Year: 1875

''bv the grave Of him who sleeps under
yonder willows, l swear that l will
never waver in my love for you, though
I had to sink the whole Confederacy
under my feet"


The following morning Morris Tim
berlake waited in the breakfast room
for his brother to descend, but finding
him unusually late, he went up to his
chamber. 1t was tenantless. A letter
lay on his table, he snatched it up
hurriedly, and found it WAS in Horace's
handwriting, and addressed to himself.
1t ran thus:


DEAR BROTHER: 1 cannot find it in
my heart to bid You goodbye, save by
letter. Heaven grant we may soon
meet again in days as peaceful as the
past. Look in my drawer and you will
discover some money: have divided
fairly with you. Pack up and hurry
North, if you can get there. Don't
waste any time unnecessarily, for you
may experience great difficulties in
leaving. Let the old place take care of
itself, our people will hang around it
and provide for themselves as long as
they are able. Remember my parting
advice. Hurry away as soon as possi-
BILE.


In haste, your affsctionate brother


HORACE.


A week later, . horseman could have
been seen working his way cautiously
to the union lines. 1t was no easy
matter to avoid suspicion, bur fortune
favored him, and after many perilous
adventures he stood in the presence Of
the Federal army.


Taken to headquarters, he declined
to answer the interrogatories demanded
of him he was committed to the guard
house. There he remained some time,
when he was unconditionally released
with a pass North. Heavy fighting had
occurred up to this time, and by chance
he got possession of q Southern paper
which had found its way across the
lines, and saw his brother Horace's
name mentioned as an officer in Con-
federate regiment. This was the last
intelligence he ever had of him, al
though on q certain day mid battle and
smoke, he could have almost shaken
hands with him, and he knew it not.


The sun was slanting along the roofs
of frontier town in Maine, when a
traveller, dusty, and evidently fatigued,
was tOiling up green declivity toward
q neat house literally embowered in
roses, which climbed up from the porch
to the second-story windows. The resi-
dence stood a short distance without
the thriving town of p


Morris Timberlake, for it was he,
halted a moment, and gazed back
thoughtfully at the city which lay in
the distance. He had seen strange
sights there that day, such sights as he
never expected to have witnessed.
There was unity of feeling, of purpose
and of action. The streets were full of
armed men, bands were playing, and
loud and long huEzas filled the air, as
heavy bodies of armed men hurriedly
entered the long train of cars which
were waiting 70 receive them and bear
them away. He read on their stern and
composed faces the purpose which
nerved their hearts, and even from the
lips of the children who were held up
for a parting kiss to many bronzed
faces, he listened to catch the meaning
of what he saw, and he heard it, "TO
save TIE uhIlOu 3 IuOIElb
lake never forgot the expression.


Striding onward, his heart huttered
at the sight of a white dress by the
garden gate. Thrice had the prairie
roses bloomed in crimson luxuriance
since he looked upon that form yet he
would have known it on the instant if
he had met it at the uttermost bounds
of the earth. A moment more, and the
exclamation of surprise, "Morrisi" and
the response, "Alice % and then some
tears fell from bright, brown eyes but
they were tears of happiness. That
night, beneath Northern sky, Alice
Waring leaned upon the arm Of son
of the South, and knew that his heart
was as loyal as in days gone by.


1t is not my purpose to detail the
pleasant hours Morris Timberlake
passed in the presence of the one he
loved the best. His cup of happiness
had one bitter drop in it. He felt,
sooner or later, circumstances might
compel him to appear on a different
scene.


Mr.. Waring had furnished two sons,
then absent with the army, and Alice,
usually gentle even to timidity, was
now outspoken in her sentiments and
very decided in her language.


"My country first, she one day said
to Morris, in answer to some love ap-
peal.


Morris gazed upon her quiet but de-
termined features with bewildered
look. He never could have believed !
possible for Northern girls to have such
depth of feeling.


They were walking in the garden and
conversing about the war; Alice stopped
down and nervously twisted flower
from its stem.


won't you put it in my button
hole ?" arked Morris, with pleading
look.


The little hand moved irresolutely for
a moment, then it was laid upon her
lovers shoulder, and two brown eyes
looked earnestly in his own as she
answered:


"The day you march away under
yonder flag (pointing to where the
banners we're flying over the city,, i
will pin a rose upon your uniform,
though my heart may break when re-
fleet may be sending you to your
death. Aye, though for the rest of my
DAYS may wear widows weeds, will
ioy over nay own misery to know that /
loved one true enough te sacrifice self
to duty"


Morris Timberlake saw that her face
was very pale, but her voice was steady
and her words decided. He caught her
| hv tba hand and without utterinp a
word, they walked back to the house,
each engrossed with the thought upper
most in their hearts.


Months passed away, the ripened
grain had been garnered, and the
chocks were full of yellow corn. The
robins notes we're heard less frequently
and crimson and golden leaves COM
menced to hutter in the autumn air. IL
a change was passing over the face of
natura II WAS no less true of the moral