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

66 0u6Y-my luSDan06 duty 60 MS
country-my duty to my husband; but
it is so hard. 80 very hard to bear. and at
times can0ot 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 b foolish girl who fell in
love with q 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
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 sturdy, well-buiit
fellow. He went off and enlisted in
tiff, after quarrel with his father, who
was q small tradesm9h in q country
town, where was in service. Jack and
I had often laughed and chatted together
in boy aud girl fashion, and when he
had quarreled with his father, he came
to say "good bye" to me, and told me
that he was going to enlist, and-I re-
mem ber it all SO well-I laughed at him,
and told him not to be q goose, and he
gave me q curious sorrowful look, and
seemed as if he was going to say some
thing to me, but he only choked like,
turned sharply round, and went away.
AS said, was very young and girl
ish then, and had never thought more
of Jack than that he was 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 week afterward, 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
gene to Norwich to buy his son of, but
that he had been so fierce and angry with
Jack that the lad had quarreled with him
again, and declared that he would never
come home any more.
It was two years before / saw Jack
again, and it was one day when I was
going along the road. I had not for
gotten him, for from time to time people
talked about Jack, who had always been
q favorite in the town, and had heard
of his having been sent with draft to
Malta, but when we met I hardly knew
the fine, tall, broad-shouldered, bronzed
fellow with great brown beard, and
though I started and half felt that
knew who it was, I was ready to pass
him, with my heart beginning to fntter
IN 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
was very much changed, but the words
would not come, and began to cry; for
he could speak now, and quickly and
well, 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 he had been away,
and ended by looking at me so search
ingly, as he said:
"And have you been true to me, Mary,
all this timer"
''True to yov, Jack?" I said. simply.
81 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?"
"Ir there any one, Jack?" I said, re-
peating the words.
Eyes, girl, tell memo. don't tell me
You love some one else. Icouldn't bear
it,"
ST don't love any one, jack" I said,
feeling half frightened at his fierce,
quick way.
"And ycu dontlove me?" he said.
"No, Jack, don't think do,' I said
crying bitterly now; ''but always liked
you very much, and I'm very glad to see
you, Jack"
Are you," he said joyfully. "say
that again, dear?"
''Say it again, Jack?" replied, look-
ing up in his eyes, and feeling my weak
heart futter very quickly now. col
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, I loved
You when was boy, but love you q
thousand times more now that am q
strong man."
"Do you, JAck2" I said, blushing, as
I walked by his side.
''Do I? Yes. Why, Mary, the thought
OF your darling face has been my pro-
tection ever since I went away. ]
wouldn't drink more than was good for
me with the lads, for I said to myself,
what would Mary sAy?"
"Did you say that, Jack?" I said, feel
ing so pleased, and with my heart beat
ing faster than ever"
Indeed did, and / wouldn't go into
any rough company, for I felt that you
would know if did, and somehow the
thought of you, my darling, has kept me
right and square, for I said I'd come
back to you, and show you that, how
ever people may run soldier down, he
has got heart, like other men; and /
had sworn that would be true to you y
My head was in whirl, and wanted
to speak, but could not, and then /
was vexed, for felt that he would think
me silly and stupid, and all could do
was TO was to walk by his side right up
to our door. where he said "Goodby, .
holding me tightly by both my haads.
must 60 and see my father now,
he said.