The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1877-03-14
INVISIBLE POWER
The Secret Of Life and Death.
A. j. I'll. DUGANNE.
AUTHOR OF "UNDER THE SHIELDS, >
1.-THE TENANT HOUSE." 1.-THE
SEVEN CITIES ETC.
CHAPTER XII.
A YOUNG VOLUNTEER.

| made deeper line IN Amelia lie tnan Snf
thought. And this letter was the first sh'
had ever received containing words which
every woman's heart longs to thrill with.
She took the folded missive from he1
fathers hand, and replaced it in the enve
| lope. Hardly was this done, when Barney
the door boy, brought up card, saying {
gentleman was in the parlor. Saul Macy
read the card, and handed 1t to Amelia
The name on it was
edward Bolton Revere"
81 will go down and see your admirer =
said the father. And he descended to the
parlor. Young Revere rose to take his Of
fered hand, and was astonished to hear the
| fathersay:-
Your letter to my daughter has JUS
introduced you. 1t arrived, hy pos ONE
hour ago, after transit of ten months
"That is because, sent it from war
prison. replied Revere. Il was ordered
| to join my regiment 80 suddenly, that haC
no opportunity Of mailing it before we tool
| the route from Fortress Monroe, and OF
] our first advance, | was captured.
| The soldiers words were well chosen,
and his manner easy. Macy could not but
confess that his daughters admirer was q
youth well-ftted to interest any maiden.
| Well-built, little above the medium height,
with an open, frank expression of face, and
auburn curls, he looked like gallant SOL
dier, even had no uniform confirmed the
character But his features were worn, as
if by sickness, or hunger. and his left arm
rested in q black silk scarf. His dress
was that of an enlisted man, with sergeant g
stripes upon the blue blouse sleeves.
"YOu have seen hard service, | fear"
said Macy.
"Such service as no soldier likes, sir p"
responded Revere. 81 was six months
in Belle Isle prison, and Was exchanged only
two months ago J"
"You have been wounded" said Macy,
glancing at his disabled arm.
eyes, sir !" said the sergeant. "My
first engagement left me a prisoner, and
my second, very soon after exchange, left
this wounded arm. The surgeon wished
to amputate it, but l came out of hospital
all right, and got a furlough home. Now,
l am going back again - He paused, look
ing timidly at Macy, and then inquired
els Miss Macy at home, sir -
"Yesl she'll be down presently" said
the father. Did you find your mother
and sister well?"
"Yes! thank Godn' exclaimed the
young man, with manifest fervor.
''They must have been sorry to part from
you again so soon - remarked Macy
81 could not stay, sir! | am transferred
to cavalry, and have to report next We'd
nesday, at IIarper's Ferry. Now it's
Friday"
Susie Macy here entered followed by
Amelia, who went to the soldier, with ex-
tended hand, and said, in her mothers
frank way
"NIr. Revere, am very glad to see you,
sir p
Revere took the little hand, so naturally
offered, ana answered, in a low voice:
''I'm sure, I'm glad to see you, Miss.
] thought of you in all my prison life y
What is this mysterious way of man with
woman, which the wise preacher declared
to be past finding out? Here were two
beings who had only met two or three
times before. Yet there was that between
them, already, which had been between
Saul and Susie twenty years before; and
which will forever be, between youths and
maidens, while our earth is kissed by
heavens sun.
Susie broke all ice presently, when she
said:-"How is little Fanny ?' giving
Edward Revere her hand, with one of her
radiant smiles.
Tie young soldier felt such a rising of
his heart, under this greeting from Amelia's
mother, that he could scarcely make his
reply audible.
Remembering the humble position held
by Miss Macy year before, and astonished
to find her now in such a habitation of
luxury, and to be greeted with such courte-
sy by her parents, the young man hardly
knew what to say. He had good sense,
however, and could understand that hOspi-
tality might be extended to him as a soldier,
without inviting domestic intimacies.
That morning, news had come Of a battle
resulting in advantage for the Confederate
army; and when Moss Cohen came in, just
then, he brought an extra, containinga a re-
port of the action.
My corps was engaged - said Edward
Revere; his eyes lighting up; land l ought
to have been with the cavalry
''You may be thankful you are here! - said
Moss Cohen: fixing his mild eyes upon the
soldier. ''In your place, of course, duty
should be done; but never regret being
away from battle. young man 20
II can't see that !" said Macy. "When
there, and I'd have gone if-well-no mat
ter why | didn't go!
''Ny little girl was the reason, sup
pose,'' said Captain Hooper.
''Not bit oft, father" said Susie. "I
believe Saul would have gone, when we
heard of that Bull Run battle, and made
Amelia and me go, too, as hospital nurses,
if it hadn't been for She paused.
''Tell it, Susie!'' laughed Saul. cor,
Tll tell, for you! The fact was" he re-
marked, 81 thought I'd be of more use to
lieved myself on the point of discovering a
projectile power, which would give our ar
tillery prodigious advantage"
"Yes!" said Cohen, dryly, ''your power
was subsequently demonstrated-and its
force, likewise; in the prqjectae wayl"
Moss Cohen and Captain Hooper ex-
changed grins, like the two old jokers they
were; and Susie changed color. Amelia
looked quickly at Revere; but the young
soldier was only thinking of military" SIS
your power yet applied, sir?' he in
quired.
''Notas anticipated" answered Macy,
"My laboratory suffered an explosion. /
am satisfied, however, that power exists
in Nature, which, if regulated by skill and
science, must supersede our present motive
powers"
81 have often thought said Reyere,
"that electricity might be brought under
control, as motor Electricity must be-
long to heat, and, you know, heat subjects
everything !"
''The electric fluid is what suppose my
power to bel" remarked Macy.
II have experimental little,'' said the
young mechanic. 'sMy trade Is locomotive
building, and, of course, I've tried to un-
derstand steam-power." Revere stopped
short, observing all eyes upon him; and
modestly added: ''But ought not to mem
ton my poor essays
"Why not, sir ?" asked Macy, quickly.
"Did they bear results2"
"Only to satisfy me that there IS an inner
gas of all gases, which believe to be an
electric gas y
The confident tone of the machinist
caused Macy to look more intently at his
daughters "admirer" than he had yet done;
and he could not fail to be struck with the
clear, thoughtful eyes, and the faint lines,
betokening deep study, upon his fine
forehead as well as with the earnest re-
mark he made. "There's something in
this boy!' was Saul's impression; and then
he glanced at Amelia, and saw that little
maiden's brown eyes sbyly lifted to the