The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1886-08-28
near Dumbath, penning these few II ncs

soldiers love; hard IL is for you, sweet,
and heavy to bear, that know full
well, but you are the bravest woman in
the whole world, and did not finch
though the tears stood in your eyes when
you kissed me.
Forgive me, sweetheart, for referring
to that kiss--perchance the last you
may ever give me. Do you remember
the horoscope cast for me? Sweet, If l
am to die the bloody death foretold to
me, pray that it may be on the field
of battle. Ispoke to the noble marques
concerning this, but he has higher,
purer faith than mine. He said that
the manner of dying mattered but little,
provided that we fell in a true cause.
1t seems that he never doubts.
have doubted everything save only
Janet.
Montrose is true lover. He and
spend many night speaking about the
ladies we love best. Perchance his lady
resembles you. for you have much in
common, inasmuch as you seem each to
be the loyeliest, truest, dearest OF your
sex. do not tell my chief so, but
know my mistress is the more lovable
of the two. Sweet how many eyes have
youP For, when lay awake at night
under heavens canopy, each star looks
at me with your eyes. lay and talk to
them, and tel! them how love you, and
that | know you never will be mine.
Sweetheart, the thought kills me. lam
only as other men, and long for you
night and day. | try to pray that in
days to come, when lie under the sods,
you will love some other man, and the
very thought chokes me. Janet, you
will never love another man! Dear, il is
widowhood without ever bridal l am
condemning you to.
You will ask why these black thoughts
and terrors. Alas! they are only too
well founded. l am no coward, Janet,
and do not dread to die, sword in hand,
| fighting to avenge the blood of my MUIR
dered king. But, Janet, Col. Straugh-
an is upon us with 10000 men. If l
could but die at the side of Montrose
will you ever forget me, Janet?
Alas! that ever met you. But no,
that is hercsy toward my sweet. j love
you with the whole of my heart, dear,
so farewell. trust this letter to Dun
can, who knows every pass and will
bring these lines to you though the
enemy guard every stone on the road.
If l were but Duncan, to see your face
again! My dearest heart, l send you
something in the corner of this letter.
Would that you could but give it back
TO me. Yours until death.
J"HN. SPorTIswooDE,
p. SIT seems l am not in the
foshion, sweet, for find love you more
than ever. A fig for the fashion, say
My fashion of loving you is the best and
truest part Of me. Shall lose thatf
Never! Even as | write hear the call
to arms. fear you will learn the issue
of this fight before you receive this
The little sprig of rosemary you plucked
for me in happier times lies close to my
heart; it speaks to me of you; but there
was no need of rosemary for Temem
brance. If could but forget you, dear
heart, and you would but forget ME,
should go to battle with lighter spirit
but my love weighs me down, the sweet
est burden that man ever carried
Again, farewell, sweetheart!
III.
Alas! for my foreboding spirit, Janet
have you heard of the disaster that ha:
beiallen us? Sweet, trust that tn,
news of our defeat has been broken t.
y gently. could not rest all nigh
after my capture for thinking of you
and how you would be able to bear tn,
evils that have come upon us. In fame!
have ! seen your cheek pale and you
lips quiver, have seen the glitle er of you
eye and the rush of tears that will hay,
dimmcd its brightness. l am COSTING
you tears again, Janet! l, whose onl!
joy twas to see you smile. And now
sweetheart, expect no quarter from on
enemies. They are pililess, nor do
clre to accept pity from any man. You
pity, Janet, half-sister TO your loYs,
yearn for.
Now that i am no longer free,I wear,
for a sight of the bonny heather, for
Whit of the fresh sea, for a sight of you
Janet. tried not to write this last. be
cause it is not only wearying, II is to,
hopeless, too deep yearning. woull
die CONTEXT could but see your fac
once more, but that will never be
Dream visions of you will come to visi
me; dreams remove bars and blots
dreams scoff at prison walls; Jane
! glides in to comfort me, whether m
jailors will or no. My dream, Janet
pale reflection of beautiful reality!
Janet, think | hear your cryini
when you read. Do not cry, sweet; TO
were you a thousand miles away you
tears would rend my heart. 1t is not s.
f great a loss to lose life when one ha
lost all else. Do not weep, my Janet
for this poor, desperate lover of yours
who is penning this. He cares no
greatly to live. To an exile, hunte,
down by pitiless foes, what would be tn
worth of life? Not worth tear of yours
Janet!
And yet l love your tears. Some
times, when think of the feelings of
man who has no one to weep oven him
count those tears of yours, Janet, a
the brightest gems l could possess.
Sweet, this will be farewell note, fo
L