Year: 1867

THE MISSING LETTER.


As soon as Elinor was alone, she hastily opened
and read her lovers letter. which she had received
by the hands of the peddler. 1t was as follows:


'sAMERIcAN CAMP AT WHITE PLAINS.


Dear Eiuor: Separated from you by the hard
fate of war, I gladly embrace an opportunity,
which now offers, to send you a few lines DO so
by the hands Of Jehoachim Stebbins, whom you
have seen, and know as Jock, the peddler He
is worthy and trusty man, and has more than
once been of service to our side. need hardly
ask you to receive him courteously for my sake
And now what shall | say, dearest EGnor? First,
let me tell you that hope ere long to have an op-
portunity of seeing you. The General will probab;
" despatch me on a mission to your neghborhood
day after tomorrow 1t will hardly be prudent
for me to come to the house. Will it be asking
too much to propose that you meet me on the 18th
at ten o'clock in the forenoon? The best place tor
the purpose will be the old ruined cabin near the
old oak tree, in the edge of the woods, about a
mile from your house. will be there at the time
if possible, and hope that you will be able, to
meet me. Such occasions are rare, dearest, that


shall look forward to it with the greatest antci-


'When, O, when will this unhappy war be at
an end and the country be restored to tranquility
1 scarcely dare to hope. At this moment every
thing looks dark, and but for our confidence IN the
wisdom of our beloved leader, | am afraid the army
would disband There is spirit Of dissatisfaction
in the army on account Of the backwardness OF
Congress in paying them and providing tor theI
wants. We are now in midsummer, but cannot
help looking forward with apprehension to the
winter that is before u.s. God grant in his mercy
that it may not be so deplorably wretched as the
last winter, when we were encamped at Valley
Forge


''You have heard perhaps Of General Lees de.
fection. He is proud man, and took umbrage at
a deserved rebuke from General Washington for
unsoldery conduct at Monmouth. Lee was in
rapid retreat for no conceivable reason, when
Washington came up, and as was natural, reprl-
manded him severely. He has been suspended from
his command for year, and it is doubtful whether
he ever returns to it.


s.However, in spite of these numerous diseour
agements, we trust in Higher Power, who is
able to give us success The clouds are dark, but
we hope to see the sun shining brightly yet: Al
least while Elinor continues true to me will laugh
at danger and privation, and hope for that happy
time when nothing shall separate us. Ii don =
succeed in seeing you on the day proposed shal
endeavor to arrange an early meeting and will, II
that case try to get word to you before hand by the
peddler


Ever your lover,


HENRY PETERSON.


Elinor, as has before been said, had waited unit
she could read this letter secure from observation
With view, also, to guard against interruption
she had left the house and sought the garden, il
the corner of which was an arbor, completely
screening the inmate by its abundant leatage


Having read the letter, she laid it down on the
seat beside her, and gave herselfup to reflection
She felt, with her lover that the prospects OF thf
country, and upon these hinged their own, were
very uncertain, and even calculated to excite des
pondency But she was led also to share In the
confidence expressed in the latter part of the epstl
as to the ultimate success of the American arms.


''lf only" she murmured, this can be brough
about and Henry can be preserved unharmed,
shall feel that am most fortunate. What brave
and noble fellow he is So much superior to tha
conceited jackanapes, Major Amory.


Probably Elinor would hardly have given utter
ance to these thoughts, as almost unconsclousl!
she had done, if she had known that she had lis
tener.


This was the way it came about. After Dime
u Elinor had, as we have seen, come out into tn