Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1865-10-05
Moral Gals.
The Empty Sleeve;
Why Edna Ackland Learned to Drive

lhe flrst thing captain Henry Ash
saw at Newport, when, for the sake
of the new life and strength the sea
breezes would give him, he had been
ordered there with his left sleeve pin
ned empty to his breast, and his Whole
frame feeble as that of any child, was
Edna Ackland driving. She sat in
one of those pretty basket.work affairs
in vogue in uppertendom, behind a
handsome pair Of horses, handling the
reins skilfully, with her sister nestled
at her side, and black Cato, in his sill
yer hat-band, bolt upright behind her.
The feminine accomplishment had
taken nightly at Newport, as well as
on the gorgeous New York avenue of
palatial residences and the drives OF
the Central park. And she was but
one of fifty girlish drivers. But a bat
terry Of eyes rained upon her, and glanc.
es and whispers of admiration were
profuse. Harry Ash heard some of
them. s... .......
Fitzfoodle's simper.
"Veywy fine gal, and knows how
to drive" E..H
Aud the "By George, what a beau
ty J" of young Tiptop.
1t was pretty picture. Never did
face look so bonnily beneath the shade
of hat and plume. Never did white
fingers handle the reins SO deftly.
The only face that frowned was that
poor war-worn face of Captain Henry
Ash lie looked after her, flushing
and paling by turns. The sight was
an unlovely one to him, heaven knew.
lie had, young as he was, old-iash.
ioned prejudices. lie liked womanly
wonen. The girls of society, i'm their
prononcee toilets, with their loud laugh
ter and bold eyes. and ambition to be
FAST" often shocked him. Aud this
new freak of driving had seemed the,
worst of all. She knew he thought
so. She whom he had SO often driven
over that Newport beach (ah, he
should never SO drive any one again y
and whom he had loved because she
seemed SO womanly and gentle-a
dainty thing to be watched over and
guarded from harm-driving with the
daring eyes of fops and roues turned
upon her, eager for their praise and
admiration, forgetful of him and his
opinion.
Ay, that was it, after all--not the
mere fact of her driving nn Newport
beach, but that she should be there on
the day Of his return, merry and for
getful
He had hoped to find her watching
for him--to meet her somewhere quite
alone. He had not more vanity than
falls fairly to the lot of handsome men,
but he had thought she loved him. In
this saddest hour that belief had given
him little CLEAN Of comfort, and he
had dreamed of fireside with Edna
for its angel 1t was over now. Had
she loved him she would not have
been here. And the poor fellow groan-
ed involnntarily, aud hid his fine worn
face in his one transparent hand.
While he languishcd on t!:e hospital
cot, famed by the black wing of the
death angel hovering over him, and in
every lucid interval thinking of her.
she had been learning to drive for the
sake of fitzfoodle's praise and young
Tiptop's compliments.
The dancing-hall and the billiard
room filled as they were with brainless
fops aud fortune hunters--had beer
her world, and he was quite forgotten
Well. she owed him no duty. They
were not betrothed. What was he-a
helpless, one-armed fellow, shut of
from manly sports for life at twenty
six-an invalid to be nursed and, who
needed SO much and could give so lit
tie, that he should fancy a mere fiirta
tion bound that bright young beauty
with every advantage wealth and po
sition could give handsome girl. t.
him?
Yet even while he spoke he felt thai
he had thought her all his own /; and
called to mind a parting hour il
which, though not a word was spoken
a kiss had been stolen and not re
sented.
A moment when two little hands la,
in his-two tear-filled eyes met hi
own. A moment never To be forgot
ten by the young soldier while lift
should last. Other girls had beer
constant to their war-worn lovers
other MANNED men returned t" flu
!, tender bosons, ready to pillow thei