The Forrest City times., 1891-07-24

dV tAc tlIllc, ttIlu SctttiIlg III Sell ut Ofle of the tables, called for light lunch and glass of wine. While awaiting my order to be filled, picked up an old copy of the New York Tribune and began to read what our friends, the enemy, had to say about us, as listened to the occas- ional booming of their heavy guns without.
 Suddenly an advertisement caught my eye; Wanted News of the whereabouts of Miss lmogene Hartley, now in the south. Any one applying to any officer ofthe field or staff of the United States army and sending a letter con taininG the above information will be liberally rewarded and granted safe passage (if the bearer be Southern I mann back to his own lines. Measures have been taken to secure the return of Miss H. to her friends should her whereabouts become known. Address, Parents, this office. Imogene Hartley!
 Why, she was the woman loved best in all this world. She it was whose gentle nursing had brought mo back, l might say, from the grave, and in whose sweet society nearly all of my convalescent hours had been passed, until out of pure shame my conscience drove me to the ranks again, when, as say, 1 was detailed for clerical work I was now fully recovered, and only the night previous had come as near to an open avowal of love as ;n those times, and knowing her antecedents, I dared. But, although a Northern girl, knew she loved me. She had been South on n visit when the war broke out and had been taken with a long gillness. Letters from Raleigh, she told me, and from Charlottesburg, where she was staying with friends, had reached her parents, but her later ones must evidently have miscarried for some cause. once carelessly asked her to whom she had intrusted them, and she had replied 'To Captain Everett, be- lieve."
 Her grief was great, and though loyal to her section, she took her turn in nursing wounded federals and coniederates alike. It was thus met her and when Icould walk about our acquaintance was renewed. l always avoided the subject of her transfer across the lines for loved her as man loves but once in life. l had no hope, no thought of any future save with her, l reverenced her and i'll thinking of her the lines again and again came into my head:
 Open wide the temple gates for this, my
 love,
 And deck the pillars now as doth behove, And all the posts with flowers and gar
 lands trim,
 For to this saint much reverence is due,
 As to one who walks within
 With trembling steps and humble rev.
 erence,
 For that she walketh before the Almightys
 view.
 The lines may not be correctly quoted, but it was thus 1 always thought of my love. So pure, so free from all outward show or inward meanness that I trembled when I thought of the daring assumption which had led me to love instead of worshiping her. She was the incar- nation of purity. can put it no stronger. It enfolded her as mantle It repells the most audacious, it humbled all men who approached and compelled their slavish devotion. Why she should have singled me out of the crowds of brilliant officers who surrounded her cannot imagine. 1 han been promoted, but was even then only an humble lieutnant--but read the lovelight in her eyes one spring morning, and though no words were said we knew we were each others for all times. She was too true to at tempt any coy evasion. All things sine did she did in her own perfect manner. but love with her was holy, and could see how intensely, how grandly she loved me.
 l finished my lunch and started at once to where she resided with a friend, the wife of ageneral officer, high Tn command on Grace street, when my attention was caught by seeing Captain Roberts pass hurriedly from the room, and l caught his whisper to a negro who stood near the door, his oil-skins gleaming with rain, for it was a wild, gusty evening and night had closed in as 1 sat there buried in delicious musings. heard him say:
 Jump on the box at once"
 l paid no heed to this, especially as l cordially hated the man and never believed him true at heart to the cause.
 This was the second night before Mcclellan began his rearward move ment. In fact, large part of his heaviest munitions had already been sent towards the ''gunboats"
 As the door closed behind the man l heard him say in what struck me as an unnaturally loud voice
 Hes at the front. Let's drive" and the rest was lost in the dash of the vehicle as it whirled away.
 l arose. went to my lodgings, made as fine toilet as could and set out to spend the evening with lmogene.
 For love will hve'
 Fen amid wars alarms
 reached the house and asked as usual for her when Mrs. General came rushing to the door
 Why, Mir Montgomery, didn't you meet herr"
 Meet whomg"
 "Imogene. Ohl we were SO sorry to part with her, but she felt it her duty to reioin her parents"
 Great Godl' gasped. ''Gonel Imogene gonel" and not word or line to mel"
 Yes, know she loved you. and that is the reason she declined Cap tain Roberts's s escort, accepting only