Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-11-29


bowed to her destiny with resigna-
ton that would have been commended
in one of more years than she had seen.
Melville talked with Der of camp life,
of the soldiers hopes, and privations, of
the pleasure of boon companions in the
field, of the dangers incident to cam
paigning; then he talked to her of
Walter Barring, of the friendship be.
tween them to the last, of his Lieuten-
ants bravery in action, and how in the
hour of death he had not forgotten her.
He then gave her the picture Of herself
he had brought with him. She receive d
it as a missive from the dead. Mel
vile, seeing her so much affected, arose
to take his leave, promising to see her
again in g few days.
Weeks passed by; the wounded arm
was nearly we'll. Melville had seen
Marion several times since his first call
yet could not summon courage sufficient
to break to her that portion of Barring Is
last words wherein he gave him q solemn
promise. On the night previous to his
departure for the tented field he was
seated on the sofa, In pleasant CONVEX
sation with Marion, who, in spite Of the
ordeal she had passed, was looking
cheerful, aid had expressed herself
with much vivacity on various topics
In certain direction their conversation
was cautious and guarded. An observ-
ing spectator could not fail to discover
thaA there was some unexpressed senti-
confess to. By the merest chance she
paved the way for him to make his long
deferred statement She had referred
to Earrings last moments, then paused
in reflective mood. She suddenly
turned to Melville, and asked him if he
had told her all that Walter then said
to him. He replied that he had not
He then told her of the promise exacted
from him-that he should befriend her,
love her, and, i'll her own good time,
marry her.
Hastily rising from her seat, her eyes
flashed with the fire of emotions within,
she looked as though she had Just de-
tected some nefarious plot against her
self. In a peculiar tone Of voice she
said, edgar Melville, are you sure
that Walter exacted such a promise
from you? We're there any witnesses
PRESENT."
Melville's manhood was touched, his
sense of honor wounded by this seem
ing imputation on his veracity. With
much dignity, he rose from the sofa,
and said: "Miss Hamlin, [ am sure
such promise was exacsed, perhaps
there were one OF two witnesses present
at the time, but I shall not call them
to verify any statement of mine. Since
you are SO keenly sensitive on the sub
ject, we will talk no more about it, at
least for the present. Tomorrow T
leave for the front-possibly we mey
never meet again. I forgive you, Ma
rion, your uncharitable doubt; T shall
always think of you kindly and would
have you remember me as a friend"
A volume could not contain all she
had to say, but her utteranca was
choked, and she stood immovable as a
statue. With much emotion, he took
her hand that hung motionless by her
side, and bade her @ kind adieu. He
had been out of the house some mo-
ments before she fully realized that he
was gone: when the fact dawned upon
her. che sank down self-condemned, and
in tears.
found his regiment in quarters on the
banks of the Rappahannock. He re,
ceived a welcome greeting from his
comrades, and none seemed more de-
| lighted at his return than his trusty
friend Terance ORourke. 'sArrah Cap
tain, is it yourself that's come till US
once more? Be the hillihouth yer
looking as foine, and dressed as nate,
barren black thorn shillalie, as q
dandy at Donybrook fair! and the
folks at home, and blissin' on 'em are
all we'll ye say? Did yes fetch airy
letter from Norah for me ?" To this
last question, Melville replied, that he
had left home so suddenly. he presumed
Norah had not time to finish it. "Och
mushey, dear, isn't she gushin swate
cracher as ever set mans heart
thumpin' and bladin'? Be the howley
Saint Dennis. Captain, when she be-
comes Mrs. ORourke, ye shall jig at
our wed6in', me boy " and he slapped
his big hand on Melville shoulder with
force that would have sent a light
weight man reeling to the ground.
| At the approach of spring, the army,
under the leadership of Gen. Hooker,
Was pun LII AlOGIOu, duO cutSIou VA JIG
campaign of Charlottesville. In the
attack Of Jackson's corps on the rear of
the federal army, the right wing was
driven back in disorder. To chack the
enemy at this point, and form new
line of battle, became an absolute neces
sity. A brigade was thrown into the
breach, with orders not to fire gun,
but to receive the enemy On their bay
onets. Before the charge of the Con-
federates was checked, they had broken
through the centre of the line. inter
posed. The regiment to which Melville
was attached formed the extreme left of
the Federal lines. His colonel had been
carried to the rear mortally wounded,
and all the staff officers disabled. Mel
ville's quick military eye discovered the
opportunity presented to deal the enc
my telling blow. But who was to give
the order for it's execution i? At that
moment, riderless horse came gallop-
ing past. Melville rushed at him,