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

r1GS ululSGll Ike one, 100. 1dG
magnificent fellow he is! But what
is the matter with him, Grey? scent
trouble in the air. He is not himself,
lately"
Just my impression, also. But I
did not care to discuss the natter
The day was busy one; and when
night came, we were glad to wrap our
selves in our blankets and 60 to sleep.
Hal returned the next morning.
"Hallo, old fellow, how's Hilltop?''
cried Jack, dancing around him in a
fever Of impatience. "Who did you
see? How are all the folks?"
He soon received quietus in the
shape of sundry packets and parcels.
Then Hal turned to me.
"There's no change at headquarters,
| supposew he said, interrogatively.
"We get out of this to-day ?"
I answered afirmatively.
''The Lord be praised!" he exclaim-
ed. 81 could not stand this inaction
much longer, Grey;" and he fell vigor-
ously to work, packing his knapsack.
He had not quite the air of a happy
Romeo, whose lips were still warm
with the kisses of his Juliet. But
had no time to puzzle over it, and by
sundoWn we were off.
This is no war story; and it is need
less to tell of our marchings and coun-
ter-marchings, our perils, our victories
and our defeats. 1t is enough to say
that we were in Virginia, that vast
mausoleum of two armies, and that we
three Hilltop boys had no reason to be
ashamed of our record.
But through it all, and underlying
all, there was something about Hal
Brainard that [ could not understand.
He was brave, even to rashness. But
it seemed to me more like the reckless
ness of the man who holds his life of
little worth, than the bravery of him
who takes it calmly in his hand, ready,
if it is required of him, to offer it up
in all it's full, sweet completeness
One eyening-it was on the eve of an
engagement Fentured to remon-
strate with him.
"You are too reckless, Hail." [ said.
ga man has no right to throw his life
away needlessly, even in battle. Think
what it would be to Thyrza, if you
were to be left in some nameless grave
down here"
He started as if the bullet had al
ready found him. Whether you be-
lieve it or not, we throe had messed to-
gether ever since we left Vermont; we
had tralnped side by side through Vir-
ginia mud; we had shared each others
rations and blankets in many stress
of danger and fatigue; but the name
of Thyrza Harrington had never pass
ed our lips since that day in camp at
Brattleboro'. Hal was always reticent.
He was the sort of man who held you
at arms length, if he pleased; and any
subject he chose to ignore was a sealed
book. He had not chosen to talk of
her, and so Jack and [ had been silent.
But that night the spirit moved me
strongly-and [ spoke.
He started, as [ have said, and his
bronzed face flushed. But after mo-
ment he answered quietly:
Il do not expect to be killed, Grey ;
for [ have learned, since | came down
here, that it takes a deal of ammuni-
tion to kill one man. But if [ should
fall, think Thyrza would manage to
endure il" he added in low tone, as
he tossed pebble into the road with
the toe Of his boot.
''Manage to endure itv' [ cried.-
"What do you mean, Hal? Is she not
your promised wife?"
'1-suppose-so," he answered slow
ly, 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 ?"
The flush had faded, and he was
pale as ghost.
81 am sure you are beside yourself,
Hal," [ 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 it,
man, for your SOULS sake. What is
the trouble with you and Thyrza?"
"Trouble enough" he answered,
doggedly. Il have reason to believe
that she made mistake in engaging
herself to me. If should happen to
be picked off by one of these internal
bullets . he added, grimly, cit would
be fortunate circumstance. 1t would
set her free, you see, without any fuss. %
There was a stern compression of
his lips, metallic hardness to his
voice. Yet Hal Brainard's nature was
brave, tender, and womanly. probed
him with questions asa surgeon probes
a wound.
"And you," | asked, ''have you made
a mistake too?"
" IF she be not fair to me,
What care | how fair she be-"
he quoted lightly. Then, as if some
wave of feeling swept over him, tear
ing his pride from it's moorings, he