Year: 1863

and loved Arther Deand. He was of a
good family, but prouder blood than his
flowed in my veins. | was naturally
very proud and naughty, but loved my
friends fervently and hated my enemies
as warmly. loved my young husband
as passionately, and for year | was
very happy, though my exacting love
was hardly satisfied. Entirely devoted
to him. wished Ike return. Buthis
heart could not love like mine. His bus
mess took him away from home nearly
all the time.


Ouce he came and told me that SLAM
der's tongue had associated his name
with that of young girl of evil repute.
Afterward I heard great deal about
them, but did not believe he could be
false to me. About this time another
call for soldiers induced him to enlist.
He was commissioned rs Colonel, and
his regiment went away, leaving me al
most broken-hearted.


AS time passed on heard that he kept
ur correspondence with Helene-that
was her name-that was more than
friendly. l did not believe it, however,
and laughed at the stories which I
thought nothing but the inventions of
malice.


But, unhappy day, Helene came and
asked to see me. Igranted her request.
will not try to tel, all that passed be-
tween US, for believe was mad with
horror. Enough that she showed me
letters purporting to be written oy my
husband, speaking of the misery he felt
at being away from her, calling her ty
endearing names, and poems addressed
to her in the most passionate language
of love. She told me in the most pa
tiletic tone, that a am sorry We have
wronged you, but we have loved each
other so well we could not help it. He
has furnished me with money aud / am
going to him."


sent her from me for l could bear no
more; and seating myself at my desk, |
wrote to him to tell him oil. / know
no. what said, but my heart was very
bitter with its new found agony, and ]
wrote as felt.


l went to mail my letter, but ere ]
reached home my brain seemed burst
ing, and | remembered nothing more,
save the agony of sinking down into
horrible darkness. Ere morning was
raving with brain fever, and for six long
weeks hoyered on the confines of the
spirit world. When reason again re-
sumed her sway ! asked of him-my
husband. Ny heart went out to him
with a passionate yearning that looked
beyond his false and falseness.


They placed in my hands letter,
written in answer to mine. He wrote
as if his heart was broken. He said he
would rush into battle, and sell his life
fighting for his country; for, having
lost my love, he had nothing for which
to live. felt as / read that had been
too harsh. Perhaps, after all, Helene



had forged all those cunning hes. ]
thought of this awhile and then, as l
was alone, took up a paper that lay
within my reach to look over its con-
tents.


Almost the first thing that met my eye
was the lis. of killed and wounded in
the, then, recently fought battle of AN
tietam. His name was among the killed.
Whether he was true or false shall
never know, for he fills heroes grave.
lie died for his country, while am
slowly dying of despair. Ny hair is al
ready bleached, and my brow furrowed
with my terrible trial, and know that
my earthly sorrows will be short.
WHATis the meaning OF back
bitter . asked clergyman, at a SUNDAY