Wounded

The sunlight shone brightly into the cosy littlo sittingroom, giviug a brighter glow to the crinisoD fuehsias aud iragrant geraniums in the window-seat, waking Kuby the merry mockiug-bird f'rom his momentary doze, glancing eer the ivory keys of the grand piano and falling with subdued light on May Keith's sunny ringlets, tili they gleamed like burnished gold. Little May stood with her blue eyes cast down, as if to avoid the sight of the dark, handsome face bent above her - the tiny hand playing with the silken cord which confined her suowy morning robe, the otl'ier nervously clasping the gold chain encircling her throat, a pout on her pretty lip, and bright tears trembling on the browu lashes. " You are unjust and unreasonable, Percy," she said at last, breaking the silence. " What possible harm can come from my attending with George Elliot this, the grandest party of the season ? If you were to be here, of course I should Dot dream of such a thing, but as you cannot be my escort, I have accepted Mr. Elliot'sinvitation." " Accepted ! And without consulting me ? " Percy Lincoln checked the hasty words that were thronging for utterance and added, more ealmly ; "I would not have dreamed this of you, May." " Percy, are we already married, that I must consult you in regard to all matters ? You presume too much on your position, Percy. Remember I will not be dictated to.'1 " Forgive me, I did not intend it, darling. If one of my fnends were to accompany you, [ should not have uttered a word on the subject. But George Elliot is encmy, and I know him to be a vile, dishonorable man. Can't you give up just th's once, little May, for my sake ? " " And break tny word ? No ! You inisjudge Mr. Elliot, wilfully mipjudge him. I shall keep my promise at auy cost." " Then, Miss Keith, as you do not in the least regard my wishes, the sooner our engagement is broken, the better. - The woman who pays no regard to her lover's entreaties, would treat with equal scorn and contempt her husband's wishes. Thank God, my eyes are opened in regard to your character before it is too late." '' I, too, am thankful that I have discovered your tyrannical disposition before I am your slave for life. May's tone was haughty as his own and drawing the slender golden circlet from her finger, she placed it in his hand. Crushing it beneath his heel, Percy Lin coln left the house, outwardly calin and collected, but in a tumult of agony within. They were both proud, fiery, haughty, and suffer as they might, no oue should know of their anguish. A sad heart fluttered under May's silken bodice that evening, as she glided through the brilliantly lighted rooms, leaning od George Elliot's arm. Fíe was tall and graceful, with pale features, and fierce black eyes. Percy Lincoln might well have hesitated, ere he entrusted his dove to the care of this hawk. Looks of surprise and puriosity followed them, and when, at a late hour Percy sauntered carelessly into the parlors, aceompanied by Lela Altin, a gay, sparkling beauty, the astonishment of the crowd was wilh diificulty restraiued. May was standing near the centre of the long drawing-room as they entered, conversing with an admiring group, which her sallies of wit had drawn around her. The soft light feil in golden waves around hor, additig a new beauty to the flashing eyes and golden hair, the pure enowy features and graceiul form. As her glance feil upon the pair, she started slightly, but instautly recovering her self-posse.sion, made some laughing remarks in reference to the laggards. - None who saw her brilliantly beautiful countenance and gay sniile, or heard the s.weet voice breaking forth in musical peak of laughter, would have dreamed that her heart was full of agony - full of doubt, and indigdation, and despair. - At aa early hour she left the crowded rooms; but not until she had heard from a mutual friend an explanation of Percy's presence. He had been ititendiug to go to Boston, but a telegrnphic dispateh from his partner in that city had made the journey unnecessary. The next day was dark, gloomy and dipagreeable. Major Qeneral iSun, after a vain attempt to review his disorderly army - the - retircd from thescune in disgust. Even the cosy sitting-room with its sparkling fire, fragraut flovvers, and the moclriug-bird's merry notes, seemed to May to share in the general gloom. As she entered, pale, silent and sad, Mr. Keith was setting by the fire inteut upon the morning paper. He looked up at her entrance, and with a pleaeaDt " good morning.," eaid : " Havo you heard the news, May?" "News? No indeed. I did not suppose it possible to have any while the times are so hard. What is it, pray ?" " Young