The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1893-09-29

villainl My sweet darling sister!"
When the young men entered the
house, all gathered anxiously around Eus-
tace, for, his face once seen, there could
be no doubt he brought tidings of great
importance. The tale was soon told.
The fearful step had been too long antic-
ipated for any great surprise to blend
with the excitement and Indignation it
caused. The color fed from every face.
but the lofty courage and stern resolu-
ton stamped on each feature needed not
words to tell how willingly they would
offer their lives for country so dearly
loved and bitterly insulted
"And now may God bless us and speed
us to our work. said Eustace, while
with his arm thrown closely around Lii
liam he read with pride and admiring
love the unseltish spirit with which she
laid her hearts life on her country's al
tar.
Mr.. Newton raised his hand to heaven
and solemnly blessed them. while Mrs
Newton, with more than Roman moth
er's fortitude-a Christian heroism-
yielded her brave boys to her country's
service. But when Alfred sprang to her
arms with an imploring look and the one
Observation-Disclosures pressed her quiv-
ering lips to his noble brow. unable to re-
ply to that unspoken entreaty. But his
father laid his hand lovingly on his head.
saying: MY boy, am too old and you
too young to enter into active service for
our land, at least for the present. Should
there be pressing need, neither age nor
youth shall keep us back at such a call.
This good mother will yield us without
q word of remonstrance."
While this was passing Rose, forget
ting lover, self, all but her country's
peril, had listened with compressed lips
and eyes whose heroic light might have
led men to the lannon's mouth. George
saw that spirit was reused within her
at this moment that would sustain her
under the coming revelation. So, turn
ing suddenly to Grenville, he said:
1--WE must endeavor to be all enlisted
in the same regiment, and by going into
town tonight we can enter our names
early tomorrow and be on hand to
march at any moment. This precious,
darling sister will have little time to re-
deem her pledge of last fall"
Without moments hesitation she
passed to her lovers side and laid her
hand timidly on his, then raised those
eloquent eyes to his face with look of
earnest, pleading love, at the same time
carrying into his inmost soul the convic-
ton that every word of that pledge was
well remembered and would be truly
acted upon in every particular. He
threw his arms convulsively around her
and said:
"Oh, Rosel My own Rosel Be mine
now! Consult your own heart and not
your prejudices In two days steamer
leaves for the old world! Seel / will
give up all for your dear sake. Leave
the strife and bitterness here and wander
with me through gay, beautiful France
and sunny Italy till peace is once more
restored"
For one instant Rose gazed into his
face, with scorn and contempt quivering
in every lineament. Then dashing his
arm from around her and springing to
her fathers side, her head erect and eyes
whose burning light should have blasted
the traitor where he stood, she cried:
"Do you hear that man, father? Do
you understand what he asks Of your
daughter"
II fear do but too well, my sweet
child. Granville, it is high time that all
duplicity on your part should cease.
Nay, check your passionate reply.
Lo, FILL H. Id
had hoped, but for some time have feared
that, while apparently one with us, yet
in your heart you were joined to the
south III all her wicked designs. If
have misjudged you, with all my heart
/ beg your pardon, but under the present
circumstances l feel entitled to demand
an explicit avowal of your true senti-
ments."
"Who has warped your judgment and
your affection to me? What proof have
you that, though less enthusiastic, l am
not really as loyal to my country as
YOURSELF demanded the young man, with
much temper and embarrassment.
''Mere subterfuge," cried George Il
did not think you would stoop to such
miserable quibtling. In your heart you
have meaning that your words do not
reveal. You call the south your coun-
try, but do not recognize the north as
such, and then talk of your loyaltyp
"Again l ask, what proofs have you of
this assertions"
"Oh, Jasper! Dear Jasperl" cried
Rose, once more starting to his side and
clasping his hands. 1--WE ask no proofs
but your own words. Only assure me
you are true to our united country and
ready to fight with my brothers under
the stars and stripes, and we ask no fur
ther. Your love for your birthplace may
have warped your judgment, while all
was uncertain and the strife had been
but war of words, but now that the
crisis has come you can no longer halt
between two opinions with honor. Why
do you hesitate? l cannot endure this
suspense! Speak, entreat you, and end
this miseryp
"He cannot do it, my dear sister," said
George, leading her to seat beside her
mother. "He is joined to the south
heart and soul and has been from the
first, yet at the same time concealing it