The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1864-01-06
TOO LATE.
A STORY OF THE WAR.

I nat pretty sight Bertha Thornton was A
with smile, halt CAV, half tmd, she welcome
Captain Aoulton. AL around her fell clOud-like
ample draperies Of snowy, transparent texture. l.
the smooth bands Of her dark hair one crimson
rose, encircled by its deep green leaves. nestled
The piquant face, with its saucy ewes. was lifte,
toward that Of the tall sgure upon the hearth
rug. How well the trim uniform with its glit
tering lace and buttons and crimson sash. be
came the Young officer. How proud and hand
some be looked, anxious as his face was. az be
caspea the small hand lightly and bent abov,
Bertha'- lite figure.
" am sorry | kept you waiting. Captain
Mouton Shall we 20 At once ="
The earriag il al the door But will you
not sit down for momentg Let NE talk 10
you Few minutes. Alter to MORROW we NAV
not meet again"
" DO you 60 to mOrrow-sO sOOns We shall
miss YOU from our circle. | wish YOU could be
here when the DeLaucys aud the Porters have
their parlies-they are to be grand affairs
Thank you no. IL is late, aud we had better
go a. once, aRd without waiting for a reoly
Bertha drew her shawl around her and led the
way.
Scarcely five minutes were occupied in the
drive and Captain Moulton shrunk from testing
his fate IN that brief interval ca will see her
tomorTow, ana so only common places were
Introduced into the conversation. lie was so
panied by Bertha's indifference, that even this
could hardly be supported. aud by the time the
carriage drew up before the house where the
party was in progress, silence had fallen be
tween them.
IL seemed that perverse spirit had taken
possession Of Bertha ThOrne that night. She
was usually gayest of the gay, but that night
she tar surpassed herself There was a reck-
Ia IN, J.
ceuded the fearless frankness which never over.
leaped the bounds Of lady-like proprietv. and
while her voice rang merriest in the lsngh that
went round. the vivid scarlet of her lips, the
hickeaing bloom on her cheek, and the bright
ness OF her eye made her beauty perfectly
startling.
Capiin NOultOn stood apart and watched her.
smile OF mingled contempt and bitterness
crossed his face. He had loved her go, and she
had seemed so happy in his society. Was it to
end thuss
Once or twice Bertha glanced toward him as
he stood. mOmentary pause, shadow in
stanty gone from her face trembe in the
sweet voice, might have followed the glance.
But closer observer than Monlton might have
missed the sign.
"Our warrior looks but sad tonight" ex
claimed one OF the trifers that surrounded Ber.
tha Thorne. I; so, who will wonder that he
grieves at the thought of exchanging a scene
like this for the camp and battle felds
Bertha tossed her head
- soldier. aud greve for ball rooms and
ball room bellies Has Captain Noultons cam
pagn here been so successful that he should
erieve to find it endeds Is it not more Ekely
that he is meditating on the vanity of our pur
suits, and contrasting his own lofty calling with
them? No, no, depend upon It Captain Moul-
tons heart Ia not here, aud he bears away 10
regrets"
A lull in the ball room sounds, had allowed
every word OF this conversation to reach Cap.
tain MOultOn's esrs. A red flush rose to his /
cheek as he listened, and then he turned away
indignant.
"Heartless' he murmured. as he pushed his /
way almost rudely through the CAV crowd.
When next Bertha saw him, he was whlrling /
along the room in the mazes of a polka, a pret
ty girl encirclcd by his arm, and CAV smile up
He did not approach her, but his voice reached .
her continually in tones mirthful as her own,
and never had been so recklessly gay as on that
evening, when he bade adieu to the
brilliant circle across which he had moved .
through the height of the season, and from
which he was now vanishing forever.
A strange unrest came upon Bertha as she /
became fidul, and she could no longer put far .
away the thought of that tomorrow which was
10 leave her des0late. When at length the party |
broke up, MoultOn found her sitting quietly, /
almost sadly quiet, by herself. The light had /
faded from her eyes, and the sparkle from her I
face. She rose up like a weary, chidden child /
aud allowed him to lead her from the room.
The drive home was performed in silence /
MOultOn could not trust himself to speak. The +
just indignation be felt, checked the impulse 1t /
was only at parting, that softer feelings rose
aga;n Bertha looked so pale sld weary, that /
his heart was touched lie took her little hand
in his as they stood beneath the hall lamp. and
looked down into her face Her eve fell be /
meath his, and faint flush, deepening to GRIM /
son, swept over her face. Her hand trembled /
ike prisoned bird in his, and she turned half
from him
GOOD night Bertha" be said, 81 shall see
YOU TO morrow"
He dropped her hand and went out. As he /
turned a, the door, he heard her softly echo to-
morrow" She stood upon the stairs, her head
fallen back, and the light falling full upon her
face; MOulton thought that something like
tear glis,ened in her eve. He shut the door
and went away homeward, with a sweet memory
struggling in his hesrt with the sorrow and iu-
dignation he felt.
These were fast diving out. Bertha's sOftened
manner was full of hope, and he chided himself
severely for his anger at her girlish folly. He
fell asleep, eated with hope. A few hours, he
believed, and he should hold her to his heart
his promised bride. After that, with the sweet
assurance of her love, danger, death, aught that
fate held in store for him, would be met brayely 1
To have known so much happiness was surely
enough for one life.
lie awoke from happy dreams at dawn to find
a subordinate at his bedside
Orders requiring his immediate presence az
headquarters. had arrived There was no time
for leave-tskings; and while Bertha vet sum-
bered upon her pillow. he was far upon his way
to camp aud his sSif;-coming fate.
Al day Bertha watched for him who came
not. Al twilight, as her white, heavy face I
peored from the window, she saw the postman
dart up the steps. Her heart beat quicker,
something assured her Of tid;ngs of MouItoo. /
And presently the servant entered and placed
note in her hand. She tore it open and read
/ am writing by the struggling light of esrly
dawn, deares. Bertha, to say fsrewell Orders
have been received requiring nv immediate
presence at headquarters, and l go at once, /
leaving my servant 10 follow with nv luggage.
cannot tell YOU halt how sad my heart IS at the !