Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-10-21

self, what would Mary say?"
'Did you say that, Jack 2" l said,
feeling so pleased, and with my heart
beating faster than ever.
"Indeed l did, and l wouldn't go into
any rough company, for felt that you
would know if did, and somehow the
thought of You, my darling, has kept
me right and square, for ] said I'd come
back to you, and show you that, how
ever people may run a soldier down, he
has got heart like other men and
had sworn that I would be true TO you.
My head was in whirl, and l wanted
to speak, but l could not, and then /
was vexed, for / felt that be would
think me silly and stupid, and all l
could do was to walk by his side right
up to our door, where he said Good
by, holding me tightly by both my
hands.
81 must go and see my father now, "
he said.
"What, haven't you seen him, Jack q
''No. How could l go and see him
till | had seen the little girl who is all
the world to me? Now, good-by, dar-
llng:>I must see you again tomorrow. "
BE left me then, and went in trem-
bling. to run up to my room, and sob as
| had never sobbed before.
1t was not that / was miserable, but
| felt so confused and strange, and my
thoughts seemed to be always with
Jack, and somehow / began to think at
last that as he loved me so truly and so
well, l suppose that, though l had not
known it, loved him, too.
Then / felt frightened and ashamed,
and wondered what would become of me
for being so bold, and at last, there it
was, | found myself thinking all day
long of the brave, true-hearted fellow
who had loved me all these years, and
feeling angry with myself for thinking SO
little of him before.
Oh, how bright and pleasant every
thing seemed to look from that day
forth, and how ! used to sit and glow,
and feel happier than had ever felt be-
fore, when l thought about Jack loving
me so well.
The future was nothing to me I
could only think of the present, and a
hundred times a day l used to say to
myself "Jack loves me, and I'll try to
love him, too"
Ah, it took no trying. My yoang
girlish heart leaped forth to meet him,
and all seemed happiness and Joy till l
began to wake up to the truth of all
about me-
First my mistress gave me severe
talking to upon the imprudence of being
seen talking so much to a common sol
dier, and / felt as if ! could have said
bitter words to her for calling him
common. Then came the next trou-
bic, and that came from Jack one even
ing. and it was as he was walking home
with me from church.
'My furloughs nearly over, Mary,
DEAR" he said. 'and l shall have to
CO."
"Go?" l cried, and for the first time
my arms started up and clung to him.
eyes, my darling" he whispered, as
he held me to his heart, 81 must go and
leave you. Father wants me to stay,
but I've served half my time, and I'll do
the rest, and come home like man as
has done his duty, and then / shall be
in the Reserve"
'But you'll-yon'll take me with you,
Jack ?"
He didn't speak, but gave quite a sob
as he held me tightly strained to his
heart, and it was some time before the
words would come; but at last they did,
and he seemed cruel and as if he didn't
care for me, as he told me he loved me
too we'll to make me soldiers wife.
"No, DEAR" he said, "the barracks
would be no place for you. My darling
must have a little home of her own. We
must wait.
"Wait, Jack? How long?" 1 said.
He waited for few minutes before he
spoke again. and then he said, Five
years" and it sounded like a knell.
But five years soon pass by in busy
life. Jack went away, and | felt
half broken-hearted, and thought him
cruel to go; but / grew patient and
hopeful. He wrote to me regularly
from all his stations-such simple, true,
loving letters, that there was always
something to look forward to, and, as
he used to say, though ours was long
courting, he would, after all, be only
ight-and-twenty, and me two years
less, when he came back, and that the
time had taught us to be fonder of each
other, and the future would be all hap
piness and joy.
And so 1t was, IN our humble way,
when he came back with his papers to
show that he had served his time and
was in the Reserve. Being a strong,
clever fellow, he soon got an engage
ment in the town, with thirty shillings
week. His father was dead now, or
he might have had something to do
with the business; but he did not seem
to mind. He had saved some money, so
had /, and we furnished little house,
and we were married.
Surely no woman was ever prouder of
her husband than |, and as ] grew more
and more to understand his goodness of
heart and love, l began to be afraid Of
the cloud that | now saw overshadowed
our lives. | had not noticed it at first,
but as / grew thoughtful and sat and
dreamed over my baby, | wondered what
L should do if there happened to be a
war. The idea used to make me shud-
der and tremble, wondering how it was
that had never been thoughtful enough
to think of it before.
"What, what's the matter, little
mother p he said to me, playfully, one
day. wrinkles in your forehead and
wet eyes Has baby got a tooth COM
ing, and are you afraid it won't come
through ?"
"Oh, Jack, dear" I said, as l flung
myself sobbing into his arms, "don't
laugh-don't treat such things lightly.
/ have been thinking"
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