the red acorn-第2部分

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ough　its　long；　forceful　measures；　which　have　the　sweep　and　ring　of　marching　battalions；　swung　the　singers；　with　a　passionate　earnestness　that　made　every　note　and　word　glow　with　meaning。　　The　swelling　paean　told　of　the　heroism　and　sacrifice　with　which　the　foundations　of　the　Nation　were　laid；　of　the　glory　to　which　the　land　had　risen；　and　then　its　mood　changing　to　one　of　direness　and　wrath；　it　foretold　the　just　punishment　of　those　who　broke　the　peace　of　a　happy　land。

The　mood　of　the　Sardis　people　was　that　patriotic　exaltation　which　reigned　in　every　city　and　village　of　the　North　on　that　memorable　night　of　April；　1861。

But　Rachel　and　Harry　had　left　far　behind　them　this　passion　of　the　multitude；　which　had　set　their　own　to　throbbing；　even　as　the　roar　of　a　cannon　will　waken　the　vibrations　of　harp…strings。　　Around　where　they　stood　was　the　peace　of　the　night　and　sleep。　　The　perfume　of　violets　and　hyacinths；　and　of　myriads　of　opening　buds　seemed　shed　by　the　moon　with　her　silvery　rays　through　the　soft；　dewy　air；　a　few　nocturnal　insects　droned　hither　and　thither；　and　〃drowsy　tinklings　lulled　the　distant　folds。〃

As　their　steps　were　arrested　Rachel　released　her　grasp　from　Harry's　arm；　but　he　caught　her　hand　before　it　fell　to　her　side；　and　held　it　fast。　　She　turned　her　face　frankly　toward　him；　and　he　looked　down　with　anxious　eyes　upon　the　broad　white　forehead；　framed　in　silken　black　hair；　upon　great　eyes；　flaming　with　a　meaning　that　he　feared　to　interpret；　upon　the　eloquent　lines　about　the　mobile；　sensitive　mouth；　all　now　lifted　into　almost　supernatural　beauty　by　the　moonlight's　spiritualizing　magic。

What　he　said　he　could　never　afterward　recall。　　His　first　memory　was　that　of　a　pause　in　his　speech；　when　he　saw　the　ripe；　red　lips　turned　toward　him　with　a　gesture　of　the　proud　head　that　was　both　an　assent　and　invitation。　　The　kiss　that　he　pressed　there　thrilled　him　with　the　intoxication　of　unexpectedly　rewarded　love；　and　Rachel　with　the　gladness　of　triumph。

What　they　afterward　said　was　as　incoherent　as　the　conversations　of　those　rapturous　moments　ever　are。

〃You　know　we　leave　in　the　morning？〃　he　said；　when　at　last　it　became　necessary　for　him　to　go。

〃Yes；〃　she　answered　calmly。　　〃And　perhaps　it　is　better　that　it　should　be　sothat　we　be　apart　for　a　little　while　to　consider　this　new…found　happiness　and　understand　it。　　I　shall　be　sustained　with　the　thought　that　in　giving　you　to　the　country　I　have　given　more　than　any　one　else。　　I　know　that　you　will　do　something　that　will　make　me　still　prouder　of　you；　and　my　presentiments；　which　never　fail　me；　assure　me　that　you　will　return　to　me　safely。〃

His　face　showed　a　little　disappointment　with　the　answer。

She　reached　above　her　head；　and　breaking　off　a　bud　handed　it　to　him；　saying　in　the　words　of　Juliet：

〃Sweet；　good…night：　This　bud　of　love；　by　Summer's　ripening　breath；　May　prove　a　beauteous　flower；　when　next　we　meet。〃

He　kissed　the　bud；　and　put　it　in　his　bosom；　kissed　her　again　passionately；　and　descended　the　hill　to　prepare　for　his　departure　in　the　morning。

