Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1889-07-26
FOUND AT DRURY'S BLUFF.
BY PHILIP JARVIS.

I'm going to ask Mildred Graves to marry
me before | 60"
My God! | wish him luck in winning
the woman who was all the world to me-
The one woman whom | had loved from
my boyhOod's days. All the savage in
my nature was aroused into fury at the
thought that he dared to aspire to what
was mine, by the right of long years de-
votion. l could have throttled him as he
stood there-so handsome and deborah
so sclf-reliant and confident of success.
Yet what claims had | upon her affec-
tions? The hot blood grew cold; my
fierce wrath died out. How could be
sure she might not love him best? Was
he not iner-looking, more agreeable than
/, a man in every respect better calculated
to win girls fancy?
Mildred and had been friends from
Aur school days, the most intimate friends;
and on my part that friendship had grown
into part of life itself. had no hopes,
no ambitions, which had not her happi-
ness for their object. Yet no word or
token of love had passed between us. I
was shy and reticent on this one subject
that lay so near my heart. [ shrank from
declaring myself her lover, doubtless feel
ing that if she could not return my love,
I should destroy forever our friendly re-
lations.
So matters stood between us, when she
was twenty, and [ twenty -one, in the fall
of 80 when Carl Maxam came to our
village. He and I were associated in
business and soon became friends, as
friendly intimacy goes between men. He
was five years my senior, and had read
and travelled much, and had acquired the
ease and polish of a man of the world,
while was shy and reticent in society.
felt he had every advantage in his favor,
In his intercourse with Mildred, but until
to-day had never had jealous feeling.
In the spring of 81, came the fall of
Sumter, and the declaration of war
We both enlisted, though in different
regiments, and were ready to leave for
Washington. We had returned to our
homes for the final leave takings with
friends, in my plain suit with only
Sergeant's chevrons on my sleeve, he in
the gilt and epaulettes of Lieutenant,
looking handsomer than ever in his fine
uniform.
On the morrow we were to rejoin our
met for final friendly chat. We had
talked on other matters of mutual interest
and at the last moment, as we stood at
the gate, he had said:
''And now comes the toughest part of
it. I'm going to ask Mildred Graves to
marry me before [ go. Phil, my boy,
wish me good luck, can't you?"
Filled with surprise and anger I could
make no reply; but it passed unnoticed
as he went on without looking at me.
tfI have been half in love with her ever
since l first met her, and long ago. de-
cided she should be my wife if ever got
ready to marry, that is, of course" with
a nervous laugh, eff she'd have me- I
don't know, she always seemed to like
me, and [ fancy I've the inside track
there; at all events I'm going to make
sure; I'm not going off for a year or two and
leave her for some other fellow to win.
II she IL promise to marry me, [ can trust
her to wait my return, if it were ever so
long"
At that moment, to my great relief, the
Captain of his company drove by and
stopped to take Carl in.
"Well, good-by, old fellow, hope to
see you later,' and with a yave of his
hand he was gone.
''He shall never have her," I said
savagely to myself, as he was driving
away; sat least, I will know first if there
is any chance for me-" and hurried off
TO Mildred's home.
But when once in her presence-fool
that [ was-I talked of everything else,
past, present and future, all save the one
subject that lay nearest my heart; my
tongue seemed tied whenever 1 ap-
preached that.
A half-hour passed, other visitors
came and rose to leave. Mildred fol-
lowed me to the gate.
81 shall miss you so much,' she said,
as she held out her hand at parting
There were tears in her eyes, and tremor
In her voice. My heart leaped; surely
she must love me little, and the words
had tried SO hard to utter came to my
3ips; but she added: ''you have always
been a brother to me, and I felt as if a
cup of cold water had been dashed in my
face.
All! yes, brother! she had never
thought of me as lover; could declare
myself one and lose all this friendly re-
gard? I Observation-Disclosures joined us,
and the opportunity to speak was lost
forever. I said 'good-by," and went
home, inwardly raging at my own stu
pidity.
''But perhaps it is better So" I
thought at last; ''she would remember