rils and voice hoarse with emotion, answered slowly and
impressively:

"I would marry Lieutenant Reynolds if he had only his ears left to hear
me tell him how much I love and honor him! Arthur Grey! Don't talk to me
of him! the craven coward, who will neither volunteer nor give a cent
for our poor, suffering soldiers, but turns people off with: 'Government
provides,' or 'the stores do not reach them,' and all those subterfuges
to which mean men resort to keep from giving, and to avoid the draft
swore he was forty-five, when we all know better. Don't insult Robert
with such a comparison, or think I will break my faith with him."

After this no more was said to Bell, who waited anxiously for further
news from Bob, and who, the moment she heard he was at home, went to his
father's house, and asked to see him.

He was sleeping when she entered his room, and pushing back the heavy
curtain, so that the light would fall more directly upon him, Mrs.
Reynolds went out and left her there alone.

With a beating heart, she stood looking at his hollow eyes, his sunken
cheek, his short, dry hair, and thick, gray skin--all marks of the
brutal treatment he had received. She did not think of his arm until she
glanced at the wall where hung a large-sized photograph, taken in full
uniform the last time he was at home, and in which his full,
well-developed figure showed to good advantage. Could it be that the
wreck before her had ever been as full of life and vigor as the picture
would indicate, and was that arm which held the sword severed from the
body, and left a token of the murderous war?

"Poor Bob! how much he must have suffered," she whispered, and kneeling
down beside him, she hid her face in her hands, weeping bitter tears
for her armless hero.

The motion awakened Robert, who gazed for a moment in surprise at the
kneeling, sobbing maiden; then, when sure it was she, he raised himself
in bed, and ere Bell could look up, two arms, one quite as strong as the
other, were wound around her neck, and her head was pillowed upon the
breast, which heaved with strong emotions as the soldier said:

"My darling Bell, my promised wife, you don't know how much good this
meeting does me!"

He kissed her many times, and Bell did not prevent it, but gave him kiss
after kiss, then, still doubting the evidence of her eyes, she unclasped
his clinging arms, and holding both his poor hands in hers, gave vent to
a second gush of tears as she s