The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1889-04-25
Ills LAST WISH.


They were cousins-Paul Burton and
Frank Lincoln, both officers in the
Twelfth Infantry, and stationed in the
spring of lS7-, at Fort -.
Wonderfully alike were these young
men i'll form and features, the coloring
and expression, however, rendering
them so very dissimilar that l have
heard very frequently the remark: II
never saw persons SO much alike and,
at the same time, so very different
from each other in my life."
Yet so it was. Paul, with his raven
locks and dark, almost black eyes-su
earnest, grave, and almost melancholy
in expression-sometime grew merry,
and then the likeness to the bluc-eyed,
auburn-haired, frank, jovial cousin
was, as / have said, wonderful. Or
when Frank grew earnest and thought
ful-timcs which came Oftener after a
while, and lasted longer-then we
would almost think that, by some
magic power, Paul was with us. his
dark eyes grown blue, his hair chang
! ed to a brighter hue. Their voices
were the same. /, knowing them so
long and well, never could tell which
was speaking unless l saw the one or l
heard laugh. Then L knew we'll
enough. Paul often with gentle
smile | saw, but never heard him
laugh right out. But there was one
who said she could distinguish their
voices.
There was tone in one never
found in the other"
[ knew what she meant and thought
she was sure of. The time came when
she knew better, and felt keenly the
mistake she had made.
1t is well known by everyone who
has spent any time at those far-off
forts, with what pleasure the arrival
of any lady is hailed; and when she
proves to be young and beautiful, you
may imagine she is received with en-
thusiasm.
Ada Reyburn, the sister of our col
Onel, was one of the most beautiful
girls have ever seen. Tall and slen-
der, yet well-rOunded and graceful in
form, features delicate and classical in
their beauty; with a complexion so
fair and transparent that you could
trace the blue veins in their course on
the temples and brow. About the
cheeks was the soft delicate blush of
the sea-shell; her dark brown hair
worn in heavy braids, and crowning
the beautiful head; eyes that we were
told were grey, but varied with their
emotion, seeming AZ times the deepest
blue, again quite black, shaded by
lashes long and dark; beautiful dreamy
ewes were hers. that seldom or ever
flashed, always gentle and loving IN
their glances. ......
.Madonna-Iike," and ''spirituelle, y
! they called her; and every officer, un'
married or unpledged, was in love with
| her-ready TO die for her-within five
| DAYS after her arrival. All but one
Lieutenant Atridge, the gayest fun
loving fellow of our number-who, IL
answer to my question, ''How is it yor
have not gone the way of all the rest!
| Surely, YOU must admire Miss Rey
burn?" replied:
admire Miss Reyburn, | do, most
truly. | could spend hours gazing oil
such beauty. But would never dream
of wooing her, nor opening the doO
of heart or home, and trying to viii
her entrance. No, no. She seems
something too much for each. Yes
truly too spirituelle., Give me some
thing more material; somebody
should not fear to ask to brave the patl
of life with me; little body that cal
flash up and snap. and be coaxed ant
caressed back to smiles. Not fai
saint. Something like myself; of tn
earth bit. And don't care if he
nose is Il little TetrOusSe, and her ski
not so fair or so clear. All, you re
member what Wordsworth said abou
a 'reature not too bright or good
For human natures daily food.
That's the sort of girl 1 want. Blu
here comes Frank. Poor fellow! he
clean gone. And do you know l be
licve lie will be the lucky one? AL
he is not coming here just now. I'm
glad of it. | want to have you a fey
moments longer to myself, and cor
tinue this theme. Do you think tn
love they both, these cousins, bear hel
!. Miss Reyburn, will result in their cor
timued friendship? In Il word, do yo
not believe the success of one will b
death to the other? You know hereto
fore they have loved each other wit
, more than brotherly love, / may say
Now will it stand this test?"
.'Yes-that is, | believe Frank wi
not be the lucky one, and, if not, thu
) he will bid Paul GOdspeed and go h
way, still loving" l was answerin:
when the merry officer interrupted M
saying:
But. bless you, dear madam, yO
are altogether wrong. She loves Franl
if anyone. She always calls for hi
, or sends to him. Everyone with ha
;. an eve can see she likes TO have hi
4 with her. Now, how will Paul stan
it?"
y Il cannot answer that. In the ir
4 place. | do not know. And, beside
, I'm sure it will not be as you say.
woman without even a half eye CO
feel aud know by the perfect freedo
OF Miss Reyburn's manner to Fran
g, that it is not lie she loves"
} What more Lieutenant Atrid;
!, might have said was interrupted
Franks approach. A few momen
AFTER when we We're alone, our couVe
sation fell on the only one of intere
then, at any rate to him.
u Ada sat out on the pOrticO surroun
ing her brothers quarters. We cou
Is see very plainly the expression on h
!. beautiful face. She had just closed
book, and was probably thinking abo
what she had just read.
How very lovely she isn' / said.
''Oh yes; but never like to see
looking as now. Do you know, l fl
now always feel-when she loo
so, that ! mpst-R-he hesitat.