Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-10-21
In THE RESERVE.
An English Wife's Story.

hey ten me ouBnI 10 lOOh upon III
as a duty-my husbands duty to his
country my duty to my husband; but
it is so hard, SO very hard TO bear, and
at times cannot help railing against
my unhappy fate, and-no--not wish
ing that l had never wed, but often that
| had never been born.
Mines no new story, but just the
simple old tale of a foolish girl who
fell in love with a soldier. am older
and wiser now, but still use those words,
Fell in love with soldier" weak
as they may sound to you, for did fall
in love with my brave true-hearted lad,
and though care and trouble have made
me older and wiser now, | love him
better than ever, and if my time were
to come over once more, / should fall in
love with him again.
Jack enlisted when he was very young,
the people taking him willingly enough
because he was such a sturdy, well-built
fellow. He went off and enlisted in a
tiff, after a quarrel with his father, who
was a small tradesman in country
town, where / was in service. Jack
and had often laughed and chatted to-
gether in boy and girl fashion, and
when he had quarreled with his father,
he came to say goodbye" to me, and
told me that he was going to enlist,
and-I remember it all so well-I
laughed at him, and told him not to be
goose, and he gave me a curious sor-
rowful look, and seemed as if he was
going to say something to me, but he
only choked like, turned sharply round,
and went away.
AS said, was very young and girlish
then, and had never thought more of
Jack than that he was a nice, bright,
merry lad, who always had a pleasant
word to say to me, and | went about
my business, thinking no more of the
matter till about week afterward, when
there was a lot of talk in the town about
how Jack Forester had enlisted, and
that his father was half-mad about i. &,
and had gone to Norwich to buy his son
off, but that he had been so fierce and
angry with Jack that the lad had quar-
relied with him again, and declared that
he would never come home any more.
1t was two years before [ saw Jack
again, and il was one day when / was
going along the road. | had not for.
gotten him, for from time to time people
talked about Jack. who had always been
favorite in the town, and | had heard
of his having been sent with draft to
Malta, but when we met / hardly knew
the fine, tall, road-shouldered, bronZed
fellow with a great brown beard, and
though / started and half felt that 1
knew who it was, [ was ready to pass
him, with my heart beginning to futter
in a curious. frightened way, but he
caught my hands in his, and stood
there, holding them tightly, and look
ing down in my face, speaking at last
in very husky voice, as he said:
"At last, Mary, my darling How
have prayed TO see this day."
1 tried to laugh, and to say that 1 was
glad to see him again, and to tell him
that he was very much changed, but
the words would not come, and began
to cry for he could speak now, and
quickly and we'll, and he told me that
he had been nearly heart-broken at
having to leave me, whom he loved
with all his heart how he had thought
of me always during the years he had
been away, and he ended by looking at
me SO searching, as he said
"And have You been true TO me, Mary,
all this time ?"
True to you, Jack?" / said, simply,
III don't know"
"Don't know?" he said, passionately
Mary, my girl, have You the heart to
play with me now ? Isis there any
one %
Is there any one, Jack ?" said, re-
peating the words.
Yes, girl, tell memo, don't tell me
you love some one else. / couldn t
bear it."
81 don't love any one, Jack" ] said,
feeling half frightened at his fierce,
quick way.
"And you don't love me ?" he said.
"No, Jack, don't think do said.
crying bitterly now; "but / always
liked you very much, and I'm very glad
to see you, Jack" :"
care you ?" he said, ioyfully. "Say
that again, dear"
"Say it again, Jack ?" / replied, look
ing up in his eyes, and feeling my weak
heart fiutter very quickly now. "Of
course / am very glad to see you back
again, and you do look so different,
dressed in that red coat"
"Do I?" he whispered. "Ah, but
I'm not bit changed. Mary, darling, /
loved you when was only boy, but
love you a thousand times more now
that i am q strong man."
"Do you, Jack ?" / said, blushing, as
/ walked by his side.
"Do II Yes. Why, Mary. the