The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1860-10-24
Army Buttons vs.. Hazel Eyes.
was in a delirium of love.

SuDuUGu IU0 Il1OIC lHdIl cfSI d lIO"HluS put-
tement awed forlorn hope of fifty brave
hearted soldiers. had faced murderous
Indians on their own hunting grounds; their
fendish yelIs had aroused me from my
midnight slnmbers 10 action had march
ed nnfnchingy forward, leading my men,
while arrows and bullets fell like hail
around me. All this had met with com
Parative equanimity, and returned 10 the
metropolis of our nation only TO be subdu-
ed by woman.
Yet Helen Sparrow was fair and beauti-
iul as an Italian sky. Conscious of her fas-
cination, 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 simie ends, for futtered not
the least bit, but yielded heart and soul 10
her bewitching influence.
"Army buttons" are proverbially incon
slant, and was no exception 10 the gener-
al rule. On this occasion | was fairly
caught in my own net, so carefully woven
for Helen. My filtration assumed serious
aspect-I loved her, yet | knew she mis-
trusted me.
1t was in the summer of SO that the War
Department granted me furlough of two
months, and then it was | met her. But
three weeks had passed, and would have
thrown up my commission had Helen even
hinted that such a sacrifice would crafty
her
AT the expiration of this time, party,
consisting of Helen, GeIIude St. Clair Cap
tain Cares-a former messmate-the old
folks and myself, was formed for trip TO
Niagara. The old folks took care OF them
selves, the.captain had charge of Gerle, and
Helen fell under my especial protection.
At Niagara, the International was filed
10 lis utmost capacity. North and South
had poured their fairest daughters into this
caudron of fashionable excitement, and
handsome sons had followed the wander
inss of their fair indmoratas. Among all,
Heen-to me-was the fairesi. With her
eyes ] viewed the mighty torrent as it
pitched headlong into the seething abyss !;
when she was sad was despondeEt; when
she smiled was all vivacity. We walked
rode, talked, laughed and wept together,
until my love amounted TO frenzy, and my
frenzy 20 madness.
Bat this state of things could not last
long, for was even then fit candidate for
a lunalic asylum. | would have given
worlds, had they been mine, 10 recall the
first week or so of our acquaintance, when
had made a boast of my many hirtations
and scoffed at the very xstence of such a
thing as pure and lasting love | had ridi
culed it, one evening, as a maudlin senti-
ment, and denounced it the next as the
moonsh;ne of juvenile precocity. For all
which was soon to reap my reward-and
bitter one ii proved TO be.
1t was calm and beautiful night, such a
one as is designed especially for lovers
Helen and had left the frivolous dance
and strolled away, ostensibly to view the
Fails by moonlight We had reached the
bank of the river, and seated ourselves on a
convenient rock in sight of the mighty cat
aract. The Final week oi my furlough was
drawing to a close We had been convers.
ing about constancy, and slough my senti-
ments we're materially changed since our
first acquaintance, | was afraid TO betray
my inconsistency by expressing them. My
views of love were somewhat modified, and
as iha, subject naturally followed the other,
the spirit prompted me TO try the virtne Of
action. With a sudden impulse fell upon
my knees and poured into her ears my tale
of love. Half doubtingly, but with becom-
/ ing gravity, she listened occasionally, at
] some unusual outburst of sentiment, faint
I smile played over her face, but only for an
( instant. My vanity whispered that it was
/ the excess of Joy which filled her AT length
4 reached the momentous question-the
! imaginary turning point in my existence
/ She placed Eer soft white hand in mine, land
/ while kissed ii enthusiastically, ejacula'
/ ting in The interim, "Mne, mine forever n'
with the other she raised her handk kerchiei
/ to her eyes and turned aside her head, as
supposed, 10 conceal the joyful tears which
would naturally dim her vision. did mo-
learn, until several days subsequently, tha
il was simply to smother a laugh at my
! ridiculous actions.
| returned 10 the hotel jubilant, and in
the very extremity of happiness. Happy
had it been for me had |, by accident, fal-
len over the precipice, for the dizzy height
from which i was about TO be thrown
brought me in the end more sorrow anc
anguish.
A few days passed. and received orders
to report for duty at Fort Leavenworth "a
early as possible. called on Helen in he
private parlor. We were alone. The part
ing was very like all such, which have
been described a thousand times on paper
and occurs at least once in the life of ever
one. renewed my vows and prolesalions