Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-07-14
lHE EVENING STAR.
MiLDRED,S SACRIFICE.


that tossed the muslin curtains to and fro
through the wide opened windows, and the
cherry boughs oyershadowing the piazza caves
Were nu ing, with sparkling jewel.sprays OF
zoH with amethyst light: July brooded over hills
with tender warmth; and Clara Delford, in
her dark, rich beauty, seemed like a typic bios
sem OF the brightest month in the year.
Did Captain Werner notice the changing COL
or in her olive cheek; the blaze that glowed be-
meath her jetty eyelashes, in strange, seductive
brilliance! Did he observe how artistically
she had posed herself on the tiny footstoel close
beside Mildred Nc ores shadowy white drape-
rieS, and pure, colorless features7 Clara Del
ford understood contrast and harmony,-Cap-
tain Werner did not; he only knew that the two
girls were like rose and l1ly-feryid sunshine,
and pale, white starlight!
''lf could only do something for those poor,
suffering soldiers, she said, breaking the mo-
mentary silence, as if in continuation of the
previous conversation. "Would not it be pos
sibie for me to devote portion of my small
means TO their comfort?"
Captain Werner smiled for the heiress to
speak OF her 'ssmall means" seemed, even to
him, like an unnecessary bit of ostentation.
'teI tainly," he said; ssandI can assure you
the money could not be put to better pur-
"Wili you object to acting as my treasurer 7,
sIied Cara, with pretty, appealing softness
in her eyes.
mot at ali; there are, in my own regiment,
many cases of hardship, even restitution,
which il would give me great pleasure to re-
lieve Thank you'-as she opened the tiniest
OF silken purses and placed bank note in his
hand with blushing confusion-"I know from
dor
An 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 slight, willowy figure with inyol-
untary attraction.
dTs1's silence" lisped Clara, the door closed;
.sof course she is interested in your hospital
"reminiscences; but ] don't think she cares very
much about the poor soldiers-Milly's nature is
not sympathetic, and
"And,' added the Straightforward soldier
.'her means are very limited. She gives music
lessons, or something. dent she!''
He had risen, and stood there, tall and hand
some. in the golden July moonlight Clara's
beau-ideal of q man.
..Good might, Miss Clara. must stop at
HARDWOOD Grange for five minutes to tell them
about their two boys who fell at Fredericks-
burg, and I've two or three little errands to at
tend to in the town. We soldiers, you know,
are scarcely at our own disposal
He held the little ieweled hand in his a mo-
ment, perhaps unconscious how closely he
pressed it, and vanished through the crimson
sprinkled branches of the cherry trees. As he
walked along, whistling softly to himself,
he thought ofClara in her strange, transcendent
beauty-of her melting, liquid eyes, and her
mouth, like Cupid's bow, carved in scarlet
coral.
'It was generous in her to give that money!
he thought. 9But ] can't understand-Hang
it :! it's no business of mine, suppose-But
why couldn't Miss Mildred have expressed her
sympathy in words, at least. It annoys me a
little and yet don't, for the life Of me, see chy
it should
he asked, an hour or so later, as he entered the
stylish little jewelry store in the main street of
the town. Eyes. Then it's all right, and 1
may we'll settle the bill''
He tossed a ty-dolar Treasury Note on
the counter as he spoke.
al hardly like TO part with that money" he
laughed, "The fact is, I've kept it about me
so long that it seems almost like q lucky pen
NY However here it goes-hand over your re-
ceipt."
He dashed the bit of paper in his pocket-book
with the quickness that characterized all his
motions, and walked out again whistling the
low refrain that made sort of company for
his solitude.
1t was nearly midnight, the air dewy and
sultry, and the stars blazing in the violet con-
cave of heaven. yet Captain Werner still sat in
his balcony, idly looking out upon the summer
night, with the faint fragrance of his cigar
wreathed about him. Was he thinking of Miss
Clara Delford, or
..Half past eleven high time 1 was asleep
soliloqulZed the Captain, at length. giving his
cigar toss into the quiet street below, and en-
tering the room where shaded lamp cast
circle of snhdned light on heaps of disordered
papers.
s.Hallo-what's this 2 he said, half aloud
taking up tiny note that lay lightly on the
Top. This is. new arrival in my chaos of
documents, or I'm mistaken.
strange handwriting-nor did the contents at
ford any clew. Nothing appeared further than
fifty dollar note wrapped in bit of paper
on which was penciled these words:-''For the
soldiers ~
"Clara Delford again. was Verner's first
exclamation. "What a splendid creature that
isl
The next glance, however, discovered new
ground of conjecture and perplexity-he held
the note in the fnll glare of the lamp, turning
it aserly from side to side.
thn,r rhr IAnrf ha, crulxn -
tered; it is the very note paid at Atkinson's
to-night-here are my Initials, .'E W. in the
corner. Now, how on earth
He paused, apparently in deep thoughts
Very provoking that ] can't find out to-
night" he murmured; ssbut I'll go to Akin
sons the first thing in the morning.
The early dew was yet weighing down the
half-blown roses in the simple town garden,
when Captain Werner entered the jewelry store
where he had purchased the set of onyx for his
mother.
"What can 1 do for You this morning, Cap
tain - inquired the brisk little jeWeler, as
he came forward, rubbing his smooth, white
hands.
"a great deal Mr.. Atkinson; you can tell me
to whom you paid out this Treasury Note last
nightr'
He laid the mysterious sgreenback' on the
glass counter Atkinson took it up and scrutn-
lied it closely, then referred TO his books
"Certainly cam he said; 81 purchased
very beautiful pearl ring from a lady yester-
day evening, and paid for it with that very
A pearl ring the simple words seemed to
throw him off the scent again. The leweler
unlocked his show ease, and took out small
violet-yelvet case, lined with white silk in
which gimmered a pearl of surprising beauty,
set in plain gold circlet.
ssThere it is, he said. ssTen years ago I,sent
to New York for that very ring, ordered by DIR
Moore as birthday git for his little daughter,
then Just twelve years DID,
stDr. Moore ~ repeated Werner.
Eyes Times are sadly changed now, vet 1
did not suppose that Miss Mildred would ever
have been induced to part with that tavorite
Jewel-the only relic, may venture to say,
she has ever retained of weather. days"
Captain Werner locked down at the ring
through strange, unwonted mist, How dit
terent was this silent sacrifice of sweet mem.
cries and old associations TO Clara DeIford's
ostentatious gift from her OVERLOOKING Golfers +.
s'Silyer and gold have / none; but such as
have give thee" The words came to him
like a revelation of Mildred Moore's nature
Only nine O'Clock, but not too early for Mil
dred Moore to be watering her sweet peas and
geraniuIns in the cottage garden. Nay, so busy
was she with a tiny pink blossom which had
broken from its fastening, that she never heard
approaching footsteps until Captain Verner's
shadow fell with large, dilated eyes, like those
of frightened fawn, and carmire burning in