te individuality of character that I hope an
extended sphere of usefulness for you, if you survive this war. Our country
will demand your services, and I shall be proud and happy in the knowledge
that you are faithfully and conscientiously discharging the duties of a
statesman."

He shook his head sadly, placing his palm under her chin, and tenderly
raising the face, in order to scan it fully.

"Irene, give me a likeness of yourself as you stand now; or, if you prefer
it, have a smaller one photographed to-morrow from that portrait on the
wall, and send it to me by express. I shall be detained in Richmond several
days, and it will reach me safely. Do not, I beg of you, refuse me this. It
is the only consolation I can have, and God knows it is little enough! Oh,
Irene, think of my loneliness, and grant this last request!"

His large brilliant eyes were full of tears, the first she had ever seen
dim their light, and, moved by the grief which so transformed his
lineaments she answered hastily--

"Of course, if you desire it so earnestly, though it were much better that
you had nothing to remind you of me."

"Will you have it taken to-morrow?"

"Yes."

She covered her face with her hands for some seconds, as if striving to
overcome some impulse; then, turning quickly to him, she wound her arms
about his neck, and drew his face down to hers.

"Oh, Russell! Russell! I want your promise that you will so live and govern
yourself that, if your soul is summoned from the battlefield, you can
confront Eternity without a single apprehension. If you must yield up your
life for freedom, I want the assurance that you have gone to your final
home at peace with God; that you wait there for me; and that, when my work
is done, and I, too, lay my weary head to rest, we shall meet soul to soul,
and spend a blessed eternity together, where strife and separation are
unknown."

His black locks lay upon her forehead as he struggled for composure, and,
after a moment, he answered solemnly--

"I will try, my darling."

She put into his hand the Bible, which she had carefully marked and which
bore on the blank leaf, in her handwriting, "Colonel Russell Aubrey, with
the life-long prayers of his best friend."

The shadow fled from her countenance, which grew radiant as some fleecy
vapour suddenly smitten with a blaze of sunlight, and clearer and sweeter
than chiming bells her voice rang through the room.

"Thank God for that promise!