The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1881-03-04
was Harry's chum at college.
81 op,

''oN " dii' IT'S warm cldSD lnrllleU
me strangely, as did the clear glance of
the bright eyes that were upturned to
mine.
81 am Mabel Wayne, ITarrys sister,"
she went on. ave have heard so much
from Harry concerning you, and your
Kindness to him, that we have often
longed to meet you. Harry said that
he knew you would be in the Northern
army, but for us, in your case, there is
no war. Please be seated and | will
call mother
"We had passed into large, airy
drawing room while she had been speak
ing. Here she left me and soon returned
with middle aged lady, whose beauty
was of that quiet, motherly kind, so rich
with power that makes one comfortable
and at ease. l found, that despite my
antagonistic uniform, / was held a
friend; and glad was to know this, for
the first glance of Mabel Waynes
eyes had broken down the barriers that
| had raised against love-barriers of
which | had made many boasts to my.
self-and l knew that, come what
would, my future life would garner its
joy from her kindness, or have no ioy at
all. was invited to remain to supper,
and did so; and when my duty forced
me take my leave, was asked to make
my calls as frequent as my time and in
clination would permit.
"iou can easily surmise that both
time and inclination made the interval
| between my visits very short, and | soon
noticed that the door was always opened
by Mabel ere | had reached the steps
leading to the veranda. Who could
mistake the motive of such mark of
favora And you can know that to my
soul this brought glory that was bright
er than sunshine and whose music was
sweeter than the spring chorus of birds.
"Ihavenot told you of Mabel Wayne's
beauty. 1t was of that clear, Saxon
type, which denotes bright and sunny
disposition. And she was as merry as
one could wish, possessing finely cult
waited mind, sparkling wit and sweet
ringing voice, that made it delight to
sit and listen to hear her talk AS you
know, we quarted two months in that
village; but before we had marched
South had asked Mabel to be my wife
and had heard her low voice tell of a
love that | knew would bless me through
all the years. Her mother gave will
ing consent, and the time fixed for the
union was the close of the war;
"Then came our marching orders, and
the raid in which won my majors com
mission. During the year which followed
and ths campaign of which Gettysburg
was the canclusion, | heard frequently
from Mabel, for the communication be-
tween her home and our lines was kept
open. The last tremendous struggle
southwark with Grant followed this, and
as you all know we were on patrol duty
and accommodating all the time; and
when the flank movement began, kept
well on the outskirts of the army, and
made the last raid down the peninsula,
which brought the crisis of my life.
'Do you remember the day we were
expecting to meet Fitz Hughs men?
was on picket duty that evening and had
a regiment of our battalion deployed
along road that ran through some bro
ken country. Just after night began to
deepen, and the shadows lay heavy be.
tween the trees that flanked the road,
the rapid gallop of a horse sounded up
from narrow valley, and, telling the
men near to be ready, rode down the
sloping ground to meet the person ap-
preaching. Soon came to place that
gave me command of long stretch OF
road and halted Just in the shadow. In
another moment horseman dashed into
view, and came rapidly towards me. As
soon as my voice could be heard com
manded halt, but the order was un
needed.
"Halt OF l fire!" / cried, and still the
horse came dashing on, and the next mo
ment my pistol was leveed, and in al
instant the sharp report rang out in the
still night. With low cry the horse
men tumbled from the saddle, and the
tlutter of a white robe made me spring
to the ground and run to where the pros
trate form was lying.
"The person | had mistaken for foe
was woman, and as | bent over the
white face, | felt my heart grow cold, fol
it was the face of Mabel Wayne.
| ! took her in my arms, and her eyes
looked up in mine so full of love that
sobbed like child.
"Oh my darling, my darling" l cried
"what brought you here?"
81 heard you were with the troops
Charlie, and | wished to see you"
"And | have killed you and blightet
my life" | answered.
mo, not blighted it, Charlie Yor
did not mean to harm me, and it was my
fault"
Even with the chill of death making
her blood grow cold, her love would no
let me bear blame. / saw she was rap
idly growing weaker, and saying woul(
get a surgeon. was turning away, whel
she stopped me-
"No, it will he useless" she said.
am visiting at house only short dis
tance away; take me there.
"Binding up the wound as well as
could, | obeyed her. And in that house
clasped in my arms, her head on IN,
heart, she died, and there | left her "
ing asleep.
II wrote an account of the affair an,
sent 1t to her mother, and one to Harry
They both answered, telling me the,
held me free from blame But NOR
comforting than tins, more oomfortin,
than aught but her living form here, i
the knowledge have that her spirit
with me; that her love is still my owl
and will forever be so. | have seen he
! face; l have heard her voice; l have fel
: the pressure of her lips; and soon we wi
be together, and the love that was sep;
! ) rated for time will be joined in Hea,
= en- for all eternity. can see her no,
as kind and beautiful as in the old year
Yes, can see her, and she is mine"
The Major ceased talking, A gla
{ light grew brilliant in his eyes and su
fused his face. Then he covered tn
with his hands. We did not say any
u thing for time; but at last the silen,
grew oppressive,
y 'I.et US take some wine" said IL
y Colonel. And all but the Major file