Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1863-07-11
MELDGED's SACRIFICE.

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evening breeze that tossed the muslin
curtains to aud fro through the wide
opened windows, and the cherry boughs
overshadowing the piazza caves were
hung with sparkling jewel-sarays of
crimson fruit. July was purpling all the
horizon with amethyst light; July brood
cd over the hills with tender warmth ;
and Clara Delord. in her dark, rich
beauty, seemed like TYPE blossom Of
the brightest month in all the year.
DID Captain Werner notice the chang
ING color in her olive cheek; the blaze
that glowed beneath her jetty eyelashes,
in strange seductive briliiance? Did he
observe how artisticaly she had posed
herself on the tiny foot stool close be-
side Mildred Moore's shadowy white
draperies and pure, colorless features p
Clara Delford understood contrast and
Captain Werner did not; he
only knew that the two girls were like
rose and lily, feryiI sunshine, and pale,
white starlight
"If I could oaly do something for
those poor suffering soldiers" she said,
breaking the momentary silence, as if in
continuation Of the previous converse
ton. -" Would it not be possible for me-
to devote portion Of NY small means
to their comfort %
Captain Werner smiled; for the heir
ess to speak Of her " small means"
seemed, even to him, ike an unnecessa-
nv bit OF Ostentation.
. Ccrtai My he said; and l can as
sure you the money could not be spent
TO better purpose"
"Will you object to. acting rs my
treasurer" smiled Clara, with pretty,
appealing softness in her eyes.
Not at all; there are, in my own
regiment, mady cases of hardship, even
destilution, which it would give me great
pleasure to relieve. Thank you"-as
she opened the tiniest OF siIken purses
and placed n bank-note in his hand with
blushipg confusion--'. know from expe-
rienee how much good twenty dollars
can do.p
At this time Meldrei Moore had sat
silent in the shadow Of the cherry boughs;
now she rose and quietly withdrew
Capt. Vcruer's eyes followed her slight
willow figure with Involuntary attrac-
ton.
"Ynu mustn't misinterprt poor dear
Mildred's silence lisped Clala, as the
door closed; "of course she is interested
III your hospital "reminiscences, but don't
think she cares much about the poor sol
ders-Mily's nature is net YET sympa-
thetic, and"
And" added the straightforward
soldier, " her means are very limited
She gives music lessons, or something,
don't she!"
lie had risen and stood there tall and
handsome, in the golden July moonlight,
Clara's beau-ideaI of man.
Good night, Miss Clara. | must
stop at HARDWOOD Grange for five minutes
to tell them about their, two boys that
fell at Fredericksburg, ard I've two or
three little errands TO attend to in the
town. We soldiers, you know, are
scarcely at our own disposal"
He held the little ieweIed hand in his
a moment, perhaps unconscious how
closely he pressed it, and then vanished
through the crmson-spriuilcd branches
of the cherry trees. As be walked along,
whistling softly to himself he thought Of
Clara in her strange, transcendent beau
ty-of her melting, liquid eyes, and her
mouth, like Cupid's bow, carved in
scarlet coral.
/" 1t was generous in her to give that
money" he thought. But can't m
derstand-han@ it its no business Of
mine, | supposo-but why couldn't Miss
Mildred have expressed her sympathy il
words, at least. 1t annoys me little
and yet l don't for the life Of me, see
see why it should"
i" You sent that set of onvx to ny
mother 2" he asked, an hour or so later,
as he entered the stylish little jewolry
store in the main street of the town
Yes! Then its all righ', and | may
rs well settle the bill"
He tossed a fifty dollar Treasury Note
on the counter as he spoke.
Il hardly like to part with that mo-
ney," he laughed. ''Iho fact is, I've
kept it about me so long that it seems al
most like lucky penny. However,
there it goes-hand over your receipt"
He dashed the bit Of paper into bis
pocket-book with the quickness that
characterized all his motions, and walked
out again whistlng the low refrain that
made a sort of company for his soli-
tude.
1t was nearly midnight, the air dewy
and sultry, and the stars blazing in the
violet concave of heaven, yet Capt Yer
ner still sat in his balcony, idly looking
out upon the miner night, with the
faint fragrance Of his cigar wreathing
about him. Was be thinking Of Clara
Deiford Or
Half past eleven-hiah time | was
asleep" soliloquized the Capt, at length, /
giving his cigar toss into the quiet ST. !
below, and entering the room where a
shaded lamp cast circle of subdued !
light on heaps of disordered papers.
Halo-what's this 2" he said. half !
aloud, taking up tiny note that lav I
lightly on the top. "This is n new ar |