Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-10-02
DEvEREUx DARE. PRIVATE.


Mrs. Ashleigh Dare always looked at her
handsome, manly son, with n maternal pride
which was altogether eXcusable. They were
a nne couple, Tor any ones seeing, the widow
and her son. Mrs. Dare's forty years had not
met her as enemies. The dark brilliance of
her eyes was undimmed. Scarcely thread of
silver fecked the raven blackness of her hair.
Her complexion kept bright still its clear, dark
tints; and even her figure had not lost its old
sta.:-Iy grace. The hauenIy French blood IN
her veins was not chilled either. She was Is fit
to be the mother of Il hero as she had been TO be
Colonel Dare's wif-Colonel Dare, whose
back no foeman ever saw.
Her son was after her own heart He had
her dark eyes and hair her sparkling EXPIRES
sion, and Huguenot hauteur; all intensified in
him, however, by the long during, persistent
nature of his father, which he had inherited
with 4 certain resolute contour of mouth.
which was the only external sign of his pater-
nifty. For all the rest he was, ontwardlv. q
DeyPreuN. No need TO ask from which side his
courage came-neither Dare nor Deverrux had
ever reckoned coward among their children.
They had been discussing, these two, en-
dreadful day at Bull Run, when the country
needed so bitterly all her childre2, and every
loyal heart was tlrobbing to one anguish OF
endeayor. Regiments were being filled up
rapidly, and young Dare, Just home, in the
spring of 1851, from his three years Of foreign
travel, was only waiting his mothers consent
10 enlist. He looked At her now with pers ua-
sIye eyes.
at should not De you, mamma. the daugh-
ter OF heroic race, the widow OF a man who
got his death blow in the front of the fray, who
would hold hack yOur son when the land of
his fathers needs him.
a. do not, Deycreux. / am willing you
should enlist, II only you will use the interest
oil your family to pre- cure you a suitable COM
mission
81 may not be worthy of one. 1 have not
yet proved my fitness to rule"
Your fitness! 1t is in your blood"
"Nell then, seriously, do not ucdat n COM
MISSION, because 1 feel sure that L can do
more good by going as private. All can not
be officers, and more men than Won think are
holding back because they can net They saw
1T is the lower order. who serve i'll the ranks;
we VIII not fight unless our Comrades can be
gentlemen Every one is waiting for some
other. Do you think there are not men fiji
Boston who Will follow the flag the more
readily II they march in company with my
fathers son ~
"YoUr father would not have done-did not
do-what you wish to do"
..Because he was needed otherwise"
he knelt down beside her, just then. that
handsome, gallant fellow, whom all women
found so fascinating. He rested his head on
her knec-it was an old. b9yish trick he had
and looked with those great, pers uading. dark
eyes of his up into her face. His voice was full
Of appeal-his tones grew solemn in their
earnestness. .-. .t..
-" Mother, mus. go. I can only 90 as pri-
rate. for my conviction that that is my duty
is unalterabe. If it is sacrifice il is one that
must be made. Will not you make ii with ME!
Ii Won keep me back l should hardly be will
ing to accept life on such terms It would only
be a long misery, with the ghost OF this ur+ui
filled duty stalking beside me forr.yer Re
brave, mother, brave and kind. IL shouId
fail In battle, and lie beside Some Sontbern
stream with my life blood tbbing way. let me-.
not have to think, when your voice and yonr
without your blessing"
The heart the quick, impulsive, womans
heart, through which the eager French blood
throbbec, was softened. Tears fell from the
eli
short curis OF the head upon her siIkcn lap.
Then she put her hands on those thick curls
with caressing touch, and said to him:
"fou have conquered. L viii not keep Won
back from the duty your eyes see so clearly
Iou may be right. At any rate, if You 90, YOU
shall 90 with my blessing, and remember that
one at home prays for you every hour"
Tears, not hers, wet the hand her son drew
TO his mouth. Strongest hearts in the fray are
tenderest oftentiInes al the hearth-stone.
Ihat was one struggle and one yictorS The
soldier had yet another conflict to darp-a
harder one possibly-in the boudoir of Clara
He went there that night after his enlist
ment had been registered She was his ne
trothed wife, and he loved her rs brave man
can love q true woman. II NAV be that he
feared her httle, also If he did, forgive him,
Tor there was nothing else out of heaven that
ne did fear. In her case il was only because
sne was so precious 10 him that no calamity,
save loss OF honor, could have been reckoned
6y the same measure as loss of her. Somehow
ne shrank from telling her his plan and meet
ing the look he fancied her eyes would wear
when She heard il; and so he had unfoldpd il
To her in a note which she had received that
morning. He hoped that she would have re.
concllrd herself 10 his views before he saw her
think he eoald have done a good many
sterner things with less Tutoring of the hear
then he felt when he walked into the little
azure-hung room where she waited for him.
she was beauty of a different type from his
handsome mother; but of one no less naughty
She was pure Sax oa, with hair of dun goId
and blue eyes which could swim in seas of pas
siodate tenderness, bat which knew how L
flash scorn, or scintilIate anger lust the uo
man for long loving or long hating. Your darl
eyed beauties are too stormy: their emotions
exhaust themselves. For slow, strong patience
III hating or loving, give me slight woman
with fair hair and innocent looking blue eyes
Miss Gage met her lover cordially enough
awary general does not commence his attach
MI Nv has reconnOitrred the field IL ne car
MAINTAIN his own line of defence and lure TIT
Enemy 10 leave covert and begin the battle, &
nueh me better the chances in his fiTor Per
maps oilss Gage had read Hardpe
ohe oalAed smliingly about the weather. Sh,
Has kolhs, next week, to Newport-couffn'
she persuade him to got They would hay,
Il shall have 10 do with other halls b.
kaid, little resOlutely, deterrninad - r.
should beat no longer about tba b,si ,,t y. S ii'
purpose. oush VI LIE
She raised her eyebrows slightly.
.sSaratoga p
"Virginia, rather"
"a bad time 70 60 South in summer,
Necessity makes all times alike Did Won
not get my noter' ~"
morning about enlisting Did You think 6ir
not know you better Fancy Deyereux Dar
uudging through the Virginia mud, with tia
roiled.up bundle, whatever they call it. on hi
backp'
alt is well 10 fancy IL, Clara. 1t will b. rea
soon. i enlisted TO- night"
'Witnout askisg mer'
TO BIZ CONTINUED