The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-11-08
IN THE RESERVE.

They tell me ought to look upon it
as duty-my husbands duty to his
sountry-my duty to my husband; but
it is so hard, so very hard to bear. and at
times I cannot help railing against my
unhappy fate, and-no-not wishing
that had never wed, but often that
had never been born.
Mines no new story, but just the sim
pie old tale of foolish girl who fell in
love with O soldier. I 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 bet
Ter than ever, and if my time were to
como over once more, l should fall IN
love with him again.
Jack enlisted when he was very young,
the people taking him willingly enough
because he was such sturdy, well-built
fellow. He went off and enlisted in
tiff, after quarrel with his father, who
vas small trajesman in a country
town, where I was in service. Jack and
l had often laughed and chatted together
in boy aud girl fashion, and when he
had auarreled with his father, he came
to say good bye" to me, and told me
that he was going to enlist, and-I re.
mem Der it all so weli-I laughed at him,
and told him not to be goose, and he
gave me curious sorrowful look, and
seemed as il he was going to say some
thing to me, but he only choked like,
turned sharply round, and went away.
nd pHI-
ish then, and had never thought more
OF Jack than that he was o nice, bright,
merry lad, who always had pleasant
word to say to me, and went about my
business, thinking no more of the matter
till about o week sfterward, when there
was lot of talk in the town about how
Jack Forester had enlisted, and that his
father was half-mad about it, and had
gone to Norwich to buy his son of, but
that be had been 40 fierce and angry with
Jack that the lad had quarreled with him
again, and declared that he would never
come home any more.
1t was two years before I saw Jack
again, and it was one day when I was
Going along the road. had not for
gotten him, for from time to time people
talked about Jack, who had always been
a favorite in the town. and had heard
of his having been sent with o draft to
Malta, but when we met 1 hardly knew
the fine, tall, broad-ehouldered, bronzed
fellow with o great brown beard, and
though started and half felt that I
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."
tried to laugh, and to say that was
glad to see him again, and to tell him he
vas 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 broken hearted at having to leave
me, whom he loved with all his heart;
how he had thought OF me always dur.
ing the years that be had been away,
and ended by looking ct me 90 search
ingly, - he said:
"And have you been true to me. Mary.
all this timer"
AIuo W yOv, ~SoA' os~s "~PAJ'
II 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?"
us there any one, Jsck?" said, re-
peating the words.
"Yes, girl, tell memo, don't tell me
you love some one else. Icouldnt bear
it,"
II don't love any one. jack" I said,
feeling half frightened at his fierce,
quick way. :,
and you dontlove me?" he said.
mo, Jack. don't think I do" said,
crying bitterly now; '.but always liked
You very much, and I'm very glad 70 see
you, Jssk."
"Are you." be said joyfully. Say
that again, dear?"
''Hay IL again. Jsckf' I replied. look.
ing up in his eyes. and feeling my weak
heart Autasr very quickly nov. "Of
course en- very glsd 70 - yen hsck
again. end you do look 20 different.
dTssacd IN thst rcd coat"