the red acorn-第2章

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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　impelled　thereto　by　the　delicately…flattering　suggestion　that　he　should　lead　off　for　the　youth　of　Sardishe　had　not　the　slightest　misgiving　that　by　so　doing　he　would　subject　himself　to　any　of　the　ills　and　discomforts　incidental　to　carrying　out　the　enterprise　upon　which　they　were　embarking。　　He；　like　every　one　else；　had　no　very　clear　idea　of　what　the　company　would　be　called　upon　to　do　or　undergo；　but　no　doubt　obtruded　itself　into　his　mind　that　whatever　might　be　disagreeable　in　it　would　fall　to　some　one　else's　lot；　and　he　continue　to　have　the　same　pleasant　exemption　that　had　been　his　good　fortune　so　far　through　life。

And　though　the　company　was　unexpectedly　ordered　to　the　field　in　the　rugged　mountains　of　Western　Virginia；　instead　of　to　pleasant　quarters　about　Washington；　there　was　nothing　to　shake　this　comfortable　belief。　　The　slack　discipline　of　the　first　three　months'　service；　and　the　confusion　of　ideas　that　prevailed　in　the　beginning　of　the　war　as　to　military　duties　and　responsibilities；　enabled　him　to　spend　all　the　time　he　chose　away　from　his　company　and　with　congenial　spirits；　about　headquarters；　and　to　make　of　the　expedition；　so　far　as　he　was　concerned；　a　pleasant　picnic。　　Occasionally　little　shadows　were　thrown　by　the　sight　of　corpses　brought　in；　with　ugly…looking　bullet　holes　in　head　or　breast；　but　these　were　always　of　the　class　he　looked　down　upon；　and　he　connected　their　bad　luck　in　some　way　with　their　condition　in　life。　　Doubtless　some　one　had　to　go　where　there　was　danger　of　being　shot；　as　some　one　had　to　dig　ditches　and　help　to　pry　wagons　out　of　the　mud；　but　there　was　something　rather　preposterous　in　the　thought　that　anything　of　this　kind　was　incumbent　upon　him。

The　mutterings　of　the　men　against　an　officer；　who　would　not　share　their　hardships　and　duties；　did　not　reach　his　ears；　nor　yet　the　gibes　of　the　more　earnest　of　the　officers　at　the　〃young　headquarter　swells；〃　whose　interest　and　zeal　were　nothing　to　what　they　would　have　taken　in　a　fishing　excursion。

It　came　about　very　naturally　and　very　soon　that　this　continual　avoidance　of　duty　in　directions　where　danger　might　be　encountered　was　stigmatized　　by　the　harsher　name　of　cowardice。　　Neither　did　this　come　to　his　knowledge；　and　he　was　consequently　ignorant　that　he　had　delivered　a　fatal　stab　to　his　reputation　one　fine　morning　when；　the　regiment　being　ordered　out　with　three　days'　rations　and　forty　rounds　of　cartridges；　the　sergeant　who　was　sent　in　search　of　him　returned　and　reported　that　he　was　sick　in　his　tent。　　Jacob　Alspaugh　expressed　the　conclusion　instantly　arrived　at　by　every　one　in　the　regiment：

〃It's　all　you　could　expect　of　one　of　them　kid…glove　fellers；　to　weaken　when　it　came　to　serious　business。〃

Harry's　self…sufficiency　had　left　so　little　room　for　anything　that　did　not　directly　concern　his　own　comfort；　that　he　could　not　understand　the　deadly　earnestness　of　the　men　he　saw　file　out　of　camp；　or　that　there　was　any　urgent　call　for　him　to　join　them　in　their　undertaking。

〃Bob　Bennett's　always　going　where　there's　no　need　of　it；〃　he　said　to　a　companion；　as　he　saw　the　last　of　the　regiment　disappear　into　the　woods　on　the　mountain　side。　　〃He　could　have　staid　back　here　with　us　just　as　well　as　not；　instead　of　trudging　off　through　the　heat　over　these　devilish　roads；　and　probably　get　into　a　scrape　for　which　no　one　will　thank　him。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Ned　Burnleigh；　with　his　affected　drawl；　〃what　the　devil's　the　use；　I'd　like　to　know；　for　a　fellah's　putting　himself　out　to　do　things；　when　there's　any　quantity　of　other　fellahs；　that　can't　be　better　employed；　ready　and　even　anxious　to　do　them。〃

〃That's　so。　　But　it's　getting　awful　hot　here。　　Let's　go　over　to　the　shade；　where　we　were　yesterday；　and　have　Dick　bring　us　a　bucket　of　cold　spring　water　and　the　bottles　and　things。〃

…

〃Abe！〃　said　Jake　Alspaugh　to　his　file…leadera　red…headed；　pock…marked　man；　whose　normal　condition　was　that　of　outspoken　disgust　at　every　thing〃this　means　a　fight。〃

〃Your　news　would've　been　fresh　and　interesting　last　night