She　was　with　the　rest　of　the　village　at　the　depot　to　bid　the　company　good…bye；　and　was　amazed　to　find　how　far　the　process　of　developing　the　bud　into　the　flower　had　gone　in　her　heart　since　parting　with　her　lover。　　Her　previous　partiality　and　admiration　for　him　appeared　now　very　tame　and　colorless；　beside　the　emotions　that　stirred　her　at　the　sight　of　him　marching　with　erect　grace　at　the　head　of　his　company。　　But　while　all　about　her　were　tears　and　sobs；　and　modest　girls　revealing　unsuspecting　attachments　in　the　agitation　of　parting；　her　eyes　were　undimmed。　　She　was　proud　and　serene；　a　heightening　of　the　color　in　her　cheeks　being　the　only　sign　of　unusual　feeling。　Harry　came　to　her　for　a　moment；　held　her　hand　tightly　in　his；　took　the　bud　from　his　bosom；　touched　it　significantly　with　his　lips；　and　sprang　upon　the　train　which　was　beginning　to　move　away。

The　days　that　followed　were　halcyon　for　her。　　While　the　other　women　of　Sardis；　whose　loved　ones　were　gone；　were　bewailing　the　dangers　they　would　encounter；　her　proud　spirit　only　contemplated　the　chances　that　Harry　would　have　for　winning　fame。　　Battles　meant　bright　laurels　for　him　in　which　she　would　have　a　rightful　share。

Her　mental　food　became　the　poetry　of　love；　chivalry　and　glorious　war。　　The　lyric　had　a　vivid　personal　interest。　　Tales　of　romantic　daring　and　achievement　were　suggestions　of　possibilities　in　Harry's　career。　　Her　waking　hours　were　mainly　spent；　book　in　hand；　under　the　old　apple…tree　that　daily　grew　dearer　to　her。

The　exalted　mood　in　which　we　found　her　was　broken　in　upon　by　the　sound　of　some　one　shutting　the　gate　below　very　emphatically。　　Looking　down　she　saw　her　father　approaching　with　such　visible　signs　in　face　and　demeanor　of　strong　excitement　that　she　arose　and　went　to　him。

〃Why；　father；　what　can　be　the　matter？〃　she　said；　stopping　in　front　of　him；　with　the　open　book　pressed　to　her　breast。

〃Matter　enough；　I'm　afraid；　Rachel。　　There's　been　a　battle　near　a　place　called　Rich　Mountain；　in　Western　Virginia；　and　Harry　Glen's…〃

〃O；　father；〃　she　said；　growing　very　white；　〃Harry's　killed。〃

〃No；　not　killed。〃　　The　old　man's　lip　curled　with　scorn。　　〃It's　worse。　　He　seems　to've　suddenly　discovered　he　wasn't　prepared　to　die；　he　didn't　want　to　rush　all　at　once　into　the　presence　of　his　Maker。　　Mebbe　he　didn't　think　it'd　be　good　manners。　　You　know　he　was　always　stronger　on　etikwet　than　anything　else。　　In　short；　he's　showed　the　white　feather。　　A　dozen　or　more　letters　have　come　from　the　boys　telling　all　about　it；　and　the　town's　talking　of　nothing　else。　　There's　one　of　the　letters。　　It's　from　Jake　Alspaugh；　who　quite　working　for　me　to　enlist。　　Read　it　yourself。〃

The　old　gentleman　threw　the　letter　upon　the　grass；　and　strode　on　angrily　into　the　house。　　Rachel　smoothed　out　the　crumpled　sheet；　and　read　with　a　growing　sickness　at　heart：


