Middletown transcript., 1876-04-01
faced, and the brown eyes smiled il
% ,our look of admiration

faced, and the browu eyes smiled in
answer to your look Of admiration.
Il like her present expression better.
be unused !; "but. as sure as my name
is Albert Bertrand, I will be thief fol
once" And he slipped the card from
its place in the book
He had hardly thrust the card init
bis breast, when Elsie appeared, pal'
and trembling,
"What has frightened you, my deal
young lady ?" asked Captain Bertrand
Are you better?" she asked, hastily
"Can you ride 2"
"Oh. yes," he answered. "You'
kindness has given me strength. But
what has so agitated you?''
"You are the enemy of my country
but am woman and cannot betray
| you. Over yonder bill squad of Con-
federates are marching. Fly while there
is time.''
In a moment Albert Bertrand COM
pretended the situation. Pressing hel
hand in his a moment, be exclaimed
"God bless and keep you, Miss Yer
non! In happier days, may it be my
pleasure to teach you that could never
be your enemy!"
Before the blush called forth by bis
earnest words had died away, be had
mounted his horse and was flying to-
ward the woods, whilst over the bill
behind the Vernon cottage sounded the
tramping of the Confederates.
The weary war was over. Peace at
last stretched her snowy wings over our
sorrowful country. Peace! We joy
fully spoke the sweet word to each
other, but the tears still ran down the
faces of those to whom peace had
come too late. 1t was June, and
smiling field and bursting flower greeted
Captain Bertrand as he rode slowly up
the same road be had travelled three
years before. In camp, on tented field.
in battle. strife. the sweet, pure face
of Elsie Vernon had come before his
vision as he saw her last, his good kind
angel!
True to promise he had made to
himself three years before, he was seek
ing her with a faint hope that she might
yet live unwoed and unwon. In an
earnest dream of the future, be found he
had ridden up to the same little cottage
Was it the same? No flowers in the
little garden, no creeping vines over the
doorway, and the air of refinement and
culture had vanished.
Captain Bertrand's heart sank, for
he felt that Elsie could not live there
Just then a w-headed urchin came
running out of the door, and the gentle
man asked:
who lives here ?"
"Why. we does, Of course!" the
little fellow answered.
"Where does the lady reside who
lived here three years ago?"
"Guess I don't member; but here is
Granny. and she most knows every
thing" And the boy looked up to the
window, where an old woman's head
had just appeared.
In answer to the inquiries, the young
man learned that Elsie's mother had
died two years before. Shortly after
that, her father and brother bad fallen
in battle, and Elsie. leaving the home
30 sorrowful to her now, had gone into
the village mile away and had taught
school there until quite lately; but her
health had given way, and her friends
thought that the last Of the Vernons
would gil an early grave.
The Captain thanked bis informant
and road toward the village thinking,
sadly-"Poor little girl What weary.
sad life she has had! I fear she will
not regard me favorably-so much cause
she has had to hate the uniform l have
worn"
It was sunset when he reached the
outskirts of the little village. Quaint
and ivygrown. the little village church
rose before him. The small cemetery.
we'll kept by careful loving hands, de-
served at least a passing notice. He
leaned upon the fence. and bis eye
roved idly about until it rested upon
figure seated upon grave
near BY Her fair hair rippled to her
waist her face was upturned to watch
the golden sunset, and the gentleman
looked on, gazed entranced at the beau
tiful picture, recognizing gladly that it
was the woman be was seeking. Open
ing the gate to attract her attention, he
walked straight up to her.
miss Vernon p She bowed
"You do not recognize me ?
There is a familiar look in your
face"-starting slightly. 1t is"
Eyes. tits the officer to whom you
gave refreshments and warning three
summers ago." interrupted the gentle
man.
II am glad to see you, sir. l have
often wondered if you were still alive
the fortunes of war are 50 hard"
Elsie shivered in the summer even.
ing.
t.AL y, ,o:J R.,t,ocj evccoth;0