“My Jamie's Wraith.”

Northland Age, Volume 3, Issue 7, 18 September 1906, Page 7

“My Jamie's Wraith.”

BY BUZABSTH O. MfII.VAIN Once I heard someone call Mies Lydia an old maid, and I could not understand why such an epithet could be applied to her. Nor although I knew she was only a year younger than my dear mother they had been friends since childhood still there was a lovely appearance of youth and Innocence about her ; So that I, in the healthy conceit of my 61 years and modern development, felt myself the older and stronger. Not that she in any way assumed youthfulness, as so many women make the fatal mistake ot attempting; on the contrary she clung to fashions that I suppose were worn before the war. She often wore a camel's-hair shawl and always braided her dark hair, still so abundant, and but slightly streaked with grey, close to her beautifullyshaped head. Mother often remarks; “Poor dear Lydia, she will wear such dowdy things. I think she looks like an old-fashioned portrait in her simple, straight gown, with delicate laces at her throat and wrists, and that lovely startled look in her starry eyes. "About her there seems to breathe an atmosphere of inward peace, that in all her poverty and loneliness never varies. She is the sympathizer and comfort to us all, but has always been my special friend. All my life it has given peace to my restless nature to Spend an evening with Miss Lydia. Often have I taken refuge with her from our big house, filled with boys and girls too happy and healthy not to bo noisy sometimes. For in contrast with mother’s four sons and two daughters and their numerous friends, not to mention father, who occasionally liked to raise his voice and will in the household, no one disturbed Miss Lydia's quiet; she lived alone with one servant, in a little house. Her father lost money invested in the Confederacy and died about 10 years .ago, and she had no noar relations.

Her two brothers had been killed fighting for the Confederacy, and my mother told mo that her lover had died in the same cause. She never mentioned her lover to me but once—one evening last May—that 1 can never forgot. She often talked of her brothers, and told mo about nursing some prisoners and many other anecdotes of those stirring times that seom so far away from us now.

That evening in May was not long after I became engaged, and thought myself the happiest girl in the world until we quarrelled. It docs not now matter what the silly dispute was about, for wo were both wrohg, though I was the most in fault.

For two days I moped about the house very angry and very miserable knowing I was in the wrong, but far tqo proud to acknowledge it. On the third day mother said ; "Margaret, I wish you would go and see Lydia, she has not been here all the week.”

I went gladly, and, the peaceful atmosphere of Mias Lydia’s dear little room seemed to calm my perturbed spirit.

We chatted on indifferent subjects, but as the sun slowly sank in the West a silence fell on us both. It was broken by Miss Lydia. "Margaret, I am going to tell you something I have never spoken of before. You—you have heard, perhaps, that I was engaged." "Yes, yes !" I cried, eagerly. "You have never heard, I know, that we parted in anger and that I never saw my James again alive. We had always been lovers, I think Certainly I cannot remember when we changed from playmates to lovers James was such a handsome lad with his ruddy cheeks and large blue eyes. He was an only son, had no sisters, was but 10 days older than I so we were always together. We were a little over 18 when the cruel war broke out. "Here in B— almost everyone sympathized with tho South. My two brothers very soon marched away to fight for the sacredness of our homes I think my father would have gone too, but he feared to leave me alone.

"I, like my friends, was full of enthusiasm and felt like a Spartan when I bade my brothers farewell ; but my patriotism faltered when James began to talk of going South The danger was great, as the Federate occupied our city and we were under martial law. "Time passed on, he did not go and my heart grew lighter. He was so young, his mother pleaded, although many younger had given their lives for the cause. >‘My 20th birthday was very near when I noticed a change in James ; sometimes I would not ses him for many days, when before never a day passed without his coming to see me "I was too proud to complain, but I felt very bittenly, and then I was told that he was always at the Howells, and Minna Howell was a very beautiful girl. "I tried to console myself with the thought that he would come to me on my birthday, and then everything would be explained. "We lived in the country, about a mile from what was then the city limits ; it is built up now. "On my birthday I waited ail morning, not very patiently, but James did not come. The afternoon was waning when at last I heard his familiar footstep. My heart beat quickly, but I did not turn my head to look at him.

