Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-04-02

transformed into hero by the trap.
pings of war" in a woman's eyes; and
when he is fortunate enough to be
really tine.looking, he is exalted into a
demi-god.
1t was splendid morning, and as
the sun rose in its radiant beauty, its
beams seemed TO contain rays of sad
ness. The young, the old, fathers,
mothers, brothers, sisters, wives, all
were filled with INDISPENSABLE emotions.
1t was the morning that the-Georgia
was to leave for the 'front.'" This
regiment was composed of the flower
and chivalry of southern manhood. A
peer among peers stood Adrian Arden.
The adieu between him and Mabel was
over. A passionate embrace, linger-
ing, soulful! kiss, and they parted, but
with the determination in each heart
to be true until death did them
part"
The band struck up an inspiring
march; flags waved gayly in the morn
ing sunlight; bayonets brightly glis-
tened; and amidst the shouts of the by.
ISLANDERS the column moved--some to
be soon claimed by that grim king
whose acquaintance we oil must make
sooner or later, and some to carve their
name in Fame's eternal scroll, although
their cause is lost and their banner
trails the dust.
There had been fought a sanguinary
battle. Mabel, with trembling heart,
eagerly scanned the list of killed and
wounded, but Adrian's name appeared
not. Days went by, and still no news
of Adrian. The conviction gradually
settled down that the young man had
been killed. Mabel rebelled strongly
against this stroke of cruel fate; but at
last He who doeth all things wisely
and ''tempers the wind to the shorn
lamb" sent peace to her troubled
heart.
4
Grim-visaged war had smoothed
his wrinkled 'front.'" and the clash of
arms had ceased in the land. The war
had wrought many changes. Judge
Nichols was dead. The most of his
wealth had vanished with the downfall
of the Confederacy; but enough had
been saved to support Mabel comforta-
bly, and even elegantly. In all these
years her heart had never wandered
from her first love. His image was en-.
shrined in her heart of hearts, and
hers was one of those natures that can
love but once; for, let scoffers say as
they will, such natures do exist, and
thrice blessed is he who can claim q
heart like this for his own,
Never word had she heard of
Adrian. Her great love did not make
her morbid and avoid society. If she
had been handsome at seventeen, she
was simply dazzling at five-and-twenty
aud many were the offers she received.
By no act of hers did she endeavor to
arouse the sacred fame in the breast
masculine, but when the proposal did
come she gently but firmly refused.
The guests of the celebrated White
Sulphur Springs were in a state of
great excitement. The night for the
ball of the season was rapidly approach
ing, and nothing else was talked of.
1t came at last, and the handsomely
decorated and spacious ballroom was
filed with the elite and beauty of the
south. Without any effort of her own,
Mabel was the recognized belle of the
evening; and the stranger standing at
one of the windows thought he had
never looked upon fairer sight. He
was tall, handsome, soldiery-lookipg
man, and had only arrived by the last
train. AS he gazed upon Mabel his
eyes frightened with unutterable love.
As the evening advanced, Mabel be-
came tired of the glare and heat of the
ballroom, and, watching her chance,
she slipped unnoticed. as she thought,
away, and sought cool and secluded
corner If the vine-covered piazza.
The moon shone brightly from the
heavens, and, as on that night so many
years before, the air was fragrant with
the scent of flowers. From the ball
room came the subdued music of q
waltz, and tears rose to Mabel's eyes as
she thought of her dead love and the
long ago." Then through the mist
Of sadness came the thought that he
had died as hero should-with his
face to the foe.
Her heart thrilled with these memo
ries, and
Mabel, my darling. are you ready
to fulfill your promise?"
Was she dreaming? Had the memo
ries OF other and happier days made
her imagine that it was Adrian's voice
that now spoke? For a moment her
heart seemed to stand still. Then by a
mighty effort she raised her eyes and
gazed full at the form that stood before
her, with the moonlight enhancing
the noble beauty of his face ten fold.
adrian r. she gasped, then was
folded in pair of strong arms, while
passionate kisses rained upon her brow,
cheeks and lips.
For awhile nsught disturbed the 81
lence of the beautiful night but the
stifed sobs of Mabel; and the angels
from on high must have looked down
with love and compassion on these two
loving hearts that were again united af-
ter many years.
When the first shock of surprise was
over, Mabel raised her eyes reverently
to the blue dome above, and thanked