Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-12-28


the postal service, and who, though not exactly
Prince OF Wales, viii, one Of these days, have
no less right, perhaps, to the title of king
Army Buttsns vs. Hazel Eyes.
By REX.
l was in delirium Os love.
The dark hazel eyes and still darker hair
subdued me moro than ever a frowning battle
ment awed sforlorn hope Of ffty brave hearted
soldiers. L had faced murderous Indians on
their own hunting grounds; their fendish yells
had aroused me from my midnight slumbers
to actisn; | had marched unf;nchingiy for
ward, leading my men, while arrows and bull
lets fell like nail around me. All this had
met with comparative equEnimity, and re-
turned to the metropolis Of our nation only to
be subdHed by woman.
Yet Helen Sparrow wss fair and beautiful as
an Italian sky. Conscious of her fascin atoms
she made no effort to entrap me; but sailed
as quietly into her net as the wild swan into
the snare Of the huntsman. There the simile
ends, for | huttered not the least bit, but
yielded heart and soul to her bewitching in
fuence
Army buttons" ere proverbially inconsis-
tant, and / was no exception to the general
rule. On this occasion L was fairly caught in
my own net, SO carefully woven for Helen.
My Irritation assumed a serious aspect-I loved
her, yet knew she mistrusted me.
1t was in the summer of 50 that the War De-
psrtment granted me furlough Of two months
and then 1t was | met her. But three weeks
had passed, and | would have thrown mp my
commission had Helen even hinted that such a
sacrifice would crafty her.
At the expiration of that time, party, con-
sistiEg OF Helen. Gertrude St. Clair, Captain
Cares-a former messmate-the old folks and
myself, was formed for trip to Niagara The
old folks took care Of themselves the Captain
had charge Of q critic, and Helen fell under my
especial protection.
At Niagara, the International was filed TO
its uCmost capacity. North and South had
poured their fairest daughters into this cSui-
dron OF fashionable excitement, and handsome
sons had followed the wsnderings Of their fair
tRam0ratzs. Among all, Helen-to me-was
the fairest. With her eyes viewed the mighty
torrent as il pitched headlong into the seething
abyss; when she was sad I was despondent;
when she smiled was all viyacity. We walked
rode, talked, laughed and wept together, until
my love amounted to frenzy, and my frenzy to
madness
But this state Of things could not last long,
for was even then q it candidate for lunatic
asylum. would have given worlds, had they
been mine, to recall the first week or so of our
acquaintance, when had made a bosst of nv
many Airtations and scoffed at the very exis-
tence OF such thing as pure and lasting love.
bad rdleuled it, one evening, as a naudlin
sentiment, and denounced il the next as the
moonshine ofjuvenile precocity. For all which
was soon 10 reap my reward-and a bitter
one it proved to be.
II was a calm and beautiful night, such
one as is designed especially for lovers Helen
and had left the frivolous dance and ssrolled
away, Ostensibly to view the Falls by moon
light. We had reached the bank of the river,
and seated ourselves on convenient rock in
sight OF the mig ghty cataract. Tne final week
OF my furlough was drawing to Il close. We
had been cOnversing about constancy and
though my sentiments were materially changed
since our hrst acquaintance, was afraid to
betray my Inconsistency BY expressing them
Ny views of love were somewhat modified, and
as that subject naturally followed the other,
the spirit prompted me 10 try the virtue of ac-
tOn. With a sudden impulse fell upon nv
knees and poured into her attentive ears nv
tale Of love. Half doubtingly, but with becom-
ing gravity, she listened; occasionally at some
unusual Outburst Of sentiment, a faint smile
played over her face, but only for an instsnt.
My vanity whisps cred that i: was the excess of
JOY that filled her. At length I Preached the
mOmentous questionable imaginary turning
point in my existence. Size placed her soft
white band in mine, and while kissed it en-
thusiastically, circulating in the interim
"Mine, mine fOreyer.' with the other she
raised her handkerchief to her eyes and turned
aside her head, as / supposed, TO conceal the
joyful tears which would naturally dim her
vision. did not learn, till several days SUBJ
sequently, that ii was simply to smother a
laugh at my ridiculous actions
.. / returned 10 the hotel iubiIant. and in the
extremity Of happiness. Happy had it been for
me had l, by accident, fallen over the preci-
pice, for the dizzy height from which / was
about to be thrOsn brought me in the end
more sorrow and anguish.
A few days passed. and received orders to
report for duty at Fort Leavenworth as early
III aalIa al Il
parlor. Wewere alone. The parting was very
like all such which have been described a thou
sand times on paper, and occurs at least once
In the life OF every one. / renewed nv vows
and prorestations, but she was submissively
tranquil. The last farewell was spoken; a final
kiss imprinted on her fair brow; had NV
hand on the knob Of the door, when she drew
from her pocket letter and gave it to me-
She bowed sweetly, and sorrowfully returned
to my own room
With eager expectation opened the letter.
and here is copy of it, word foE word as she
penned it: -
NIAGARA, September. 1858
Ny Excellent Friend: The time for part
Ing has come; the farce Is ended Let us raise
the curtain and calmly review the events of
the past two months. 80.
1Ou returned to your home with the crown
Of VistOry upon your brow. You were courted
and hattered justly by all I was proud of
your marked attentions, and felt the first
dawnings Of love for you in my heart Evening
after evening you were with me. Ine impulses
Of your nature prompted you to make MANY
developments which taught me caution. You
scofsd at true love as an ideality and at con-
stancy as existing only in story. You related
what you were pleased to call your harmless
Gsrtafi0Hs,' and the very recital of them proved
the fallacy of your unbelief.
Does not your heart soften when the pic-
ture Of that hesrt-broken Spanish girl rises
before yOu9 Has the presence of death no
power 10 mbdue you' Does not the pale spec
Ter Of your dark-eyed Isabel haunt YOU in
your dreams How can your sleep be quiet
when you recall the beseecbing look and tender
suppiication Of your prairie bird, who even
now mOurns your absence and awaits in vain
your return
''Yet will not add to your unhappiness, but
let conscience do its work.
bad no confidence in the sincerity Of your
professions until a week before leaving home
AT no time have l believed in your constancy,
yet I encouraged you, for the voice Of those
you had wronged seemed to call for vengeance.
Whether they had been avenged leave to
your own feelings Coald they have witnessed
the scene near the Falls perhsps they would
have been then satisfied. ITO nv handker-
~ ~ II i