The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-03-12

upon the air. The dance music sounded mer
lily, for it was only the February OF '6l, ant
people used TO dance then-before the natiol
had been turned into two classes only soldier
and mourners.-Ethe Darricott was tired
She had been on the floor all the evening. Sh'
was glad now, 10 obey her partners lead, ant
stop for a moment to rest upon a sofa, In tn
recess formed by q bay window. The littl
nook was deserted just then, as it CHANGED ,ant
it looked quiet and inviting-a little with
drawn from the cnnfusion, and yet in sight o
all the light, and glitter, and movement,
Miss Darricott had danced more than hal
the evening with the same partner-Hewart
Revere. He was a handsome. naughty, indo
lent man young, still, scarcely twenty-fr
indeed but with an air of command, careless
yet absolute, that made you think him much
older. There was something inscrutable, some
thing which biqued your curiosity, in the ex'
preston ofhis tace-a look in his dark eyes
which might mean so many things that you LOST
YOURSELF a midst of speculation. He was tai
and vigorous. with muscles that would have
made the strong men crazy with envy and
yet d lazy, nonchalant air, as if ne would like
some one to save him the trouble of lifting his
own fingers, .
Miss Darrieott was happy. sitting there by
his side, both of them were silent, with the
bright dresses and fair faces circling" mazily in
front of them, and the dance music so merrily
that it was sad with its own madness of mirth
sounding in their ears. They looked on foi
awhile without sp~eaking-theu Miss. DarricotI
said, musingly
A great many pretty faces, aren't there p
/ suppose so. l was just wondering why none
of them looked particularly pretty to IN ]
wonder is it always so Ethel, that when a man
truly loves one, lie sees come defect in all 9th
ers because they are not just like her z,
He had never called her Ethel before, 1t
quickened her heart-beatsa little, and she did
not answer him because she did not know what
to say, He did not notice, at least he went
on S. eaking slowly, half involuntarily as it
werewords which would be said.
Il don't know why 1 tell you now Ethel.
surely did not mean to when / made you sit
down here, but l love you. | want you to be
mine. My wife, by my side forever-to fill up
a great void in my life. What does your he art
say 2 can you come?'
Miss Darricott did not speak for a little
while. She was asking herself his question
over again. 1t was not whether she loved him
but whether she could share his destiny, be his
wife She grew pale a little before she spoke,
but her reply when it came was firmly spoken
No
Howard Revere turned and looked at her
looked into her eyes, aud at her face, whose
language was as firm as her tone had been. He
did not expostulate with her or entreat her
1t would not have been like him, He only
bowed.
will you dance y said he, rising a moment
after, as a new set was forming. She put a
cold hand in his, and went again among the
dancers.
Miss. Darricott had a cousin, a year Older
than herself, alittle less beautiful, but with 6
keen insight into men and things. She was
an orphan, living with the family of her uncle
Dorricott, almost as a daughter. That night
the two fingered over the fire in the little dress
ing room between their two rooms, and talked
together as girls do after a ball. Only Ethe
was a little more silent than usual, and hel
cousin Grace watched her anxiously but fur
lively.
Have you lost something 2 Grace inquired
at length, with a covert meaning in her tone
No, l believe not glancing at rings anG
bracelets.
Lost not \ good word perhaps. l mean have
YOU not thrown away something Tonight tina
ION will want, and seek for vaiDiy as the year.
go our
Ethel's eye fell beneath the keen yet kindly
glance which searched her face. Her cheek,
colored. Her answer was a question scarcely
to the point.
How do you know everything, Grace ? How
do you guess this 2
i saw it ali in a pantomine, Words could
not have been Sc expressive as your face, anC
his. | am sorry, for believe ycu love him.
L fear [ do. Bun he did not ask me that he
only asked me if | ould be his wife.
And YOU told him no; l am sorry, for l do mo-
think he will ever ASK again. Ii You love him
why not marry him = i. -.
Because | feared I m ight stop loving hin
some day. To live the lis tless. almless life We
women do is bad enough. 1t otfends both my
tastes and my principles to see a man ldilns
away his life in this work. where so many mar
vest fields are waiting
Grace looked at her cou. sin with a changed
expression.
Il thought / understood YOU Ethel,sand ye
l should never have given you credit tor suct
a reason. What you say is cer tainly fight II
the main, only l do not think it applies 10 Mr.
Revere. There is Inference between an idle
aimless LIE, and one of waiting till ones RICH
work comes
What makes you reckon Mr.. Reve re among
the walters p
Because tits not in his nature to lite idle,
ness or ~inaction. l can see that he is FESTIVE
under It. But he is not fond of vain labor Oh
wasting strength. Did you never learn that
those VINO wait serve also = Howard Revere's
time will come and his life will be one not to
d shame any woman that loved him. But it's
useless talking now. 1t would not be like him
ever to say over again what he said to-
night
Ethel Darricott tried to be light hearted when
she was alone but it was a miserable failure.
and she gave up at last to the tears that would
come. Her cousins words disquieted her
strangely. Had she, indeed, thrown away the
oce pure pearl, fate would proffer her in this
life, and would its while glory never again
gladden. heart and eyes, though she should seek
a place of repentance even with tears?
SO it went on until the surrender ofSumotor,
and the call for vlunteers which summoned the
loyal north TO arms. Among the first to volun-
teer his services, was the man she had thought
SO fond of ease and self, so fearful of fatigue, SO
laggard in the race of life. His name was en-.
rolled as a private at first, but mis- company
chose him as Captain, and so Captain Revere
led on TO the defense of Washington.
Before he left, he called to bid Ethel good
bye, but other guests were in the drawing~room
ana he did not see her alone. Only when he
was leaving, she stepped to the door, and he
held her hand for a moment. Perhaps that
touch ~conjured his soul to his lips. At any rate
he said what he had not meant to say
, You are not all to me that ! once hoped you
n would be, Ethel but you are my friend are
+ you not? You will think of me sometimes, and
be sorry for me if l fall?'
You will not fall said Ethel resolutely for
s cling back the tears that threatened to choke
e her. L shall welcome you and be proud of m
, friend
= If l DO not come back he said, wringine
her hands as he turned away, God bless yoJ
: l have not changed in my estimation of yor
because your heart would not let you be alto
3 gether mine
He went away with these words, and thel
r Ethel knew how she had loved him.
The next day came-the soldiers were gone
and Ethel Darricott tried to keep up cheerful,
the remnant of life which was left to her. Tn
best half and the dearest, she felt, was gon
with hin. but much remained to do, some
Whist even to rejoice in. She was not mucI
more exacting of others than she was of herself
To ha We yielded idly to her Ggrief would hav
been to be false to her ideal. Even her ow1
father sa W no change in her.