autumn, and
the beautiful mansion received its
destined occupant.
l never told ThyrZa what passed
between Hal and me that night in
If she had eyer noticed
any change in the tone of his letters,
she had evidently attributed it to the
haste In which they were often writ
Why should l disturb her?
L was alone IN the cottage one
night. My mother had gone to watch
with a sick neighbor, and l sat by
the blazing fire lost i'm a waking
dream II was early-fOr / had just
heard the whistle of the evening
train, though, in those short Decem-
Der days, it had been dark for hours.
A step on the piazza startled me, and
| felt, rather than saw, that some
body was looking through the blinds.
In another moment, Hal Brainard,
brOnzed, bearded, no disembOdied
spirit, but q living, breathing speci-
men of magnificent humanity stood
before me, holding me with his earn
est eyes.
l pass over the next few minutes.
"Bdt now, tell me, Hal, how it hap.
pened," l said, when our first emo
lions had expended themselves, and
had him safe in my easy chair.
He sat looking into the fire for a
full minute before he answered. His
mouth grew stern and hard.
ado you remembe- the last talk We
lad,n ne asked. "You must keep
that in mind if you would understand
what I have to tell you. The bullets
did not find me, Grey. have never
had so much as a scratch. The man
next to me in the ranks was blown to
pieces, but 1 was taken prisoner, and
when, many months afterwards, / es-
csped, and made my way to the
Union lines, / found | had Oeen re-
ported killed. | found my name in
an old Tribune, in the dead list. said
but thought the matter over. I
Our old regiment was all broken up.
The path seemed plain before me.
Hal BrainaTd was dead, and well out
Of the way. Let him rest. He had /
neither kith nor kin to mourn for
him. The new soldier who had aris- (
sn from his ashes would fight "A well !
under another name, and Inyrza (
would be free, after few salt tears
and a period of decent waiting, ~
marry a man who would be more |,
ler than he could ever have been."
tBut," he went on, after 4 mo-
nent's pause, during which his face I
was cOnvulsed with strong emotion ; |
'but Grey, my dear old friend, 1 did /
not think they would have married !
10 sOOn," and his voice faltered. al
thought they would have waited at
east one little year. | deserved as I
much consideration as that from .
Thyrza HarringtOn-surely / did"
/ was silent for a moment from .
Iheer beWilderment. Then | broke !
put:
married why, Hal
"You see I know all about it," he (
aid, interrupting me, "else I should
lot be here. I saw the names on the |
'egister at Williard's, Grey, Fayette 4
Blackmann and wife'-and by the I
late of the entry it was not three
months after my supposed death. 1t .
Itunned me, Harrison, and it harden
ID me. Now l have just run up here
% take lust one look at you, and then I
90 back to my work again. You
will keep my secret, | know, and let I.
Ter think me dead. It is better So"
Ny thoughts had worked them
ielves clear, at last. Excuse me-" I 1
aid. az will be back shortly"
I darted up the street and was at 1
Thyrza's door in less than minute. !
She was looking over q package of
Did letters, with a faint, trembling
color on her cheek.
"COme with me,n | cried 1--WE
want you over at our house. Never !
mind your hair! that's all right
But while she was putting on her
hood, l looked at her. A slight, grace (
'ul figure robed in black; soft, wavy
lroWn hair, that had escaped from lis I
and flOated over her
gray eyes, with a world Of
1athos in them; a sweet tremulOus
mouth, and a forehead sealed with
own look Of patience. That
I