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Show 320 ROEBUCK. thorn. L et me die for Virgini~. I can die, Julia, even thus-tny 'vife-tny daughter-even thus I can bear to die, but I cannot take a false oath. Death has power over n1y body only; perfidy 'vould taint my soul." "They say, papa, that such oaths, 'vhen taken under c01npnlsion "-- " Tetnpt n1e not, 1ny daughter. Ten1pt not a frail old man. The struggle has already wrung my heart. It has nearly put out ·this flickering life. I might not be able to resist the persuasion of my beloved, my unhappy dau-r_;hter. 0, ~pare your father." Ilis imploring anguish ahnost bereft her of all control over her passion. lie ela. ped one of her hands between both his O\Vn on his breast. She laid her other hand on his forehead. Alternnte1y he lifted his eyes to !leaven in n1ute s~tpplication, or fixed them upon tJ1e face of his daughtee with an expression of tender, yearning, unspeakable love. "Be not too n1uch ca~t down by our misfortunes," he said, 'vhen hD spoke again, "do not give 'vn.y to despair. The J..~onl gave and tho Lord hath taken awny. Blessed be the na1no e>f the Lord. May he protect. you and your mother when I ::un gone.'' After a brief pause he continued-" do not let your heaJ·t be corroded 'vith resentment against our enCJnies. They arc mortals like ourselves, and they are blinded by the passions of war J...~et us forgive as \Ve hope to be forgiven." Again he lay, apparently engaged ·with thoughts 'vhich his \Vaning strength did not enable hi1n to utter. It \Vas Inauifc~t that he was sinking. But ho rallied a little and again addressed his daughter: "J uli.a, I loved the U nioo. I would havo given my .. llOEBUCIC. 321 Jifc t() S:lVC it. Tint it j gone. llO\Vever this \VnX n~ny end, the Union ·whi h I love<1 i ;rone forev r. The free Union of sovereign States can never be rest01; ctl, though the South n1ay be u~jngatetl. If onr States shonl<.l be conquered I trust that the Apixi t of our people \vill not be debase<.l. The hope of ]jberty never dies \vhile the n1anhoocl of the people snrvives. Liberty n1ay be Jestroye<.l in one fonn, like this hotly, nncl yet live on like the soul. God grant that the freedom of our country 1nny endure forever." Julia belicvin <Y that \\·hen her f:tther ceased to ' b speak, his mi11ll \\' :lS occupied \vith n1editations ·which she oun·ht not to interrU])t, waited in ~=:ilence for hi1n t"l to RpC:lk to l1er again. J3llt what she next heard \vas not acldre '~ell to her. lie \vas repenting- " There the \viekecl cease fron1 tronbling, and there the \Yeary be at re t. There the pri~oner -· rest together ; they hear not the voice of the opprCS'Or." 'Vhcn he next addressed her it was to ask if she hn.l ]at e1 y seen II ugh. She replied that she hacl, and that he "\V:ls 'vcll. "Give hin1 my blessing, Julia. Ile is 'vorthy of you. Yon \vill be a good 'vife. lie \vill be a. son to yonr n1other." . . These \Vords 'vere uttered 'v1 th extreme ddliculty. AfL rwarcl, he \Yas ilent, bnt re 'Lle ... s. S01nctimes the s~1gle \Vord ~-wife" or "daughter" mtu·nulrc<.l from hi ' lips. The cbnnges that cnn1e over his face forebod~<.l the ncar npproneh of the hst change of all. J.uh:1. sa\v that the 0n<l \vas nt hand. She sat n1ot10nless, gazing upoa hi n1 and waiting fo:· the drenll even?. At last a placid f'a1rn settled upon lns features: I.Iu1 lir)s n1ovecl-" Ile.1vcn ly Father " -tf1ongh h1s hps 14~~ • |
