Year: 1863

4 spriBging up, muFmered softly among ID
trees, singing sweet lullaby, as all natur
was sinking to repose. A young girl stoo
beneath wide-spreadiDg oak, that shadowe
a clear bubbliDg spring, looking eagerly alonI
a path which wound among the trees an
I shrub For moment she stood thus
and then with disappointed air, threw her
self on the grass at the foot Of the tree


She was fair, delicate looking creature
scarcely sixteen, with large hazel eyes ant
exquisitely moulded features. Her hair
which matched the eyes inIcolOr, was carelessl!
brushed away from her bread white brow, ant
fell in short clustering curls about her neck
and as she half reclined there upon the grass
she formed charming picture. Only few
moments she waited when tall form came II
sight, and walked rapidly towards her,


"Ah! here alreaay !" be exclaimed as he
sat down beside her. You did not forget
your promise then"


" No, Earnest, did not forget nay promise,
but thought you had forgotten yours, you
were so long coming"


Laura, how could 1 forget" Then
leaning forward he bent upon her his dark
cleaning eyes, till her own fell beneath his
gaze, as he half whispered " But would you
have cared if / bad not come; say, would
you?"


She tried to laugh, but something restrained
her, and she said, Certainly l should have
cared. never like to be disappointed.


He was silent moment, then said, The
moon is rising, Laura come and walk with
me. I have something wish to say to you"
They rose as he spoke and drawing her hand
through bis arm, they walked on for some
time without speaking, when Laura looking
up into his face, suddenly asked, Why are
you so sober tonight Earnest? :"


His voice was low and sad as he replied,
g Because tomorrow 1 must go away from
here, away from all these pleasant scenes
away from you, little one


The Iips Of the maiden trembled, "And why
are you going away ?"


al am going home for few days, and lnen
to-to Washington. Laura l am a soldier
now, 1 enlisted to-day, and my regiment leaves
Mondav." He went on rapidly as II fearful
his courage would fail. 81 knew OF this when
l asked you to meet me tonight; wlsAed TO
see you before went away, would not tell
you, now, what am going to, were to re-
main here, but / cannot leave you without
telling YOU all. In the few short months
which we have spent together, have learned
to love YOU with no common love, and now
want to know if you return it. You are very
young Laura, and may not have thought much
on this subject, yet it will cheer me SO when l
am far away, to feel that there is one who
eberishes thoughts of affection for the wander


lOxrn met


They were standing at the gate of her home
as be spoke, and he wound his arm around her
as he waited for her answer.


Trembling with excitement, and with tear
ful ewes she murmured only, 81 do love you
Earnest, indeed do


" Well enough to be my wife ?" he asked,
drawing her still closer to him.


Yes, even well enough for that


with this sweet thought ever in my mind
the three years of my absence will pass quick
ly away and 1 will return to claim my bride.
Will nv little one be true to me all that time
Will she not learn to love some one else ?"


al will be true to you, and never, never
love another y


Mine, all mine" he whispered q But the
dew is falling, you must not stay here longer,
and now my Laura, farewell" He held her
for a moment to his heart, pressed his lips TO
hers in one long caress, then releasing her
and was gone.


A moment she gazed after him then turned
and went slowly into the house, and to her
own room. Throwing herself on the bed, she
clasped her hands and closing her eyes she
tried to think the sudden joy which knowl-
edge of his love had brought her, and the pain
of parting were so mingled, that she could not
realize it all.


Only few months before had Earnest Del
mont ccme to that quiet neighborhood, to visit
college friend, when meeting with Laura
Moreland, he became interested in her, and
had prolonged his stay that be might still be
near her. She was at first f1attered by the at
tentions paid her by the handsome stranger, but
she soon learned to prize his friendship, when
she found how noble and manly he was, The
time had come, however, when they must part
his country demanded his services and he hes
itated not moment. But as we have seen he
could not go away without first securing q
promise from Laura that she would await his
return. Ali Earnest belmont, was it wise
to thus surprise that young creature into con-
fession of her love. and urge her to promise
which she had not considered a moment! In
the blindness of his passion he listened not to
reason. We shall see the result.


CHAPTER II.


Two years have passed since the parting oI
Earnest and Laura. By Que of the tents in q
camp near Murfreesboro, stands soldier rea-
ding letter, it is dainty rOse-tainted sheet
and the delicateIy traced lines, show plainly
that some fair hand guided the pen. AS the
soldier reads, pleasant smile wreaths hlsSlips
and his eyes grow brilliant with pleased emo
ton. Let us approach, and glance slyly o7el
his shoulder Now read, " Dear Earnest, your
little Laura is still waiting, and she is so glad
when she thinks tits only one year more, and
then" but he has finished reading, and the
little letter is slipped into his pocket close to
his heart. Now, as he PAGES with folded arms
up and down in front of his tent, that sam'
smile of pleasure playing over his handsome
face, we notice that he wears captains uni
form, another moment and we recognize ou
old friend Earnest belmont.


But the scenes are shifting. A young CIR
is kneeling beside trunk, in little room a
one of our celebrated boarding schools, sur
rounded by piles of dresses and various othe
J finery, which she is unpacking. Near her
another young lady busily engaged in hanging
the dresses away in the wardrobe. These tw
are Laura Moreland and her friend, and room
! mate, IIizze Bowen. We would readily recog
: lnize Laura, as she bends over her trunk, lift
, ing one article after another, every now an
, then addressing laughing remark to ahe tai


7 II ir o1g a
! the institution, and her head is full of antic
- ,.lo,,,,ros Wa will IistaD n favv Yooment