"Beloved, what is it ?” he whispered tenderly, leaning over me. "Are you vexed that t am late ? I could not help it, I vupaat the Howell’s " "Of course," f Interrupted passionately. “You are tffwhys at tho Howells. If you prefer Mona Howell to me go to her andf taka her this—l do not value it. So saying I tore from my neck a locket containing hia likeness and sank on tho sofa in a torrent of tears. James was perfectly silent for a moment, thn la * •’M , I only* ere Igo

. - . ■ ' " tt ■> |; j told yen »fcy I want (teal mm Uvs. than my own Hung an My silence. Now I Mil yon that I am going South. I cannot have the beat blood in tha country flowing IIU water and I stop at home. I can't tail ho# or whsa I am going, already I haw said too much. Walls have ears these sad times. I must go—soon. Will you say good-bye 1" "His voice softened, faltered, broke but I made no reply. It was not that I was still angry ; oh, no. I was so horrified at his leaving me I could not speak. ’’ 'Still angry 1 Goodbye. Not a word. So help me Ood, I will return and hear you say you love and understand me.’

•He rushed from the room, and I, too late, called after him :

"James I. James ! my love, coma back ! He did not hear me. Our coloured waiter whom I met at the parlour door said he mounted his horse at once and rode furiously away. After moaning and sobbing in my room for hours, I bethought myself of my locket ; but, though I searched the drawing-room for hours I could not find it.

"That night James and several other young men left the city only just in time, for next day the Howell house was searched by Federal soldiers and Mrs. Howell was arrested. My father was also arrested, and alter l)e was confined in tho City Gaol for four or five weeks he was released without tripl. While he was away from me I was taken care of by my faithful mammy, whose grief was great when she found out about my father’s arrest and that it was caused by our waiter, who had charged him with 'encouraging the rebellion.’ , That one of her race should be false! "I had another companion—Minna Howell—her brothers gone, her mother arrested, she was alone, so she stayed with me for six months. Her mother was more unfortunate than my father—but you have heard that sad story. "One evening in the early summer 1 was sitting alone on our porch watching the moonlight ; Minna, sad and dispirited, had gone to lied. "The moon was half full, and 1 was watching her sink in the western sky, when suddenly I heard a low sigh. I turned my head quickly, and there; standing on the gravelled road was James. Was it the moonlight that made him look so pale ? I roe* to my feet, wild with joy : "My darling you have come back. Forgivo me, I never doubted jou.” Pouring forth theoo words I ran swiftly to his side. Ho smiled, but did not speak, and fear seized my heart.

"Janies ! speak to me ! You are so pale. Are you ill ? I cried, and strove to clasp him to me, but my arms passed through empty air. There was no one there. A cloud hid the moon ; a cold air passed by mo. I cried out in agony : " ‘My love ! My love !’ and fell senseless to the ground. "At that vory hour, my James was shot by the Federal sentry as he was escaping from the prison wher he was confined. The only one caught of that party of men going South. Yes, he was shot, but his spirit came to tell me he forgave me. Now he awaits me before the Great White Throne, where all wrongs will bfc righted, and all nations judged. "You know, dear Margaret, why I have told you my story. Tdo not wish to see another life marred by foolish pride. Kiss me good-night, dear, it is almost too late for you to be out. Go. I am very tired." With softened heart, and eyes full of tears I kissed the dear lady and loft her. As I closed her door behind me some one came out of the dusk and humbly asked if he might walk home wilh me. Mow could I refuse, with my heart full of sorrow for my lady’s sad story. We walked side by side almost in silence, when suddenly I know not how, we turned to each other, all our quarrei forgotten, and kissed again with tenrs.