The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1886-08-28

Il ~ On " nj - ~ hO(JOi
have your sweet name made byword
by the careless would wound me keenly.
But, OF surety, shall find some means
of sending few words to you, and per-
haps you may hear concerning me from
my enemies, who make a loud boast
that they have crushed and taken pris-
Oner Montrose and his army. There
fore, sweet, lis only farewell for few
days that l am writing now. Only,
Janet, do not 1atter yourself with false
hopes. There will be no pordon for me.
Nor do l desire one. Montrose doomed
10 die, could not wish to live.
Heaven help me if these words seem
unlovlng to my sweetheart. But my
life has proven SO unlike my imagining
of IL. NV sweets have become bitter,
my golden visions black realities; all
my ends so different from my begin
nings. am too near my death to think
OF new possibilities. can but go over
the events Of my life. and dream of my
Janet. u, S.
P. S.-The sun is shining brightly to-
day, jar e and long for you with u
consuming longing. A little guest of
wind, full Of the fragrance of the heath
er, has brought back to me memories of
you. The glad days we spent together
among the heather, sweet. 1t maddens
me to think of them. How careless
and happy we were, and how bonny you
were. Janet, thoughts of joy, when
the soul is overcast by sorrow, are like
the tortures of hell.
IA Jet; in reviewing those graces in
vdn hat had loved had often been
in dphbt which manner of yours pleased
me best. doubt no longer, for know
now that loved your manner most
when you braved bolts and bars and the
tyranny of my enemies (whom l fully
forgive, even as pray the Lord may
forgive mel, and the churlishness of
rude jailers, so that you could kiss me
goodbye, sweet.
The JOY of i'll Janet, you cannot
imagine what this glimpse of you has
been to me.
Sure am that there never breathed
so proud condemned felon, nor one
with half so much reason TO rejoice.
Since Janet-her fears forgotten-came
to me in my prison cell, what matter
fetters or aught that my enemies can
urge against me? If all that which
there malice can invent be chronicled
against me, no one will believe aught
that is bad, since Janet kissed me.
When you entered my cell perchance
you observed that l was tongue-tied,
that no words could force their way to
my lips, that my eyes seemed dazed and
could not realize that it was my dearest
mistress standing before. You were Sc
pale and wan, love, your pitiful face has
hSlnted ME even since.
Sweet, am to die; you know it.
swear to you that death has lost its bit
terness since l have seen you. You
cannot imagine how the thought IL at ]
should never see you more has pursued
me. Night and day, since the disas
trous day when we lost all. / have
yearned for glimpse of you, and yes
terday you gave it to me.
Sweetheart, who was to have beer
my wife, if it were not for you ! should
feel right glad that my short span o.
life is nearly over. Twenty-six year:
only have l lived, and have already seer
the death of all cared for.
fear no death, not even that of thu
scaffold, but l fear to carry about will
me into the next world that great unas
suaged desire-the desire for you Janet
| cannot shake it off; it overpowers me
Yea, on the very Judgment day twill
be You only that will bring peace to m!
tortured soul! Brave heart! You hay,
suffered so much,so much for me that
scarce like to lay another sufferance ol
you-no need to urge you by telling yo,
tits the last. l know you well, Janet
and, knowing you, scarce hesitate t.
crave this last favor, which, If it be no
too great, pray you grant.
Janet, will you see me die?
Not in the midst of the crowd, sweet
but in some secluded spot, whence, whel
my last moment comes. you would mur
muir through your tears, "Dear soul
God give him rest. He loved me well. ,
To tell you how love you were i'm
possible; to make you understand wha
you have been TO Inc in sweetness an,
tenderness since the first days my eye
fell on you, equally impossible, and t,
bid gOod-by most impossible of th
three. For though my pen cease writ
ing, | shall not cease bidding you far
well until the AK sewers my heat
from my body (if, H. e,
am favored so much as to die by stee
in lieu of rope, though it matters bu
little to mel; even then long good-b
to Janet will be found on my lips b,
those who can read such language
Even now l have omitted to give yol
thanks for your sweet pleadings in m.
behalf Twas great grief to think tina
you should thus humble yourself TO
my worthless life's sake; yet was /
grief mingled with sweetness, for ha,
you not braved all for me? And moth
ing can humiliate you, sweetheart; no
| even the churlish denial which the bool
you craved met with from my enemy
but thank you again for your courage
, love you for IL; twas like you.
The little sprig of rosemary, Janet
still lies close to my heart. There vii
| IL lie until my heart beat no more