Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-01-18


"Miss Delevan wish you would let me ask
you plump question:"
''I will"
"Are you not engaged to Mr. Mays1"
Engaged to Raymond Mays? No. What
put such thought In your headi"
81 can hardly tell; but somehow received
aAnd that Is why you were surprised that I
told him was anxious for all men TO go' Mr..
Ventnor, have never talked very earnestly
upon any earnest topic with you, not because
have doubted your earnestness, but because
have met so few persons who feel just as / do
upon many things that am shy Of speaking
But after your avowal a moment since, know
you will understand me when say that, were
to stay behind at this issue, even awaiting q
commission, she concluded, smiling.
He looked at her with a new expression.
This was fine, and he told her so. 'Ht
81 don't know" she went on, thoughtfully.
Sometimes think it is because 1 haven't
been tried In that particular manner Women
whose husbands and lovers have gone, and to
whom have expressed this, say am unwo-
manly, or that 1t is because have never
loved"
" 1t is because you are unselfsh," he ex-
claimed, with energy THAT Is the mistake
half the women make. They rarely discern
between selfshness and unselfshness, where
the heart is concerned. And you, Miss Dele
van, are the first woman I ever met who
could"
The honest admiration with which he re-
garded her at this point was unmistak able.
Ii pleased her CT course, and she expressed it
by saying, simply, "I am glad you think so. !"
He gave quick look into her face. Such q
mixture of frahkness and reserve, he couldn't
make her out. Musing, he presently said !:
Carlotta ~ Then, resollecting, "PardOn
m al
She waved her hand at him deprecatingly,
and interrupted with, "No, no; call me Car
lotta. like people-I-to call me Carletta !"
What was she about to say? 81 like peo.
ple-I-to call me Carlotta." He wished he
knew.
- But say on, she resumed, what were you
going to say to Carlotta? ?"
"Oh, just fact which may sound like mere
compliment, but which assure you is not,
that before to-day thought you something
sWeeter than most young ladies; but now you
stand to me as type of what woman should
ben
"oh, that is great deal to say; but think
you mean it as you assert"
Yes, mean Ii, Carlotta, and more-go on
as you have to me; talk out such sentiments
Be brave and honest and true to whatever con-
yictons you may have, however unpopular
they may be. Will your
He was very earnest-not gallant as Ray
mond Mays would have been0but in hearty
earnest fer the truths sake
81 will try" she answered. Then she
thought, "He called me Carlotta-how sweetIy
he says it! He is certainly very 6ne, and
hGndsonIer than ayUaOnd Mays"
Alas for Raymond Mays, Two or three
more days went by, and the band played, and
the carriages rolled, and the people took life
gaily in sound Of the great surging sea at this
thorOughfare of fashion. In this time, "Vayle
g1
with la Carlotta. From the text of that morn.
ing they had gone on into the deeper waters
Of existence-had talked finer and freer, and
thus discovered much more of each other
In the mean time Raymond Mays, handsome
fellow-much handsomer, be il known, than
Vayle Ventnor-meantime he chafed and fret
ed inwardly at this ripen,Dg acquaintance, and
outwardly conducted himself in a most dis
daintul manner toward the former gentleman.
I" The girls head is turned with his wealth
and position" he clustered one night to Ward
Wyman. rar.
mo, no, Mays; be generous; don't think
that OF Carlotta; besides, you don't know Vent
nor-you tcon't know him, that's it. There
never was a finer fellow in the world"
Mays sneered and turned away.
1t happened that very night that he was
present at club-room, and heard a converse
tien between Ventnor and another, wherein
Ventnor gave his reasons and opinions pretty
much as he had done before Carlotta Deieyan.
Still Mays sneered and scoffed.
The conversation wandering off, lieutenant
of the regular army suddenly said:
I" Here is Mays now who is waiting, and with
better reason than most? Mays was in the Cri-
mea, you know"
"No, I don't know"
:" Yes, he was in Europe at the time, and
joined the allied forces out of sheer bloodthrsti-
ness, 1 believe. Isn't 50, Mays? Here, come
out Of your corner, and tell us all about it."
Mays ''came out" saying there was nothing
to tell, modestly and little Grossly.
But Ventnor was 30 interested, 30 genial and
frank, there was no resisting; so Mays told
them ' all about it, . that he knew
"Berge says you were the best drilled soldier
Of all the volunteers, Mays" the lieutenant
went on, and that you had at one time the
temporary command Of a company"
Why, should think it was easy enough
then for you to get a commission, one said
Mays shrugged his shoulders, and retorted
Bah! haven't influential friends in the
right department, you know"
Vayle Ventnor blazed forth in the same in
dignant protest that he had brought forward
upon another occasion, and whom he had ended
there was q determined look around his firm.
set mouth that told Of q purpose When Raw
mond Mays left the club-room that night it
was actually with friendly nod to Ventnor's
cordial "Good night :" ra.-tt.
A few days more and the furlough would
have expired. "Vayle Ventnor, Private, /"
was sound, hearty man again. There was
no excuse now for delay, though the band
played Die Sehonbrunner'' in such melting,
memorising strains, and the "Star-Spangled
Banner" rolled through the halls. WhistIing
the latter Justify to GET the former out Of his
head, he was rushing up stairs and around
eorner-that fatal corner-when swirl, came
q silk gown and its owner. He opened his
arms in a assh-into them he took the silk
gesn and all-all the pretty, pretty wearer
He gathered her up with little exulting
laugh, and set her down inside the private
parlor; but not until he had said, "Carlotta,
be my Carlotta, you little darling!" and she
had promised she would. -,
" SO You are engaged, Carlotta ?" Raymond
Mays remarked, short time after this.
Yes, am engaged, Raymond" -
"Weil, give you my congratulations. Car
lotta, look here.@ Hehanded her an open let
ter. She read-an appointment to Captaincy
in the -th Regiment. &c 60
sob, am 30 glad for you !" she exclaimed.