Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-12-09

my ears.
At last there came time when
could not hear to see him and Eloise to-
gether without there rising in my heart
such bitter, wicked feelings, that kept
away from them as much as possible,
and tried hard to cure myself of such
sinful folly. Many were the prayers
Offered that / might not grudge them
their happiness, but still my weak heart
would rebel.
One day found out quite by accident
that his name was John, and that he
was with Sherman i'm his march to the
sea, and then | knew the knapsack and
diary must he his, and l resolved to
give it to him before he left us. which
he now said would be soon.
1t was about this time that I noticed
sadness and quietness in his manner,
and wondered if all was not right be-
tween him and Eloisc, or if he were not
so we'll.
One day ventured to ask him if he
was feeling i'll again.
It was the first time tine I had seen
him alone for some time; l had been
walking in the garden and he came out
and found me.
When asked him that, he turned
and looked at me in a kind of puzzled
way, and his keen eyes seemed to be
studying me in way that brought the
blood to my face, for could not bear to
have anyone look at me so when | was
so plain and dull. Then he smiled a
little and answered in just his old cor
dial fashion, II am quite well, thank
you, but would like to ask what you
have been doing to yourself. You are
thin as a shadow and the roses have
quite left your cheeks"
/ The roses were then there, felt sure,
and | felt the blood mount up even to
my hair, but l answered steadily as
could, "it is nothing but the heat, and
Ieu CIlethS UO lOL SlSllly.
"They do to me-" he answered, with
grave tenderness, then he went on
earnestly, studying my face meanwhile
with searching eyes before which my
own fell:
"If 1 thought l had anything to do
with it I should not forgive myself for
lingering here so long"
felt myself grow hot, then cold;
could it be that he had guessed my mis-
cradle secret? Surely, surely not, and if
he had he would not be so cruel, so un-
feeling, as to speak of it. But what was
he saying? I camed myself to listen,
and the steady voice went on, "I have
seen that you avoided me and knew that
you must have seen that | loved you,
and took this gentle way to let me know
that my hope was vain. And | should
preposterous to imagine that an old fell
low like me could win the heart of a
young and lovely girl, but was foolish
enough to hope it, and am sorry if it
has panied your tender heart to see me
suffer-"
[ gazed at him moment in bewilder-
ed silence and then, II thought it was
Eloise," stammered, weakly.
But he put that aside without word.
He took one Of my little brown hands
in both his strong ones, his face lighted
up with a look that filled me with
amazement, it was so radiant with joy.
"Then you do care for for me-" he
said. "Oh, my darling ifit he so, lift
up your dear eyes and let me read ii
there"
tried to speak but could not; seem
ed dumb with joy, but he must have
read my answer in my down droopeC
face, for he gathered me in his arms
without word.
Some days afterward gave him The
knapsack and diary and explained how
l came by them, land l believe it wal
through the diary that l first came t.
love YOU" added shyly.
"Blessed be the old knapsack then,
he said, 1--WE will always keep it for tht
good it has done" And we will.