Mr。　BondDeer　Sur：

i　taik　my　pen　in　hand　to　lett　you　no　that　with　the　exception　of　an　occashunal　tuch　of　roomaticks；　an　boonions　all　over　my　fete　from　hard　marchin；　ime　all　rite；　an　i　hope　you　ar　injoin　the　saim　blessin。　Weve　jest　had　an　awful　big　fite；　and　the　way　we　warmed　it　to　the　secshers　jest　beat　the　jews。　　i　doant　expect　theyve　stopt　runnin　yit。　　All　the　Sardis　boys　done　bully　except　Lieutenant　Harry　Glen。　The　smell　of　burnt　powder　seamed　to　onsettle　his　narves。　　He　tuk　powerful　sick　all　at　wunst；　jest　as　the　trail　was　gittin　rather　fresh；　and　he　lay　groanin　wen　the　rest　of　the　company　marched　off　into　the　fite。　　He　doant　find　the　klime…it　here　as　healthy　as　it　is　in　Sardis。　　i　'stinguished　myself　and　have　bin　promoted；　and　ive　got　a　Rebel　gun　for　you　with　a　bore　big　enuff　to　put　a　walnut　in；　and　it'll　jest　nock　your　hole　darned　shoulder　off　every　time　you　shoot　it。　　No　more　yours　til　deth　send　me　some　finecut　tobacker　for　heavens　sake。

Jacob　Alspaugh。


Rachel　tore　the　letter　into　a　thousand　fragments；　and　flung　the　volume　of　poems　into　the　ditch　below。　　She　hastened　to　her　room；　and　no　one　saw　her　again　until　the　next　morning；　when　she　came　down　dressed　in　somber　black；　her　face　pale；　and　her　colorless　lips　tightly　compressed。





Chapter　II。　　First　Shots。




〃Cowards　fear　to　die；　but　courage　stout；　Rather　than　live　in　snuff；　will　be　put　out。〃　　　　Sir　Walter　Raleigh；　on　〃The　Snuff　of　a　Candle。〃


All　military　courage　of　any　value　is　the　offspring　of　pride　and　will。　　The　existence　of　what　is　called　〃natural　courage〃　may　well　be　doubted。　　What　is　frequently　mistaken　for　it　is　either　perfect　self…command；　or　a　stolid　indifference；　arising　from　dull…brained　inability　to　comprehend　what　really　is　danger。

The　first　instincts　of　man　teach　him　to　shun　all　sources　of　harm；　and　if　his　senses　are　sufficiently　acute　to　perceive　danger；　his　natural　disposition　is　to　avoid　encountering　it。　　This　disposition　can　only　be　overcome　by　the　exercise　of　the　power　of　pride　and　willpride　to　aspire　to　the　accomplishment　of　certain　things；　even　though　risk　attend；　and　will　to　carry　out　those　aspirations。

Harry　Glen　was　apparently　not　deficient　in　either　pride　or　will。　　The　close　observer；　however；　seemed　to　see　as　his　mastering　sentiment　a　certain　starile　selfishness；　not　uncommon　among　the　youths　of　his　training　and　position　in　the　slow…living；　hum…drum　country　towns　of　Ohio。　　The　only　son　of　a　weakly…fondling　mother　and　a　father　too　earnestly　treading　the　narrow　path　of　early　diligences　and　small　savings　by　which　a　man　becomes　the　richest　in　his　village；　to　pay　any　attention　to　him；　Harry　grew　up　a　self…indulgent；　self…sufficient　boy。　　His　course　at　the　seminary　and　college　naturally　developed　this　into　a　snobbish　assumption　that　he　was　of　finer　clay　than　the　commonality；　and　in　some　way　selected　by　fortune　for　her　finer　displays　and　luxurious　purposes。　　I　have　termed　this　a　〃sterile　selfishness；〃　to　distinguish　it　from　that　grand　egoism　which　in　large　minds　is　fruitful　of　high　accomplishments　and　great　deeds；　and　to　denote　a　force　which；　in　the　sons　of　the　average　〃rich〃　men　of　the　county　seats；　is　apt　to　expend　itself　in　satisfaction　at　having　finer　clothes　and　faster　horses　and　pleasanter　homes；　than　the　averagein　a　pride　of　white　hands　and　a　scorn　of　drudgery。

When　Harry　signed　his　name　upon　the　recruiting　rolllargely　i