The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1912-02-22
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before you awoke, and have ample
time to escape unobserved dis
covered you lying here. You were
resting very uncomfortably when !
first came, and felt 1t my duty to
render your position as easy as pos
sible. | did not forget that your ia
tigue came in our defense"
Gould you not say in yours?'
corrected. But | have already been
more than repaid Your hand upon
my brow was far more restful than
l can tell you-its soft stroking min.
gled in my dreams even before awoke.
It brought back to me the thought of
my mother. do not think have had
a womans hand press back my hair
since | was a child"
There was look OF pain upon your
face as you lay sleeping, and | thought
It might ease you somewhat. l have
had some experience as a nurse. you
4, know" she explained quietly. You
mentioned your mother is she yet
living?"
"sss is in Richmond, stopping with
friends, but since my capture we have
lost all trace OF each other. | was
reported as having been killed in &C
ton. and doubt II she even yet
knows the truth. Everything Is
SO confused in the capital that
it is impossible to trace any
one not directly connected with the
army. once you lose exact knowledge
of their whereabouts"
Your father. then, is dead?"
"He yielded his life the first year
of the war; and our plantation near
Charlottesville has been constantly in
the track of the armies. One rather
important battle, indeed, was fought
upon il, so you may realize that 1t is
now desolate and utterly unfit for hab-
itation."
THE house yet staDds?'
The chimney and one wall alone re-
mained when was last there" | re-
piled, glad OF the interest she exhiD
tied. Fortunately two of the negro
cabins we're yet standing. Doubtless
these will form the nucleus OF our
home when the war ceases; they
will prove a trifie better than the
mere sky"
"'rhe south is certainly paying ter
rible price for rebellion" she said so
berly. her fine eyes filed with tears 81
am sure have tarried here quite as
long as ! should, now that can be oi
no further service
As she gathered her skirts in her
hand preparatory 10 descending the
stairs. | yielded to temptation and
stopped her Right or wrong | must
yet have one word more.
81 beg OF you do not desert me sc
soon. This may prove our final meet
ing-indeed, ! fear IL must be; sure
ly then. ii need not be so brief q
one?"
Our final meeting?"
She echoed my words as though
scarcely comprehending their mean
irg.
Yes | said. rising and standing be
fore her How can we hope 1t shall
be otherwise? ] am not free to re
main here. even were 1t best for other
ders. You undoubtedly will proceed
north at the earliest possible moment
There is scarcely a probability that II
the great wide world we shall NEE
again"
The war will soon be over perhaps
then you may come north also"
II scarcely expect to do so. My
work then will be to join with my com
rades in an effort to rebuild the shat
tered fortunes of Virginia. When the
lines OF lives dverge so widely al
ours must, the chances are indeed few
that they ever meet again"
But surely you can remain here un
iii we leaye?" she questioned. evident
ly striving not to reveal the deptl
OF interest she felt in the decision 'I
will not be until tomorrow that all de
tails are arranged so as to permit o
our departure. | had supposed yol
would certainly be with us until then
Mrs. Brennan!" | exclaimed al
most passionately, "do not tempt me
Your wish is a temptation most diff
cult to resist"
why resist, then?"
She did not look at me, but stoo
twisting a handkerchief nervousl
through her fingers. The abrupt quei
ton startled me almost into full col
fession, but fortunately my eye
chanced to fall upon her wedding-rinI
and instantly ] crushed the mad word
back into my throat
Because II is right" replied SLOW
ly, feeling each sentence as dealt
blow. For me to remain can mea
only one thing, For that am read
enough. II thought you desired II, b'
dare not choose such a course m
self"
You speak In riddles. What is II
one thing?"
"A personal meeting with Maj
Brennan"
The high color deserted her cheek
and her eyes met mine in sudden |