Lincoln has enlisted.' The sound of dear homevoices, the crackling ot the fire, and the bird's merry music, were for an instant blended in May's bruin, then all was blank. She upened her eyes to see her mother tenderly chafing her temples, while her father bent over her, an expression of painful solieitude ou his pleasant countenance. " What is it ? " she mourned, feebly. " Don't you rcmembor, dear ? The room was so warm you faiuted." The tido of reeolleetion rollod baek, and sbe turned her face asido, that her loved ones roight not see the tears treaibling beneath the long lashes. " I (hink I heard you say, father, that Mr. Lincoln had enlisted." " Yes, and so strange, too, as a private ! A man of his worth and intellect. He could have obtained a commission without an effent, but said he did not feel qualified for such a position, and should earn his 'shoulder-straps on the field of battle. All romantic nonsenso, of course, but I admire his spirit. He left this morning." May lay vcry still, her little wet face buried amid tht) cushions. Percy had gone, and without even biddipg her good by. She had all tho time cherished a hope of reconciliation, but now he would be killed, of course he would, and sho would be bis tnurderer. Then a store of bitter fancies passed through lier mind. The sad little heart borst forth in sueh a storm of passionate sobbing as called her mother to her side at once. " What is it, darling ? Are you ill?" she asked anxiously. " I am not well, mother, I have had too much excitement of late. Must I attend any more of these weary, tiresome partios?" " Oertainly not, child, unlesa you wish it. I have only encouragod your attendanee beoause I thought you needed more society. If that is all, darling, set your heart at rest. You need go only when it pleases yourself ; and now, May, go to sleep, and awake our own light hearted darling." All the long day May lay on the crimson sofa, in front of the blazing fire, striving in vain to find one ray of light amid the darkuess that surrounded her. If she could only teil her mother all ! - But she knew that Mrs. Keith, kind and compnsoionate as she was, would say her punishment was just; and so, too proud to confess herself in the wrong, she suffered in silenee and alone. The days wore wearily away. Many and wondering were the remarks when it was discovered that May would not again enter society, although her pule cheeks and mournful eyes gave credence to ber unvarying apology that she was not well. She searehed the papers eagerly, and read with interest the rapid promotion which rewarded Percy for his bravery and good conduet. Through three battles he passed unhurmed ; in the third sa ving bis captain's life, and by the unanimous wish of the eompauy being made a lieutenant in place of the ofBcer killed at this time. Then carne thebloody field of Antietain. For several days the reports were delayed, and May meanwhile was wild with apprehension. It was some slight relief at last, to see wounded and taken prisoner opposite his name. " Thank God ! " she said, " he is still alive. And O, what must be his sufferings ? Scorned, abused, hated, alone among foes, would uot deatb bo pref'erable ? " The receipt of this intelligence caused for a time a great seusation among young Lincoln's acquaintances. Tlien as other matters of interest occupied the public attontion he w is gradually forgotten. It was a bright suuny day in Oetober. The long wreathes of blue mist hung tenderly and dreamÜj over the distant hills. As the wind swept by, leafy masses of crimsön and gold went hirling through the air in a giddy danee. - Among the maple boughs hung clusters of leavesred as Virginia battlefields, and down among the rose bushed golden treasurers crept out of sight. The oaks, brave and defiant to the last, tossed tbeir green boughs in scorn, but up among the fopmost branches, scarlet dashes told of the coming death. The little sdtting-room at Keith Lodge was bright aud cheery as ever, but the piano was clnsed, and Ruby, the mockiug-bird, had disappeared. Muy could not bear his song, it reminded her so painfully of lost hopes and happiness. - She had changed much since that bright winter's morning when she parted with Pcrcy Lincoln. A mournful look had succeeded to the brigbt laughiug glance of yore, and a something namekss aud undeiinable, told that the gleesome, merry girl had changed into the sad, earnest woman. Yet never in the days of her wild, happy gaiety, had she been so , beautiful as now. Tho girl had captivatcd the eye, the woman won the heart. Still uo tïdings from the lost one, and she had tried to still her heart to the belief that he was with the ransomod in glory. But