Litchfield enquirer., 1873-05-29

yet not break his faith with Miss Forest Not that he ever thought of doing that
 but 1t was hard to see how not He said Promise me you will go straight back
 where you came from and will give no in, formation against us. And Morris looked at him and answer ed: .'I promise on soldiers honori'' Luce ordered his horse to be brought, and motioned him to mount. He walked by the horse through the camp, and look ed at his watch. ''I'n give you half an hour," he said. ssMake the best of it. Goodbye" and he offered his hand. Morris took it and held it.
 ''Give me your address," he said-''at home and here."
 Luce told him both, and he repeated them slowly twice. Then he said:
 Captain Luce, you're straight fel- low, and owe you this. I shall not for. get. Goodbye" He put spurs to his horse, and dashed off. Half an hour later Luce went to the colonel and told him as much of the truth as was necessary, hand ed him the dispatches, and gave himself Ill charge, expecting disgrace aHd punish ment. Colonel Grierson naturally found it no light matter to connive at the escape of spy, and spoke very sharply. Cap tain Luce went to his quarters and sent his sergeant back with his sword. But the colonel knew Luce's character for courage and honor. and he sent back the sword with word to keep it till it was sent for, and that was the last Luce heard of the mater. The dispatches were duly carried and delivered.
 The autumn passed and and the winter. with their dreams of fighting and camp ing. On Sunday in June there came q letter to Luce in strange hand. It was dated at Union hospital, somewhere in the East, and dthis:
 Captain Luce-I was wounded and captured month ago. Am paroled, and shall he well enoGgh ag t2 2t5 tt55syel aQpn a8. Wish to heaven I had never seen you. But that is no fault of yours. and I SUD- pose you wish there was n6 such fellow as me. You had me in your power and took no advantage, but acted like brave and honorable gentleman. I must do no less. have inquired, and hear that your regiments time is about to run out. If so, can't you come home with me, or meet me there? I suppose you didn't leave my people any richer, but such as there is you shall have, and my sister will make you welcome.
 "I hope you got into no serious trouble on my account. You ran great fisk un- less you destroyed the papers, which I don't suppose you did.
 It was signed William Morris Luce's time had expired. He had no intention of leaving the service, but he made his re-volunteering the means of procuring leave of absence. He went East and found Morris in the hospital; his wound healed, but not strong enough to travel alone. Luce took him in charge, and they started west. They travelled slowly, and Morris gained strength by the way. They were very friendly, and talked frank ly together good deal about the war, with the respect which a soldier feels for an honorable enemy. But neither of them mentioned Miss Forests name all the way.
 The Morris place had been farther away from the army's path than Cottonwood, andss had suffered less. Morris father was blind, and had, of course, remained with his daughter Florence Both father and daughter received Luce warmly upon Morris's introduction and account of their relations, which. as may be supposed, was not quite full, but.smade up in warmth to such an extent as made Luce ashamed. Morris felt too much fatigued after his journey to ride far. He asked Luce about the position of his camp when he was there before, and said that was about ten miles nort-east, fromswhich Luce inferred that Cottonwood was about eight or ten miles north. But his fatigue did not pre- vedt him from riding with Luce and Miss Florence east, west, and south. Luce WITS thrown great deal in the young lady's company, in fact, and found it very pleasant and sprightly company too. Alter day or two Morris was much os- cupied with his father, arranging their rather disordered affairs, but he made his sister entertain Luce and show him this and that point about the country. A week or two passed so, and neither had spoken of Miss Forest. Luce began to wonder what they were waiting for. One afternoon the two captains rode to place five or six miles north on business. They took different road back, which led to the west at first, and across 8 high hill. The sun was low. and as they came on the hilltop, very pretty stretch of sunny lands lay before them. The both paused and looked northward. Far away Luce saw house and lands that excited fa- miliar thrill in him. When he turned away Morris was bending forward eagerly scanning the same distant plantation. He turned and met Luce's eyes.
 ''That is Cottonwood?" said Luce.
 "Yes.''
 And Luce said, ''Well?" ...,
 ''Are you still of the same mind?" Mor- ris asked sharply.
 And Luce replied, ''Still the same"
 ''Come on then, he called, and struck spurs to his horse, and dashed down the road to the north
 Nhen Luce overlook him he was wait ing for him, and walking his horse mp the Cottonwood avenue. Miss Forest was walking before the house as they rode up, and met them with pleasure and aston ishment, as may be imagined. She show ed great consern for Morris pallor and the scar of a saber-cut on his face. She made them come in. and tell all about their strange meeting, and Morris escape afterwards, and his wounding and cap- ture. Very likely she had long ago re- pented of her impatience and harshness with the young fellow, and she seemed now to want to make amends by her kind- ness. .. ..-.a .s. E..
 Morris forgot all doubts and rivalries in that happiness, and laughed and re- counted the incidents to her, praised Luce, and was in high feather. When they came away, however, he grew quick ly sober, as Luce was before him. His hot blood rose and surged at the obstacle in his path that he could not see round or through. After his calmer hab2, Luce too was excited by the presence of the girl and filled with a mingled pain and delight Each was occupied with his own thoughts, and they rode for an hour without speaking.
 Then Morris turned abruptly and said: .''You remember that night when you had me on your hands and didn't know what to do? You put it to me. Now 1 put this to you, What are we going to do?''
 '.And do you remember what you said? Luce answered. "'I don't know. Don't leave it to me-"
 "Oh! that's hard, Luce, retorted Mor. ris. Don't you see how I'm tied and perplexed?"