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Show 818 ROEBUCK. ".1\fny God con1fort her." "V\Then she sees yon again she will be happy. " "Ah, 1ne! JHy unhappy ,,,ifc ! " "\V e shaH be happy yet, papa.'' "Y eR-hercafter," he said, looking upward. HAt hon1c, dear pnpa." "Yes, in !leaven." "You must recover your health. W c shall go to mother. Then love 'vill n1ake us all happy." "Do not delude yourself, n1y daughter. We n1ust now look for happiness beyond this ·world. J\fy gentlo ~fary! .1_\lfy 'vife, 1ny \vife, n1y wife ! " . "I.Jisten to me, n1y dear papa. I have an order for your release fi·on1 itnprisontnent." "Can this be true, J ulb 1 Then I may live to seo my 1\fary." lie uttered these 'vorcls \vith more vigor than ho had displayed since his daughter entered the room. His face 'vas suddenly lighted 'vith a flash of joy. lie laid his thin hand on Julia's 'vaist, and feebly pressing her to hitn, he kissed her fondly. The new-born hope of frecdozn and of household endearments 'vas very sweet. The calm of resignation, 'vhich had before succeeded, the extinction of hope, \vas ruffied. For a few mornents he cherished his joy in silence. His imagination flew to her 'vhozn he had loved so long, so wisely and so ·well. The in1age of his daughter went 'vith hin1 to the side of his wife, and his love revelled in domestic bliss. Julia saw this happiness in his face, ancl she feared to dnsh it by an allusion to the condition upon 'vh ich he was to be released. She was silent until he spoke. "Why, then, my darling, do 've remain here longer?" he whispered at last. ROEDUCK. 319 "Are yon able to g-o~" sl1e nHked, 'vith compassionate CYnsion. "Yes, yes ; let n1c be carried away. I 1nust sec n1y wife. I have not long to Jive. I 1nnst see n1[ly 'vifo once 1nore. \Vhy do yon look troubled, daughter '? I can hear the p:tin of removal. J .. ct ns go." '~ 0, n1y dear pap:t, I 1nust tell you. The order i:-; that you must take the oath of allegiance to the Federal govern1nent before you 'vill be re1ense<l." lie gazed at her a little 'vh ilc, as if he did not fnliy con1prehend the import of her 'vords. Then his eye~ closed. llis pallid cheeks gradual I y became 1 i vi d. Ilis lips 1noved but nttcred no sonncl. Ilis finger:-1 grnspecl the straw nervously. Juli:t trembled 'vilh nlann. She feared that the last Ahock had kiiiecl h e r father. She ahnotlt ,·hriekecl; bnt she held her heart to its terrible task. She " ras still to sustain ana COlllfort her f.ttthcr. Bending ovet· hitn, she kis.·e1l hiH bro,v, an<l ' vhi. pored, "Pap:1, speak to 1ne. Speak to yonr Julia." lie opened hi:-; eyes and munnurcd a blessing upon his devoted child. She helJ his hand and softly pressed it, but again her e1notion 'vn ' swellin o- so hiO'h that she conltl not trust herself to utter a b u 'vorcl. After a long pause, 'vhieh Aee1ncd like death he lookc·d np and said, "I [UTI re igned, Julia. Gocl'A " rill bo done." lie relapsed into silence, although hiH " lips n1ovecl as if he repeated to hin1self 'vhat 'vas passing in his 1nincl. " I cnnnot, 1ny dnnghter," at length he s:ti<.l, "wh ilc Viro·in ia rCJnnins' di!':ltinct fro1n the Federal b o-overnn1ent -I c:tnuot take that oath. J\Iy allegiance n ' is (1ne to 1ny State. I w .ill not a~jure her in h er diro cxtretnity. I 'vill not betray the cause of n1y fellow citizens \vho daily 1narch to death. Let 1ne die with |
