The weekly union record., 1864-09-03
MILDRED'S SACRIFICE.

MILDRED'S SACRIFICE.
The vases Of heliotrope in Miss Deford's
dainty little parlor were distillng their sweet
est fragrance in the delicious evening breeze
that tossed the muslin curtains TO and fro
through the wide opened windows, and the
cherry bougbs overshadowing the piazza caves
were hung with sparkling jewel sprays Of Grim
son fruit. Jay was purpling all the horizon
with amethyst light July b-ooded 'over the
hills with tender warmth: aud Clara Deliord,
in her dark rich beauty, seemed like typic
blossom ct the brightest month in all the year
Did Captain Werner notice the changing
color in her olive cheek the blaze that g.owed
! beneath ber jetty eyelashes in strange, seduc-
tive brilliance? Did be observe hcw artisti-
cally she had posed herself on the tiny foot-stool
close beside Mildred Moore's shadowy white
dsaperies and pure, coorless features? Clara
Delford understood contrast ard harmony
Captain Werner did not he only knew that
the two girls were like rose and lily, feyyid
rsunshine, and pale, white starlight.
If could only do something for those poor
Suffering soldiers" She said breaking the mo-
nlentary silence, as if III continuation of the
previous conversation. Nv ould ii not be pos
sible for me to devote 4 portion of my small
means to their comfort?"
Captain Werner smiled for the heiress to
speak of her small means seemed, even to
him, like an unnecessary bit of ostentation.
"Certanly," he said "and can assure you
the money could not be spent to better pur-
pose"
"Wnl you object to acting as my treasurer
smiled Clara, with pretty, appealing soltness in
her eyes.
Not at all there are, in my own regiment,
many cases Of hardship, even desttution, which
it would give me great pleasure to relieve.
Thank you7-as she opened the tniest of silk
en- purses and placed bank-note in his hand
with blushing coulusion-"l know from expe-
yience how much good twenty dollars can do y
All this time Mildred Moore had sat silent
IN the shadow of the cherry boughs now she
rose and quietly withdrew. Captain Nerner'S
eyes followed her Slight willowly figure with
involuntary attraction.
"You mustn't misnterpret poor dear Mil
dred's silence, lsped Clara, as the door closed /;
of course she is interested in your hospital
"reminiscences but l don't think she cares
very much about the poor so!iiers-Milly's
nature is not sympathetic, aud"
And" added the Straightforward soldier, her
means are vesy limited. She gives music les
soas OF something, don't She ?"
He had risen, and stood there, tall and baud
some, ia the golden July moonlight, Clara's
beau-ideal Of 4 man.
Goodnight, Miss Clara. l must stop At
Harwo0d Grange for five minutes to tell them
about their two boys VINO fell at Fredericks-
burg, aud I've two or three little errauds to
attend to in the town. We soldiers, you know,
are scarcely at our own disposal"
He held the little ieweled hand in bis mo-
ment, perhaps unconscious how closely be
pressed it, and then vanished through the
crimson-sprinkled branches Of the cherry-trees.
As he walked along, whstling softly TO him
self. he thought of Clara in her strange, trans
cendaut beauty-of her melting, liquid eyes,
and her mouth, Ike CupId's bow, carved iu
coral.
1t was generous ia her to give that money,
he thought. But | can't understand hang
it! its 10 business OF mine. l suppose-but
why couldn't Miss Mildred have expressed her
sympathy il words, at least. 1t auuoys NE
little-aud vet don't. for the life of me, see
ieay it should
You sent that set Of onyx 10 my mother ?"
he asked, an hour or so later, as he entered the
stylish little iewelry store in the main street Of
the town. Yes: Then it's all right, and
may as well settle the BILL
He tossed fity-dollar Treasury Note on
the counter as be spoke.
Il 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 lucky penny.
However. there ii goes-hand over your re-
ceipt."
He dashed the BIT Of paper into his pocket
book with the quickuess that characterized all
his motions, and walked out again whistling
the low refrain that made 3 sort OF company
for his solitude.
It was nearly midnight, the ali dewy and