THE BATTALION.
7
I wrote her a letter the next day. It was
filled with sarcasm and irony. I accused
her of infidelity, of cold-heartedness and
what not, that would make the crimson
flush mount any girl’s cheek. But she
wrote back only a simple reply, saying that
jealousy had captured my love and reason ;
that she would forgive me, and begged that
I should not be jealous any more ; that I
was all to her; that she loved me with a
never-fading love, and that I would see in
the end that she was faithful and just,
while I was unjust. I was a little com
forted, for I loved her. (A sigh and a puff
from his pipe.) Well, the next Christmas
came on its festive tide of merriment, and
I was again the Christmas guest of Colonel
Wayne. Ethel was there. We were the
only visitors. I only stayed three days,
but they were days of sweetest paradise.
We pledged eternal love beneath the
friendly mistletoe, and betrothed ourselves
to life’s happy journey. Then came the
lovers’ parting, so long, so sad, so sweet;
and the letters that passed after that—how
very warm, fervent and full of love and
hope. Summer came again. She came
for a few days’ visit to her aunt’s at B .
It was then I gave her an hundred dollar
diamond ring. We never yet had set the
day, but I promised on next Christ
mas to visit her home and arrange for the
happy event. Well, Christmas came,
Claud, and here comes the sting. Our
families were good friends, her’s having
once lived in B , but during her child
hood had moved to D , where her father
and uncle conducted a wholesale grocery
business. Well, as I was about to say, our
families were willing to our marriage, but
we thought it best for me to run over to
D’ and go through that ordeal of ask
ing papa and having mamma-in-law weep
on my shoulder because I had come to steal
away her child, and to arrange for the
wedding. Mind you, it had gone that far.
Well, I started, and it took me about three
days to reach D . I arrived about 7
o’clock Christmas morning, and after a bath
and brush up at my hotel I went to break
fast, taking the morning paper with me. I
sat down to the table, opened out the paper
and began reading the news. Listen,
Claud. Gads, but it makes my poor heart
bleed to tell it, for how I loved her. My
eyes read these words.”
‘A PRETTY CHRISTMAS BRIDE.
‘THE HAMPTON-MARIGOLD WEDDING.
‘At Sfc. James’ church, Christmas eve,
Miss Ethel Marigold, the beautiful and
charming daughter oi’ * * * *
‘T could read no further, Claud. My
eyes dimmed with tears. I crumpled the
paper in my hands; rising from the table I
threw the paper in the chair. I excused
myself, saying I was ill, and I was ill, in
deed ; my hopes crushed, my heart broken.
I went to the depot to take the first train
to carry me, I cared not whither, and here
I am in this lonely miner’s habitation, where
I may forget that I ever was a lover or
possessed a tender and loving heart. Like
you, Claud, I want to be. I see you have
grown rough and cold-hearted. Well,
Claud, I am done. What must I now do?’ ’
“Well,” spoke Claud, sighing and re
filling the glasses which had only been
touched when the pledge was made, “you
come down to my cabin and live with me.