Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-10-21
Duty.

The bright sunlight of a clear April
morning was stealing in through the
half closed shutters of the parlor Of
Widow ClaytOn's pleasant home, and
lighting with occasional flashes of the
fine face of Albert Marshall, as he paced
restlessly across the room, and encir-
cling with halo of golden light the
bowed head of the young girl half re-
clInIng In the low window seat.
Out of doors all was bright and beau
tiful, scarcely in harmony with the
sorrowing excitement which was con-
vulsing every Federal heart, for the
electric wires had borp to every part of
the north the tidings of the defeat of
her sons by the Confederates.
1t was that which lighted up Albert
Marshall's face with such stern en-
| thusiasm, and caused his restless move
ments across the sun-lighted room.
at has become a matter of duty
now," he was saying with sparkling
eyes; "the best blood of our native
state has been shed by the rebels and
it is time that every man who can
shoulder musket should use it to re-
dress the wrong! Ny place Is in the
ranks, and cannot shrink from duty
now. Do you bid me go, GenieP Are
you willing should go?"
"How can you ask it?" she said at
last, with lips which quivered in spite
of her efforts ut self-control. "YOu
know full well 1 should never be will.
ling.
Not when you know it is my duty,
and that should be proving myself
coward and traitor to shrink from it?''
he said earnestly.
1t is not duty" she answered i'm
patiently; sit is only boyish enthu-
siasm in you-a love of change and ex-
citement."
"Only boyish enthusiasm o. Ge-
nie," he said, reproachfully, show lit
tie you understand the feelings of a man
in such moment as this, when our
cOuntry's flag has been torn down and
defied. l must go, Genie! 1 cannot
shrink from the duty so sternly impos-
ed! In one month, Genie" he resumed
''you were to have been my wife, and
came here this morning to ask you to
/ foreStall that time and become mine
before we part. Shall it be so, darl-
Ing?"
He bent tenderly over her, awaiting
her answer.
For a minute or two she remained
silent; then raising her head, and turn
ing toward him face white with in
tense feeling, she said with passionate
earnestness: ''No; not now, nor ever,
if you persist in this mad scheme"
He rose slowly TO his feet. and stood
x.-itl l., folded c+arp1x- ri hnr
There they stood, face to face; his re-
veallng sorrow, disappointment and
surprise-hers firmness, scorn and de
/ fiance.
Virginia." he said at length, in
slow, measured tones, ''what am to
understand by this?"
"Just what have said; if you persist
in this, our engagement is broken for
everl The man whom l marry must
love me well enough to be willing to
sacrifice his wishes to mine, and not for
little vain glory, rush headlong into
danger, from which reason and judg-
ment would restrain him."
And this is your final decision?" he
asked coldly.
1T is; you can take your choice
remain at home and will be your wife
at the appointed time, but persist in
this absurd scheme of leaving home
and friends from mistaken idea of
duty, and we part forever, for l must
stand first; no other love must come be-
tween me and the man marry"
Very, very eloquently he pleads with
her, portraying in vivid colors all the
necessities of the case; but all in vain
''As well as l have loved you, Vir-
ginia," he said at last, finding all his
efforts useless, ''as we'll as l love you
now, l cannot falter IN the path of
duty. / must go; l cannot forsake my
country in her hour of needl"
Every well; you have made your
choice; do not blame me if you regret
it,;
Slowly and deliberately she took the
engagement ring from her finger and
held 1t towards him.
For a moment he stood silently re-
garding her as she held the ring out
toward him, with that cold, stern look
ON her face; then taking it, he cast it
to the farthest end of the room.
"Thus would cast out from my
heart" he said. bitterly, ''every thought
of a woman so unworthy my love, that
at the moment when l needed love and
sympathy most. sternly withheld them
except on condition of my becoming
coward and a traitOrl l wish you Joy
of your freedom, Miss Clayton"
He bowed haughtily and turned to
leave the room, but his better nature
triumphed; he could not leave in scorn
and anger the woman he had loved
better than his own life, even though
she had proved herself unworthy. An
other moment and he was beside her,
fondling her in his arms with all his
old tenderness.
MAY heaven forgive you, Genie"
he said, sorrowfully. ''the great wrong
you are doing US both One day you
will think differently from what you
do now. Heaven bless you'll" And with
hurried kiss he was gone.
With eyes half blinded with tears she
watched him until he was lost to her
sight; then, burying her face in the sofa
cushions, gave way to passionate
burst of weeping.
For three long months Virginia
Clayton had lived in alternate hope and
fear; and now the terrible battle of
Bull Run had been fought. She knew
the Sixteenth was engaged in it; three
days hal passed, and with what tidings
of one member of that regiment you
and can imagine, who have waited
thus for tidings of one dearer than our
lives.
AT last, among a list of wounded men
conveyed to the various Washington
hospitals, she read, with sharp pain
at her heart, captain Albert Mar
shall, in the breast, seriouslyr'
Neither pride nor selfishness could
keep her from him now, and in six and
thirty hours she stood in the office of
the hospital, inquiring for Captain
Marshall. Whether she were wife,
sweetheart or sister, the attendant could
not have told; but the pale face, inten-
sely brilliant eyes, and the half-faIter-
ing accents OF the voice, told that she
was one whose happiness hung upon
his answer; and his tone softened while
the usual abruptneSs of his manner be-
came gentle almost as woman, as his
lips spoke the words which crushed her
last hope: "Died this morning at ten."
There was no outcry from the pale
lips; only hand Of iron seemed grasp
ing her heart-a terrible weight had
fallen upon her brain, crushing every
feeling. Then slowly as if every limb