The Monitor., 1885-01-09

neither of them could have answered had
you asked them; still, SO it was.
Finally Howard received intelligence
from his home which necessitated close
to his visit On the evening before his de-
! parture, he sat upon the veranda, just out
side the large window of the library, chat
ting to Nellie. Alice and her mother had
gone to call on a sick friend, and Arthur
sat i'll the library, absorbed in a book
Presently he dropped his book to the
| desk. What were the words he heard
spoken on the veranda? They struck
horror to his very soul. They were like
this
Il am very sorry, Mr.. Branson, shall
always deem it an honor to be your friend,
but cannot be more, for | am engaged to
Mr.. WELSH
Course him. muttered Branson. "Is
this why he would have me come here to
play with my heart, and then slyly secure
the prize, without which my life is a use
less, worthless blank?"
''Oh, don't, Mr. Bransonl you are mis-
taken. Arthur did not know that you
you--loved me-
s'Of course he knew it-fool that | am.
From this moment, Arthur Wells and | are
enemies!''
Who can imagine Arthurs feelings as
he listened to this dialogue? AS he heard
the man, who had for years been his best
and dearest friend, malign his purest in
tentions in this manner he felt that he had
been wronged beyond restitution. He felt
that, even though he owed Howard Bran
son debt of patronage or championship.
he had inflicted a wound in his heart which
would never heal.
Springing to the veranda he was beside
Branson in an instant.
s'Yes we are enemies, from your base
falsehood just uttered.''
''Do not oh, please do not say that
cried Nellie; 81 will leave-I will go away
-anywhere-only be friends again. Come
shake hands, gentlemen, and forget that
this has ever occurred
Arthur, moved by the cntreaties of his
aflianced, extended his hand in token of
reconciliation, but Howard spurned it, ex-
claiming:
Il should rather grasp a viper than
touch that hand,'' And he walked away
liyid with rage.
''IIe offered me an INSULT said Arthur,
''and / overlooked it, and lie refuses to ac-
cept my forgiveness. IIenceforth 1 will
not answer for the consequences. | will
have reyenge!'
A year later Miss Nellie Dewalt was
married to Arthur Wells, amid the bios
SONS of joyful spring.
= X 4 Z
In 81, the newspapers began bringing to
Rosevale, as to many other homes, tidings
of discomfort and dissention. Eagerly did
Arthur sean each paragraph, fearing that
trouble would come out of it, yet hoping
that it might be averted
At last came flaming account of how
General Beauregard had demanded that
Major Anderson surrender Fort Sumpter,
and how, upon that officers refusal, the
Confederates fired upon his stronghold.
Arthur with all his northern principles,
could i'll brook this insult to his coun-
try and calling his wife to him he
handed the paper containing the account
to her to read.
..Well, husband said she, after perus-
ing it, you cannot help the matter any,
can you ~
''No, he replied, his eyes flashing fire
in his indignation, 'but l can and must
help to thrash the rebels for it,
GLOW do you propose to do it?" She
meekly enquired
Il propose to join the army as soon as
possible, " he replied.
''And leave me alone?'
Better that than have you suffer with
the people of our country, by not doing my
duty towards it.
".You are right. Go, and God be with
you, and remember that loving wife
prays for your safe return
The next day he entered as private in
company forming, and in two months
time he left his wife and home for the un-
certainties Of destructive war.
1t is not our purpose to follow him
through his entire service, but merely at a
few different points in his military expert
ence.
Therefore we join him at Charleston, en-
gagged in the attempt to run the fortitica-
tions at the entrance of that place.
As the troops were leaving the sight of
action Arthur, having been slightly but
painfully wounded, Jagged pretty well in
the rear.
As he was marching along, he heard a
groan, and looking down ON the ground,
saw soldier.in gray uniform, lying on his
face, with blood streaming from one of his
shoulders.
His heart was touched by the groan,
and he stopped and slightly raised the suf-
ferer's head.
"Water!" groaned the man. Arthur
took his canteen and turned the man ON
his back for although a rebel, he could
not refuse him an act of common humanity.
But as he gazed upon that face, cold
shuoder passed over him.