Smyrna times., 1878-09-18


believe my passionate love was wrong, be-
cause of its selfshness and intensity. 1t
kept me from giving to others that which !
they had a right to expect from me. |
The blossom in the meadow may have one
bee that it cares for most Of all, and keep
its sweetest sweets for him but, because
of that, it does not close its cup to every
other.
l do not know how l came to find out
that John Earle loved me. | think from
some hint of Robbes, certainly not from
any words Of his own. When | did find
it out, | felt little fattered, perhaps, as
any woman is likely to do when her first
lover comes, but told myself that l had
no love to give him. 1t was all for Robbie.
There began to be sings in the heavens
of coming storm. But | was so happy
that | could not, or did lot, see them at
first.
One day Robbie came home from the
village with pale, excited face.
ooh, Ruth p he cried, "you won't believe
it, but its true The've fired on the flag
down South, and there's going to be
war I"
cried out sharply, and then sat down
on the door-stone, white and faint. | shut
my eyes, and saw grave-a low, green
grave-under a pine tree, on hillside,
sloping to the sun.
Then he sat down beside me, and | drew
his brown head down into my lap, and
smoothed the soft locks over my fingers,
thinking in slow, dreamy way of what
felt was coming. | think | knew how it
would be from the first.
Ruth" he said suddenly, lifting his
face to mine, "you wouldn't have me stay
at home if-if felt ought to go?"
"Oh, Robert, you're all | have" l cried,
and all my heart was in the cry, land can
not let you go" Ah me y from how many
other hearts, North and South, that same
cry went up in those long, sunny days
in uspense-waiting!
While we sat there, John Earle came up
the path. We made room for him on the
doorstep, and he sat down beside US
Before a dozen words had been spoken,
knew that he was in the right mode tC
sympathize with Robbes excitement, and
got up and left them to talk it over
together. | did not care to listen. II
would come soon enough.
shall never forget the day when they
enlisted. | sat in the garden alone, listen
ing to the bees in the cherry-blossom,
overhead, and waiting, hardly knew fol
what. The lilacs were blossoming out, anC
thought of Johns fancy about them anC
his mothers soul, and broke off a buncl
and held it up against my eyes, hardl,
comprehending what was doing
By-and-by | heard a sound that sent
shiver all over me, and l think l cried ou
as if some one had struck me. Oh, tha
wild war music! The drum-beat came OF
the wind like a knell. | covered my fac
and tried to shut out the sounds from m
ears, but they were ringing i'll my brain a
if they meant to stay there forever.
1t was night when Robbie came.
81 know it all !" reaching out my han'
and drawing him to me. "You're goin
away y
"Yes, Pm going away" he answere
with kiss. | am needed, and yo
would not have me stay, ! know, if yo
felt that it was my duty to 60. And Joh
is going, too"
Then a silence came. Neither of U
+. could talk much that night.
"You ought to have heard John to-day,
he said, by-and-by. How they cheere
him. He was the first one to put his nam
down on the enlisting roll, and l couldn
Ier help putting mine under it. You don
20 blame me, Ruth-you understand-?"
icy ayes, understand, and don't blam
80 you," said, and then tears came and hi
ler his face from me. | could not see the hill
al' for many moments.
~, I'M Then we heard steps on the path. Joh
ne ne Earle came up and held out handf
eai panses to me.
lad 81 thought you would like them," |
said, in his grave, tender way. " Her gra,
nm is beautiful with them now"
%aq' % | took them, and answered not a wor
ne But he understood. Then I went aw;
u, TO and left them together. l could not list
I phe to their eager talk. Every word stabb
OUT me like a knife.
ana By-and.by l heard Johns step comi
enI down the path to the gate. lie came al
10 stood beside me.
"You're going away, too" said, after
one little silence. "Oh, John, hope you a
me Robbie will como back but Pm afraid
pan and then l stopped, for l dared not spe
no the thought that was uppermost
~ "God knows" he answered, and frC
an : the way in which he said it, knew IL
ana he put the future in His hands, willing
tne accept it as it came.
the Ruth" he said at last " have son
ltch thing to say to you. Can you guess wi
'hey it is2 love you. l would like to ia
oo' away with me the memory Of Just sue
ahce sweet-faced woman as you are, who will
orh' my wife when / come home. May
lght Ruth?"
year al am sorry for your sake, john" l
swered as gently as l could "but do
nd l love any one but Robbie"
great "Think it over, and tell me what
ID | have thought before l CO." he said.
en- L don't want your answer now."
were | did think it over. | made myself
hing leve that | would be untrue to my brot
in 1t if tried to love another. | was not CO
n the BILE of loving two.
The shadow of parting hung over ev
} the thing. 1t filled the hours with that pat
We always clinging to the end of summer
'ares. the face of friend who is drifting slo
him. out of life. l knew, when | saw Rol
that looking at the old places where he
played when we were children, at
IN to peaceful hills and the old river, with
E" look of wistfulness in his eyes, that he
else thinking, perhaps, it was for the last ii
)ther. Oh, those last times
died The day of good-byes came at
II the Robbie came home in his suit of bit
en- to rush of tears binding me to the sigE
yorld all things near, but far away saw slo
a him hillside, with a low grave under pine,
oking the sunshine was all about it, like b
rifted diction.
n and John Earle came to say goodbye,
looks asked me for my answer
If his, "Is it yes or no." he asked.
with I" 1t is no, john" | answered. al
days, not love you as you want me to-"
ether. "Well, if you don't love me that's
ang of end of it," he said, and his voice was
come of the pathos of strong mans
some "You are sure-quite sure?" with a