The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1863-09-16
MILDRED-s SACRIFICE.

1ne vases OF helOtrOpc IA Mss DeIOFu uaiu-
/ t. little parlor were dstIng their sweetest fra
grance in the delicious evening breeze that toss
| I'd the muslin curtains 10 and frO, through the
wide opened ~iado.s. aud the CHEEKY 0oughs
oyer-hadowing the piazza caves were hung with
spar kliug Jewel sprays Of the crimson fruit
july was purplng all The horizon with amethyst
/ light-July b. CODED over the Mills with tender
warmth aud Clara Deltord, in her dark
rich beauty, seemed like typic blossom Of the
richest month M all the year.
Did Captain Werner notice the changing color
in her olive cheek-the blaze that glOwed be-
meath her Jetty eyelashes 10 strange, seductive
briliance? Did he observe how artistcally she
had posed herself on The tiny footstool, close
beside Mildred Moore's shadOwy white draperies,
and pure, colorless leaturess Clara Delford un-
derstood contrast and harmony-Captain Yer
ner did not; he only knew that the two girls
were ike rose AID lily -iervid sunshine, and pale
with starlight
eff ! could only do something for those poor.
suffering soldiers" she said, breaking The momen
tarv silence. as If in continuation OF the previ
Gus conversation. d" Would il not be possible
for me to devote at least portion of my small
means 10 their comfort and happiness"
Captain Werner INDUCED in qniei smile; for
the heress to speak of her " small means
seemed, even to him, Ike an unnecessary bit of
Ostentation.
Certainly, -" be said and can assure you
the money could not be spent to a better pur
pose"
"Will YOU object to acting as my treasurer"
smiled Clara, with pretty, appealing softnes- in
her ewes.
Not at all there are, in my own regiment,
many cases Of hardship-even q. itutioR-
which it would give me great pleasure to relieve.
L u. 81 TIM, - Gil
ken purses, aud placed bank note in his hand
with hlushng confusion" know from expert
euce how much good twenty dollars can DO"
All this time Mildred Moore had sat silent in
the shadow of the cherry boughs; now she rose
and quietly Withdrew. Captain Verner's eyes
followed her silent, Willowy figure, with invOlun
tsry attraction.
you mustn't misinterpret poor, dear Mildred's
silence" lisped Clara, as the door closed; " OF
course she is Interested in your hospital reminis
cences but don't think she cares very much
about the poor soldiers-Milys nature is not
very sympathetic, and"
And" added the straightforward soldier,
quietly, " her means are very limited indeed
She gives music lessons, or something, don't
sheg"
He had risen, aud stood there, tail aud hand
some in the golden July moonlight Ciara's beau
ideal of a
GOOD night, Miss Clara. | must stop at
Harwood Grange for FIVE minutes, to tell about
their two boys who TELL at Fredericksburg and
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 ieweled hand in his mo-
ment, perhaps unconscious how closely he press
ed it, and then vanished through the crimson
sprinkled branches OF the cherry trees. As he
walked along, whiStlng softly to himself, be
thought OF Clara in her strange, transcendent
beauty-of her melting, liquid eyes, and her
mouth, ike CHpids bow, carved in scarlet coral
1t was generous in her to give that money"
he thought But can't understand-hang il,
It's no business of mine, | suppose; but why
couldn't Miss Mildred have expressed her sympa
thy in words, at least IL annoys me a little
and yet don't, fOr the life of ME, see why it
should"
"You sent that set of onyx to my mother ?"
he asked, an hour or so later, as be entered the
somewhat stylish little jewelry store in the main
street of the town "Yes Then it is ali right
and NAV just as we'll settle the bill"
He tossed fifty dollar Treasury note on the
counter as he spoke.
Il hardly ike to part with that money" he
laughed 1.-THE fact is, I've kept 1t about me
so long that it seems almost like lucky penny.
However, thereit goes-hand over your receipt.
| He dashed the bit OF paper into his pocket
book Sth the quckness that characterized all
his motions, and walked out again whistling the
| low refrain that made a sort OF company for his
solcitude
was nearly midnight-the air d,wy and
sultry, and the stars blazing in the violet concave
Of heaven-yet Captain Werner still sat in bis
balcony, idly looking out upon the summer night,
With the faint fragrance of his segsr wreathed
about him. Was he thinking about Clara Del
| ford, or -
"Halfpast eleven-high time l was asleep,
sohloquized the Captain, at length, giving bis
segar a toss into the quiet street below, and en-.
tering the room where shaded lamp cast a
circle Of subdued light on heaps of disordered
papers.
Hallo-whats thss" be said, half aloud
taking up a tiny note that lay lightly on the top.
This is a new arrival in my chaos Of docu-
ments, or I'm mistaken
The direction, Captain Werner" was in a
strange hand wFitng did the contents afford
any elew. Nothing appeared further than &
dtty dollar uOte wrapped IN a bit OF paper OF
which was penciled these words For the sol
diers"
Clara Deford again 3" vas verner's frs
exclamation. That splendid creature thai
-"
The next glance, however, discovered new
ground OF conjecture aud perplexty-he helc
he note in the full glare OF the lamp turning i
eagerly from side to side
Il thought couldn't De mistaken" he nut
tered; " it is the very note paid at Atkinson:
to-night-here sre nv initials, E. v in tbs
corner. Now how on earth -"
He paused, apparently in deep thought.
"Very provoking that | can't find out to
night" be murmured; "but III 60 to Atkin
sons tde first thing in the morning"
The early dew was vet weighing down th,
half-blown roses in the simple garden, wheI
Captain Werner entered the jewelry store wher,
be had purchased the set of onyx for hi
mother.
"What can do for you this morning, Cap
tain!" inquired the brisk little jeweler, as h,
came forward, rubbing his smooth white hands
IA great deal, Mr.. Atkinson; you can tel