An Original Belle

surprised to see him advancing towards her with Mr. Lane. The young man shook hands with her cordially, yet quietly,

said her father. "He will walk over from

arian knew well what it meant. The papers had brought to every home in the land the tidings of the awful seven days' fighting before Richmond. So far from taking the city, McClellan

ong the line. For a long time the President, sincere and true-hearted as he is, could not learn that he is not a military man, and he has permitted a large part of our armies to be scattered all over Virginia. They have accomplished next to nothing. McClellan long since proved that he would not advance without men enough to walk over everything. He is as heavy as one of his own siege guns. He may be sure, if he has all he wants, but is mortally slow, and hadn't brains enough to realize that the Chickahominy swamps thinned his army faster than brave fighting. He should have been given the idle, useless men under McDowell and others, an

papa?" was th

half awake to its danger and the magnitude of its task. We have sent out comparatively few of our men to do a disagreeable duty for us, whil

bring no changes to you

e duties with which I am now charged. But who can tell what a day will bring forth? Lane is going to the front.

as she went to her room to prepare for dinner; "bu

ertaining at dinner as to make it difficult for her to believe that he had resolved on a step so fraught with r

that it was true,"

e as a pleasure excursion. I have thought a great deal since I saw you las

said, "You have thought a great

ied, with a slight fl

that ev

d I have obeyed your request, to do nothing rash, literally. I remained steadily at work in my office a certain number of hours every day. If the general hope that Richmond would be taken, and the war practically ended, had proved well founded, for the sake of others I should have resisted my inclination to take part in the struggle. I soon concluded, however, that it would be just as well to prepare for what has taken place, and so gave part of my a

e?-why could you not have told me?

ll know," he replied, tu

ould not be much of a friend,-that I was only a gay young

rtained such a thought. I can't explain to you all my experience. I wished to be more sure of my

e me very sad. I don't wonder that you feel as you do about going, and were I a man I should probably take t

e heart, then. There a

Mar

I am not coldhearted and callous. I am

thought

recognized the expression on papa's face and your

d I recognize the exp

ou would have go

o go than to stay and think o

not look on the dark side, however. You will sca

eckless. This you have

an, it makes such a difference with me to know that you care so much! Knowing y

he last few days, the light of mirth played on the surface. The times afforded themes for jest, rather than doleful predictions. Indeed, in accordance with a principle in human nature, there was a tendency to disguise feelings and anxiety by words so light as to border on recklessness. Questions as to future action were coming home to all the young men, but not for the world would they permit one another, or espe

with a shout of laughter by the young men, who knew him well, and by a cordial pressure from Marian's hand. This made th

e awkward squad," h

" cried several voices

Virg

ging the change of base with McClellan, o

ther south tha

his uniform is rather

dealt in o

s your

st. I think I could make

r us! If Strahan can't teach us

I will give you the f

face th

llow in civilian togs stands no chance. How he eclipses us all to-night wi

for the

of campaigning. Never was there a better strategic point f

g sergeant will join me in a day or two, and

ot Miss

rank and influence d

the chief spokesman, who was not a very friendly neighbor of the young offic

approach near enough to re

hots, even when greatly outnumbered. I have such faith in him that I have already given him my colors. You ma

ginia was mere bluff,-merely made an excursion or two

oes this un

bottom of the ladder in a new regiment that is to be recruited. Meanwhile I was put through the manual of arms, with a lot of other awkward fellows, by a drill office

as going is concerned

ly, "only I've deci

your regiment to-night," said Marian. "You have

to go, or else Miss Marian will cross us out

But those who, like Mr. Lane and Mr. Strahan, decide the questi

bugle call I expect

o entered at

added another, laughing. "If Miss Marian would be

ith them; much less will I hold them out as an induceme

has Strahan performed?

ate, and I don't gi

h a swift and somewhat reproachful glance at Mari

, however, and time will tell the story with us all. I must now bid you good-evening," h

our own splendidly. Your first report is more than satisfactory

egan: "No doubt it will appear absurd to you that a friend sho

have inspired my respect as a strong, resolute man. In resolving upon what you would do instinctively Mr. Strahan has had such a struggle that he has touched my sympathies. One cannot help feeling d

o be, had I you

e him a rose. D

tain

e said, laughing, and handin

tfully for a moment, a

his kind of thing as

nfluence the sternest

ts of