The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1893-05-26

1
remarked that, although they were in the
lead Of all other suitors, she knew not
which to choose.
The first call for volunteers came, and
John Marion resolved to enlist and go to
the front. He urged Robert to accompany
him, and at first the latter seemed enthusi-
astic, but his enthusiasm finally evaporat-
| ed, and when Marion was surely enlisted
he decided not to 60. In his heart he had
resolved to stay at home and win the charm
inn-Anatha- for his wife
But Jack Marion had no thought or leav-
| ing the field to his friend and rival without
learning from Agatha's lips just how he
stood In her esteem. SO he sat down and
wrote her a letter, In which he told her Of
his love and his hope to make her his wife
when he returned from the war. AS it hap
pened that Agatha's mother did not look
favorably on Jack and had forbidden his
visiting her daughter, he ventured to ask
tho beautiful girl to meet him at certain
old oak tree at In the evening.
IF she comes" he thought, II shall
know she loves me and will wait my re
turn. If she fails to Gomez
He could not bear to think of that.
Long before o o'clock in the evening Jack
was futtering with hope and fear, for he
felt that his whole future depended on the
result Of the next hour.
The moon came up over the eastern hills
and flooded the village with its white light.
The frogs were peeping plaintively down in
the marsh, and brooding sadness seemed
in the air. From his position beneath the
oak Jack could see the slender church spire
rising high above the other buildings and
he listened for the striking of the village
clock.
1t came at last, and Agatha had not ap-
peared. He uttered a smothered groan,
but still he waited with ever increasing i'm
patience and dread. The minutes seemed
interminable, and yet he fingered at the
tree until the clock had tolled the hour
twice more.
Eleven o'clockl He no longer hoped. She
would not come, and he felt that he had re-
ceived his answer. His face was hard and
stern when he went down the gentle slope
and vanished in the shadows below.
That night, without bidding farewell to
any of his old friends, Jack Marion depart
ed to join his company. When next heard
of, he was at the front.
And when he next heard of Agatha, she
had become the wife of his old friend, Rob
Walker. From that moment his heat
seemed turned to stone, and he fought like
n tiger, seeming to court danger by rash
boldness that won the admiration of his
comrades and seemed destined to bring him
promotion-or DEATH
Hooker's great strategic movement in
crossing the Rappahannock and attacking
the Confederate army on the upper flank,
taking Lee by surprise, had proved a wretch
ed failure through his inability to carry out
what he had himself planned. Having the
advantage of n superior force and the better
position, after four days fighting, Hooker
decided to retreat across the river and give
up his great project, which even then might
have been carried to a satisfactory and sue
cessful termination.
Tuesday night, May 8, brought a pelting
rainstorm that soon swelled the Rappahan-
mock so that the approaches to the bridges
were overlooked, and it began to look as if
the retreat would become an impossibiity.
One of the bridges however, was taken
down and used to piece out the others, and
the storm and darkness covered the uneX
pected movement of the Federal forces
1t was close to nightfall when stra;
Cling Union soldier who was forcing his
way through the dense wilderness south of
Ely's ford on the Rapidan paused and
looked into the face of a comrade who lay
grooming on the ground, his leg pinned be-
meath q fallen tree. The rain was beating
down on that upturned face, and the gloom
was growing dense there in that tangled
thicket, but the straggler seemed to recog-
nize his unfortunate comrade, for he fell
back, crying hoarsely:
"Good Godl Jack Marlonn'
The man OF the ground opened his eyes.
"Who speaks my name" he family
asked.
The other seemed for the moment on the
point Of fleeing from the spot, but If such
were his impulse he held 1t in check, drop
ping on his knees.
Don't you know me, Jack?"
The wounded and helpless man started
up, peering sharply into the questioner's
face
Rob Walkerr' he cried. "You-you
here?"
Then he sunk down, with moan of pain,
for he had bullet wound in one arm, and
he had given his entrapped and crushed leg
q painful twist.
"You are surprised to see me-" said
Walker, with forced calmness. II have
been wearing the blue more than three
months"
"What took you into the army? Agatha
Marion stopped speaking. great fear
c1utcnlng at Dsneart.
"She is WELL" assured Walker, but his
voice sounded strange and harsh. Let me
see IL can move this tree and release your
leg"
"Never MUD, Rob-" came family from
the unfortunate soldiers lips. This en-
gagement finishes me- My left arm Is
broken, and the tree has ruined my right
leg. Better leave me for the Johnnies to
finish. have nothing to live for anyway"
The words were spoken with great bitter
ness, and they cut to the very heart of the
man who heard them. With all his
strength, he sought to remove the tree, but
he could not stir 1t. He uttered an ex
clamation Of disappointment.
"What can !do?" he cried.
"Leave me-" repeated the other Where
were you hurryinS when you found meP"
ITO Join the others In the retreat acroes
the river. which has already begun. My
regiment was cut to pieces day before .-ea
terday, and have been hiding much of sile
time since thea almost within the ConfeG