Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1864-01-28
MfstflIanfons.
THE LOCK OF HAIR.

Evelyn Hargrave had just re
turned from a walk in the braeins
atmosphere of the frosty December
noon.
She stood before the fire, the rich
sables unfastened from her thro at
and the fresh roses of youth and
health blossoming In her round
cheeks, while the soft, pensive light
of some inner thought gave new
brightness to her blue eyes.
Do you know Fys had charming
: news while you were gone, Evelyn
said Jeanie Marston, who sat in the
sunny window, idling over a basket
of bright-colored Berlin wools.-
Dear me! how fresh youlookl do
believe morning walks are better
than rouge for the complexion
But as l was saying, I've something
delightful to tell you. Guess what
it isr sdi
You know 1 never could guess
anything in my life,' said Evelyn,
smiling down upon the childish face
OF the petite cousin, whose slender
J figure was so different from her own
tall, queenly beauty.
well, then, 1 may as well tell you
at once said Jeanie, nodding her
head. The Eighteenth are coming
home-what do you think of thatp
why, L am very glad of course!'
Glad! Is that all you've got to say,
after going all the way to - TO
nurse the wounded soldiers of the
regiment? Evelyn, you are past my
comprehension
Nay said Evelyn, you misunder-
stand the case, Jeanie. 1 did not go
particularly to devote myself to
these men. Invent to be useful, as
nurse wherever duty might call me,
and duty assigned me to that par
ticular ward
TO think how dreadfully practi-
cal she is said Jeanie; with a conf |
cal arch of her eyebrows; just as
though it wasn't the most charming
ly romantic thing in the world to
bind up the wounds of those poor
privates, and sprinkle eau de cologne
over those dear, delightful off
cersp
Evelyn laughed. IF you had ever
been in the hospital ZIeanie- yom
would perceive how far your fancies (
differ from the prosaic reality
Meantime, l have half dozen notes
and letters to write, so au reUoir!
She went gayly out of the room,
leaving Jeanie to muse on her cool
indifference.
How can she be always so cool
and self-confdent,' thought the i'm
petuous little Jeanie to herself 4
wonder-how, I wish l knew-if
Evelyn ever was in lover
Those words-those very identi-
cal words-were in Captain Mel
ford's mind at that self-same mo-
ment, as he leaned back in the cush-
ioned seats of the express train?-
For he remembered those weary
hours of fevered pain, when the
sound of Evelyn Hargrave's light
step on the echoing board floor of
the Convalescent Ward had seemed
like pulses of new life.
Shall I call there" he asked him
self. lean do no less, after her
kind care of me after the battle
Yes-hang it, didn't she evince
equal solicitude for private Mike
Higgins, who lay in the next bedp-
l 1don't care--I will go there, and get
one glance into those superb eyes of
hersl Moth-like I cannot be con-
tent without scorching my wings, in
the flame of her regal lovelinessp
The short furlough glided away
almost ere the officers of the Eigh-
teenth regiment were aware, and the
sunset was piling its mausoleum of
fire and gold on the tomb of the
brief January day, when Captain
Melford sat in Evelyn Hargraves
drawing room, detected and pensive.
even though the presence of his idol
should have inspired him with spirit
and fervor
She don't care astraw for me- he
thoug hit, with despairing energy,
and I'll go back tomorrow, and get
myself shot with all reasonable dis
patchl How strange it is that a
strong mans whole destiny should
turn on the pivot ofa woman's smile!
I wish l had never seen her-I wish
1 had died before she came to wash
the matted, bloody hair away from
that wound on my temples--no /
don't, either! Confound it, / don't |
know what do wishp
Miss Hargrave, might l speak to
you for one momentS' said the house |
keeper putting her slate-colored cap
ribbons into the room, and Evelyn |
rose to attend her behest.
She did not observe that a little |
golden ornament had become loosed |
from her chdtelaiae, and slipped to
the ground as she rose. Melford
sprang to his feet to recover and re-
store it, but Evelyn was gone.
A locket of plain gold, the spring
Jared by the fall gaye.way in his
hand, revealing a single lock of
bright brown hair, waved in sunny
ripples and touched with gold,
Melford's eyes dilated with strange