Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1882-09-16

my future life would garner It's Joy
from her kindness, or have no Joy at
all. was invited to remain to sup-
per, and did SO; and when my duty
forced me to take my leave was
asked to make my calls aa frequent
as my time and inclinations would
permit.
"You can easily surmise that both
time and inclination made the inter-
val between my visits very short, and
I soon noticed that the door was al
ways opened by Mabel, often ere
had reached the steps leading to the
veranda. Who could mistake the
motive of such a mark Of favor
And you can know that to my soul
this brought a glory that was brighter
than sunshine and whose music was
sweeter than the spring chorus OF
birds.
81 have not 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, possess
ing a finely cultivated mind, a spark
ling wit, and a sweet, ringing voice,
that made it delight to sit and listen
to her talk.
GAS you know, we were quartered
two months In that village; but before
our regiment marched south | had
asked Mabel TO be my wife and heard
her low voice tell of love that l
knew would bless me all through the
years. Her mother gave willing con-
sent, aud the time fixed for our union
was the close of the war.
"Then came our marching orders,
and the raid in which l won my Ma
jor's commission. During the year
which followed, and the campaign OF
which Gettysburg was the conclusion
I heard frequently from Mabel. for
the communication between home and
our lines were kept open. The last
tremendous struggle southwark with
Grant followed this, and, as you all
know, we were on patrol duty and
recounoitering all the time; and, when
| the flank movement began, kept well
on the outskirts of the army, and
| made the last raid down the penin-
sula which brought the crisis OF my
life.
"Do you remember the daywe were
| expecting to meet Fitzhugh's men :
I was on picket duty that evening"
| and had a battalion of our regiment
deployed along a road that ran
! through SOME broken country, just
after night began to deepen, and the
shs, lows lay heavy between the trees
that Aanked the road, the rapid
gallop OF a horse sounded up from q
/ narrow valley, and, telling the men
near to be ready, I rode down the
sloping ground to meet the person
approsc hing. Soon I came to place
that ga ve me command of a long
stretch Of road. aud halted just IN
the shadow. In another moment a
horseman dashed into view, ant1f came
rapidly towards me. As soon as n, ,
voice could be heard commanded
halt but the order was unhesded.
Halt, or I fre! I cried. And
still the horse came dashing on, and
the next moment my pistol was level
ed, and the sharp report rang out on
the still night. With low cry the
horseman tumblsd from the saddle
and then the futter of a white robe
made me spring to the ground and
run to where the PROSTATE form was
lying.
"The person had mistaken for a
foe was woman, and as I bent over
the white face I felt my heart grow
cold, for it was the face of Mabel
Wayne"
II took her in my arms, and her
eyes looked up in mine so full of love
that I sobbed like child.
"'Oh, my darling my darling / I
cried, what brought you here p
az heard you were with troops.
Charlie, and ! wished to see you
"And I have killed you, and
blighted my life,' I answered.
"'No, not blighted it, Charlie.
You did Lot mean to harm me, and
it was my fault
even with the chill of death max
ing her blood grow cold, her love
would not let her bear blame. saw
she was rapidly growing weaker, and