a wild hope would some times spring up in her heart, that she should again listel] to the musio of his voiee, that his dear glarioe should again rest upon her prayer for f'orgivencss. - These vvero the thoughts that were pass ing through her mind that hazy Oetober morning, as she sat oalm aud sileut by the fireside. " Bless me ! " said her father, as his glance feil upon a paragjeaph iu the moruing paper. Thon iu response to May's inquiring look, ho added : " You remember George Elliot, who created such an excitement here iu fashionable circlea a year ago ? He has been arrested for robbery, and in the trial it appears that ho has been for a long time a gambler by profession, altliough he bas managed so well that but few suspeoted him." Then it was not jealousy that had eaused Pcrcy to opposü so strongly her intimaey witb Mr. Elliot, but a wish to free her frora the oompanionship of a bad man. May's punishment was greater than she could bear She feit that she could not longer ondure the pain and sorrow vvhich had been hers for so long, without a confidant. She deterruined to go to Mr. Lincoln's only sister, confess her wrong, and beg her advice and sympathy, even if she could not obtain her forgiveness. Out through the little gato, and down the sidenalk, earpoted with fallen leaves she passed. Her h( art failed her as Lincoln Hall, stern, stately, and grand, towered up before her. For an instant a wild impulse seized her to turn and leave the spot. Huw would bis sister receive her ? Would she not scorn her when she heard her confession, and with bitter reproaches cast her off forever ? Would not this shame, this contctupt, be harder to bear thau her silent sorrow ? She remenibered that this must be a part of her expiration for her crime. This confession, tortunng her heart as it did, must be made ere she could hope for rest or peace. So she went up the walk with firm, steady steps, and rang the bell. The little parlor to which the servant condueted her was warm and cheerful. Near the window a lady was seated, Percy's sister, the resemblanee was too strong to be mistaken. Kneeling by her side, her face buried amid the folds of her dress, May related all the sad story. - Freed at last from the restraint she had so long imposed upon it,the heart gave free utterance to the tide of sorrow and despair wliich overwhelmed it. " I do not ask you to forgive me," she sobbed at last, wearily, exhausted by the violence of her emotion. " I know that you cannot, my crime is too great. But if you only knew all that I have suffered you would at least pity me " " Look up, dearest girl. Ilere is one to whom you must go to for forgiveness and not to me." And gcntly disengaging herself from May's clasp, Miss Lincoln left the apartinent. May raised her eyes in astonishment, and met Percy Lincoln's tender gaze. - In a moment his arm encircled her, and resting her head on his shoulder, she sobbed for pardon. " I have nothing to pardon, May, darling," he said, gently. " I was too exacting, altliough I knew George Elliot's true character, and wished to save you from his influence. I am glad that we have had this explanation, May, for now I can leave you with more resignation than before." " Leave me ? " Her eyes asked for an explanation " Yes, dearest, I must go ; for I could not endure to stay and see you the wife of another, nor could I, maimed and helpless as I am, ask you to be my wife." - He glanced at his empty coat sleeve, and May remembered the good left arm buried at Antietani. "I did not mean to see you wlien I arrived last night," he continued, "for I thought I could not endure it, and now it seems so hard to give you up, after this, our brief moment of happiness; but go, I will not longer detain you." " Can you think me so base, so dishonorable, Percy ? " May's voice trembied with wouudod feeling. " I drove you away by my ciuelty - to danger, suffering, everything but death, and now that you have returned, after bravely battling for country, can vou think I have so little honor, so little patriotism, so little pride, a, lo scorn you for your crippled body ? O, Percy, maimed as you are, you are dearer to me than when in the days of your perfect manhood, I promised to be yours for all etcruity. - What I said then, I say uow. Í am yours if you will take me. Will you send me away ? " The lights gleamed eheerily in Keith Lodge the next evening, and robed in snowy white, pure orange blospoms resting on her brow, May promised to love, honor and obey the brave soldier, who had provcd his worth on southern battle fields, and in southern prisons - taunted, scorned, persecuted, but true through all, to the blue-eyed fairy of Keith Lodge.