The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1883-10-27

No. How could 60 and see him
till I had seen the little girl who is all
the world to me? Now, goodby, dar-
ling, must see you again tomorrow"
He 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 80 wall,
suppose that, though I had not known
it, I 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 [ thought about Jack loving
me so we'll.
The future was nothing to me; I
could only think of the present, and
hundred times a day used to say to
myself: Jack loves me, and I'll try to
love him, too"
AN, it took no trying. My young
girlish heart leaped forth to meet him,
and all seemed happiness and joy till I
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 common sol
dier, ard / felt as if could have said
bitter words to her for calling him
common" Then came the next trou
BILE, and that came from Jack one even
ing, and it was as he was walking home
with me from church.
my furlough's nearly over, Mary,
DEAR" he said, ''and 7 shall have to
CO."
"Go?"I 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 I shall be
in the reserve
"But you 'll-you'll take me with you,
Jack?"
He didn't speak, but gave quite 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 well to make me a soldiers wife.
| "No, DEAR" he said, ''the barracks
would be no place for you. My darling
must have little home of her own. We
must wait"
"Wait, Jack? How long?" said.
He waited for few minutes before he
Spoke again, and then he said, 'Five
| years." and it sounded like knell.
/ But five years soon pass by in busy
i life. Jack went away, and I felt half
broken-hearted, and thought him cruel
to go; bat grew patient and hopeful
He wrote to me regularly from all his
stations-such simple, true, loving let
ters, that there was always something to
look forward to, and, as he used to say
though ours was a long courting, he
would, after all, be only eight 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 fu
ture would besall happiness and joy.
Aud SO it 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 strong
clever fellow, he soon got an engage
ment in the town, with thirty shillings
week. His father was dead now, OF
he might have had something to dc
with the business; but he did not seen
to mind. He had saved some money, sc
had I, and we furnished little house
and We were married.
Surely no woman was ever prouder o1
her husband than I, and as grew more
and more to understand his goodness oi
heart and love, began to be afraid OF
the cloud that now saw Overshadowed
our lives. I had not noticed it at first
but as I grew thoughtful and sat and
dreamed over my baby, wondered what
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
te think of it before.
"What, what's the matter, little
mother?" he said to me, playfully, one
day. wrinkles in your forehead anc
wet eyes. Has baby got atooth coming
and are you afraid it won't come
through"
"Oh, Jack, DEAR" I said, as I funs
myself sobbing into his arms, dom
laugh-don't treat such things lightly
I have been thinking"
"ThinkingI What about?"
Suppose there were to be war ant
you were called out?'
"Oh, nonsense, DEAR" he said. "Why
that would only be when the countr,
was being drained. and every man woult
have to do his duty and fight for it,"
Country? Drained, Jack?" said
vacantly.
"Of course; when there was some tire
mendously big war-only then. That
what the reserve. is for. Just to be-
therein reserve, you know, in case il
should be wanted"
"But will they be wanted soon. Jack?'
Wanted? No, my dear. Not likely
Why, who are we to go to war with? No
with the French, nor yet with Russia OF
America, nor yet with Germany. Why
the queens daughter will some day bt
empress there"
''Then you don't think there is any
danger, Jack?"
Danger? No, my pet; and beside
what soldier ever thinks about danger?'
"Not about danger, Jack, dear, bu
about leaving his wife and child"
"Hush! Don't, woman!'' he cried, al
most fercely. s'I cant bear it."
never saw him look 80 strange befor.