Year: 1862

tDen 10 ner commands, 80 ungeDtly
given, / believe that nothing could
have appeased the measure Of his self.
contempt but to die by his own hand,
like an old Roman. He had no more
persuasion for her new. and scant
courtesy. His voice shivered through
her nerves like the sharp whirr Of q
bullet.


Il accept the position toward you
which you electl Miss Gage, you had
better ask God to forgive you in time;
your death bed will not be easy without
such mercyl"


She trembled. There was that in
his tone and manner which appalled,
her. She began to feel that she was s
woman. and weak; and he was man.
and strong. But she had pride as
stern and inhexible as his courage
For sole answer she took from her
finger a ring. wherein a single diamond
sparkled, and dropped it into his ex-
tended palm. Then rising, she bowed
as she would have dismissed morn
ing visitor, as he stood, hat in hand. be-
fore her. He had loved that woman,
with her blue eyes and her pale hair
He looked at her hungrily. His soul
clamored for one touch Of her careless
hand. her falsely smiling lips. But he
mastered the emotion. and only said.


81 shall 6ght the better for this. Miss
Gagel More than one dead rebel will
have you to thank for his death-wound.
The man who leaves least at home can
best afford TO throw his life away"


Two days after that he marched with
his regiment. He had not seen Clara
Gage again.


She did not 90 the next week 10 New
port. She had said he would be TO her
only as her enemy. but a sickening
longing took possession of her to trace
enemy's fate. Her father--she had no
mother--was astonished at hefresolu-
ton to remain in town all through the
season; combatted it little at first; then
became convinced that. after all. no
place was more comfortable than Bea-
con Hill. and began to rej2ice secretly
in the prospect Of coming from busi-
ness to an open house. and home
which woman's presence made COM
Portable.


He knew nothing Of the great wave
that had swepi nsss his daughters life.
He heard, indeed, that Devereux Dare,
whom he knew to be his prospective
son in law, had gone to the war as
private. Like every une else he won
dered, and grumbled out, besides.
little personal dissatisfaction. He knew
not that the VOW which bound those
two had been sundered; and il the face
opposite to him was pale, he had not
too much perception to joke his daugh-
ter about her sweetheart, until one
day she silenced him with these words,
at which he experienced something
such sensation as il a rebel shell had
fallen suddenly at bis feet and exploded
there,


"Father, there are some things which
can not bear-this is one. Never
name Mr.. Dare's name to me again"


Thereupon she retired into her shell,
and he was left outside wondering
He had Thought to please her by talk
ing Of her lover; to give her an oppor-
tunity to express her grief at his ab-
sence, and seek for sympathy; but it
seemed she did not like it. Well, he
could be silent; it cost him nothing
Little he knew what to hear that name
or to speak it cost herl


The autumn had not passed beforei
in the depths Of her soul, she had re-
bented but her stubborn pride would
scarcely acknowledge II even to herself.


She would not open her heart TO one
emotion of tender truth. Yet there
was something feverish in the eager
ness with which she caught at every
days paper. Scarcely his own mother
followed the footsteps OF that regiment
SO ceaselessly'


Mrs. Dare waited in hope. Once
persuaded to consent to her sons wish
es. she had gone with him heart and
soul. She had said she would pray for
him hourly, and she did. Perhaps


those prayers we're mighty to turn aside
Southern bullets. He was In many en-


gagem, nts--wounded slightly some
r times; but. so far. he had seemed tc
I bear a charmed life. No great peri
q came near him. rr


Before he went away he had told hi
? mother that all was at an end between
/ him and Miss Gage, and given her th'
. reason. He had not entered into par
1 ticulars, but the little he said had beeT
4 enough TO enlist on his side all his moth
. er's ardent sympathies. The tW'
4 women had been almost friends befor
h drawn together by their love for on
I object. Since he went away they ha'
r never spoken. They had met in tn
a street a few times, passing each othe
n with a. cold brow, and that WAS all


Mrs. Dare saw at these times that tn
!. girl was growing pale, and 1t did he
d heart good.


r At length came the news from Wiz
A chester, Of the retreat where the Mas
sachusetts boys brought up the rear


forming in the line of battle and 6ghi
1t ing as they went. In the list Of tb
4. wounded two women read with stTaine
"a eyes these words: ~ ~
,e "Private Devereux Dare-danger
10 ously."


One with white lips. and cry {
N passionate bewailing--"oh. my DO,