Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-08-24
from Harper's Weekly
CLARA'S PLEDGE.
j" You are in earnest, Clara
81 au-nost certainly y

transformed into such woman q Oi'-@
Meade-delcete and fragile, with olue *
rious eyes, and folds OF cneSenO' In
low upon her neck.
She sat by the open window watching
tiny brown bird rock on the branches OF a
hIossoming linden in the park below, while
the veIl1w sunshine turned her hair 10 auburn
depths, and the roar Of the great city sound
ed dlmIy in her ear, and Olive Ellington,
kneeling at her side, played with tire rings
upon her white, slim fingers
You have signed the pledge, Clara
Yes, and | mean to keep It."
son but Clara" coaxed the little bIu-
nette. 1t don't say you're not TO wear ali
those pretty dresses you have already mace
up-it says only you are not to buy any 1hlhS
new of foreign manufacture"
The letter of the pledge may intimate
some such thing, Olive. ! have given III my
adhesion to its spirit
II don't see any necessity for being 50
very particular
BIZ / do. On. Olive, could l have the
heart to wear diamonds and laces and rain
bow silks when 50 many lives are laid down
without a murmuF
That beautiful crimson silk" sighed o.
i've, leaning over to arrange the lustrous folds
of a superb evening dress that lay on divan
opposite. Clara shuddered
: Do you knt>~ what 1 fanced, Olive, the
night | wore it first, and the news came from
the Wilderness"
No; what
Il imagined there was blood in all its Grim
son shine; | almost looked to see the dark
drops fall !"
Nonsense, Clara, you are lauciful. And
the pearl necklace you have never once
worn ~
Il could not wear it, dear; it would be ike
elasping round ny neck the tears OF widows
and orphans who have given up their bestand
bravest !"
But. Clara. this is ali a romantic fantasy.
What good do you suppose it will do the Ar
nv OF the Potomac for you TO lock up all
your rich dresses and India silks, and 90
into a nuns costume Of calico and liusey
woolsey?'
Listen, Olive ~ said Clara, softly, while
the blue light in her eyes seemed TO glow in
to tremulous sapphires, and faint crimson
burned on either cheek-''dO you suppose 1t
will do our soldier-heroes no good to know
that ge, their wives, sisters, daughters, have
laid aside the gaudy t.appings that drain
away the country wealth, and are crushing
our petty yauities for their sakes 1t Is easy
to give money but it Is not 90 easy TO deny
ourselves these daily articles of luxury. Can
not we make one trltiIng sacrifice IN memory
of those who have given up home, and com
fort, and life itself TOR Us 4. Oh, l am sick of
hearing cashmere shawls rustic past the som
bre weeds of the bereaved ones; | am tired
Of seeing diamonds shine over the fresh sod
Of new made graves Is il meet or seemly
that re should lavish money on this absurd
display when Want stalks grimly in CUR midst
and the soldiers helpless orphans lack their
daily bread
How can you speak of such dreadful
things ?" said Olive, complainingly.
They make you shudder and grow pale do
they, the mere mention of them What
must II be to endure them -
. / am sure I am nat To blame for thcm,
said Olive. " didn't make the var, and 1
don't see how 10 viii help matters for nae 90
turn myself into a homcspun fright.
Clara sighed, remembering that Olive By
Ington was the representative of other NO
men inEumerable on whom argument and per
suasion were alike wasted.
= But, Clara" went on the little brunette.
tripping 10 the mirror 30 as more satisi5cto-
rily 10 adjust a scarlet gerluium that had
fallen from her glossy black hair this IS
better in theory than practice. You can't
wear calico 70 Mis-. Eyriuge'- to-morror
night
She nodded triumpbantiy as she spoke
Can'tI?"
'No!n
You will see"
Clara YOU never will be 80 absurd--o
Quixotic :"
Clara did not answer; She was leaning over
the roses that flied the balcony, and thinking
of something sweet, vet sad. for there was "a
smile on her lips even while crystal drop
sparkles through her cyeIashes.
All aboard shrieked the conductor
There was a rush for the platform shower
Of sparks surgiug up from the grimy smoke
stack Of the locomotive, and the long train
began TO move.
And just as the last ear glided slowly past
the station a fal soldier rushed from the
eotfee-room, and spraLE recklessly on board,
nearly knocking over the two or three loung-
ers who were setting the " Rules and Regula-
tions" of the Company at defiance by riding
on the platform IN the teeth of law and order.
Halo calculated the newcomer; II
came within one of being left, and that as
cal who sells cigars told me there was plenty
Of time. Before I'll believe the perjured
villain again l beg yOnr pardon, Sir; l
hope my head wasn't harder than your metal
buttons, for Why, its Walter Vivian :"
Of course il H. said Captain Vivian,
cooTly ana if you'd been just whit less
lucky IN catching ting earl guards, you would
have been the late Private Byingtou.'
Well, YOU see I'm pretty well used to
hair breadth escapes, said By'nEton, laugh
ing " Have a cigar. No2 Perhaps you
right l dont myself think they ever
saw the shores If HAVANA Are YOU home
ward bound
- For day or two-yes.'
SO am l. Just ran down to Philadelphia
this morning on some regimental business for
the Colonel. and I'm hurrying back to dance
the German with Kate Eytinge tonight. Are
YOU going Though of course you are"
q / thought of il. How are the ladies i'm
Gramercv Park Your sister is well 3"
"Olvea Yes Quite well enough to tor
ment me ont Of my life with her Central
Park parties, and her receptions and ten
thousand other absurd ideas
Aud your cousin, Mise Meade.
All right. They've got the house full of
mllliEers and edress- makers, getting 'em up
for Saratoga or Newport, nr some such folly.
What s lot of money It does take TO rig
woman up. to be sure Tx about the coun-
try's being poor l should IKE Uncle Abe TO
look over Olives bills this summer / guess
III inclose EN- 20 him, marked Private and
Confidential ="
And Martin Byington burst into laugh
that fairly shook the platform.
Captain Vivian's face grew Ersye-almost
stern
Il thought the ladies of Nes York had
hound themselves by a ~ Sr-a pr sompfhiuv