Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-01-07
THE EVENING STAR.
GOLDEN PIPPINS.

TIE ID tam Datn the FaiIty St6iusu 70 SW IN
In mists of gold, while here and there, among
the oyerhang iDg trees, deep-dyed sumaoa
tossed its crest OF crimson plumes in the spicy
air OF mid october, and the coal red berries OF
the dog wood glowed like burning Goals in the
tangled wilcernesses Of the woods. 1t W Is q
very pretty back. ground for wood nymp or
hamsdTyad, and Rachel Martins attitude was
unconsciousiy artistic as she played with
thu wild 81 2e asters that covered her little ask
ct ofhickoyy uies, spoils from the greotoit tree
whose giant branches oyertopped the whole
forest.
She was plump and pretty, with round won:
deriBg blue eyes and mouth like magmned
cranberry, while the roses on her cheek seemed
10 come ano go with every breath she dreW,
and the faint touches of sunshine on her prov
gave additional charm TO her Trash, rustic
b. auty. Mark Douglas leaned over the twist i.
ed beech root that separated them. and tried
to take the brown hand in his. but it was
drawn away wi b decided quickness.
"Ray, dearest"
All, he Gid not see the blood mantling to her
CHI Elk under the envious shadows OF the afro
cious shaker bSnnet'-he did not hear the
quick, stormy throbbing OF the petuiant heart.
dearest" indeed! When keziah Truman's
bean never SO much as went to Boston with.
out asking her leave, and Charley Jenkins had
distinctly intimaied that the W hole programme
OF his future existence was to be indicated
solely by Martins wish. Yes il was all very
we'll for Captain Mark to stay at home, offici-
ating IN the Home Guard department.; she
liked the Uniform, and didn't object to the
martial ectdt. But TO go down among the rebels
withoutso much as consulting her inclination,
the spoiled beauty thought that WAS altogether
different thing.
matte = impartlaliy just now. Rachel, Captain
Mark said, graYely. 81 had thought, had
hoped to find ven differently"
'ln no nOodn' Rachel coored hot scarlet.
What light had Mark Douglas to treat her like
naughty chlldI
~ beg your pardon. Captain Douglas" she
said petulantly; II isn't at all necessary to dis.
cuss matter SO perfectly Indifferent to ms.'
Now Mark Douglas was only man, with
all the lnfirmites incident to mankind. He
bit his lip, ana his brow grew dark.
"Rachel. you seem TO have forgotten the
engagement
"Engag, meuu" she repeated sharply. q"
am tired Of an engagement that only letters one
party While the other is as free rs air."
"Tiredr' He heAitated moment as if yainly
striving TO command his voice: "Do you wish
10 be released, Ray!'
quite prepared for his phase OF affairs.
''Tell me-yes or nor he demanded sternly
EYES," she answered with pettish abrupt
"Then good by, Ray"
Comet Yes, he WAS gone. She watched him
des cending the mountain side with quick, even
strides, under the scarlet drapeIies of clinging
vines, through patches OF deep, still shadow
into belts of golden sunshine, until the over
hanging rock hid him from her view; yet it
seemed 60 difficult to believe that he was really
gone
She looked down on the tiny engagement
ring that sparkled on her foreinger-a simple
SGT III EOlu, whose OluG EllIQ-
mer shope dlmly through her tears-and she
could not but remember the tender words with
which size had placed it on her finger.
''l-et Is be token between us. dearest, like
the sigDet ring of old times. Wherever I may
be. his ring will always bring my heart back
to its queen"
II ought 10 have returned it." she Wondered
shrinking if the slender circlet OF gold were
q rin OF fire. 81 tciU-some timer
So Mark Douglas lost his sweet heart, and
marched down to Petersburg a solitary man,
in q = IN a dana hafNr ~
on the inscrutable mysteries Of tle female
heart.
"Dretfnl keen wind amt it, said the Wild.
ow Tay lor, pntying the strings Of her worsted
hood; powerful sharp frost last night Deacon
Pethhone's dahiias is black as SCOT, and all
Miss MoIrison's morning -glories is blasted.
Thankee, Miss Martin, my feet is cold won't
you take the rOckin' -cneer yourself! Why
Rachel. child, what ails you! all the ne:ghbors
are trlkin' bout how you've changed.'
Rachel colored and turned away.
al am well enough"
al tell ye W hat, Miss Martini" began Mrs
Taylor, in mysterious whisper to the elder
lady, "you jus. take Il double handful o. green
willer bark, and bile it up well-or snakeroot
tea amt bad-and give her a pint night and
noornin'. Its the streng the ming thing, But I've
come round to tell you what the Womens
COMMITTEE have decided ON
sab, indeed" said Mrs. Martin inc nj ringly.
1--WE all Ieel 10 be dretfnl thankful the har-
vests been so good, and-and-every thi ngs
fetched up just about right" untone the wild
CIV; land SO We thought il would be kind of
squarin' up with merciful Providence to
box or send tew o. things out to :them poor
soldiers that's a:fghtin' ike all pos sassed. It's
on by accordin' to Scripter, you know, and it
woufdbe g. Kind o nice little Thanksgi win gift
wouldn't lt!
The widow dropped her eyelids sanctimo-
niCusly and went on.
"ruiss Darby's kindly gin n bushei O. them
sweet potatoes they raised in the ssuth pas
tnre lot. They're a little damaged, not exact
ly fit for market, but there's no doubt the SOL
diers III be glad TO get EN-; and Miss Deacon
Pettibope has promised us d lot O. that there
fermeEred peach sass, and Desire Wallis has
made mp sight O. book marks, and Widow
Smith has cooked peck o. dough-nuts, with
out DO sweetln'. Sugars so high, and faint
likely the soldiers care for sweet stuff. AS for
me, L RELY don't like to tell about my mite;
but hunted up few O. poor dear Deacon
Iaylor's old trowsers and coats in the garrett
little moth. eaten and rather tender, but
baint no doubt they'll be welcome. Old
Jones has CIV rs half pound o. tea and a
pound o candles, and Mr.. Merriam contributes
n set o. law books, that they tell me is dread
full improyin' readm. And the Committee
calc'late you ard Rachel would help u.s."
''Of course we will, assented Mrs. Martin,
recovering promptly from the momentary b.
wildeTment and amusement caused by the
Widow Taylor's valuable list of treasures;
"and-"
"Then I may well be stirrin'," CALCULATED
the widow, jumping up; "for I've got TO see
Good evenin' L ye-and don't forget the WILL
Ter bark Ieai'
Mrs. Martin and Rachel both burst out
Laughing as the door closed. r.
"Poor Mrs. Tay Tor" said MRS. Martin.
MAMMA, how can she!'' demanded Rachel,
Indignantly. "Such box for the soldiers!
why, ii would be an aggravationm
''Never mind, Ray, DEAR" said her mother,
soothingly; I'll make up lot of real dough-
nuts, and pack 'em round the biggest pair of
turkeys father can find, with box of little
pumkin pies; and you shall send barrel OF
those golden pippins from the old tree beyon
the brook-,he tree Mark Douglas liked so welt.
They're in the garnet, in that old green chest;
and be sure and put in plenty O. straw to pre-
ven: their mellerin against each other.''
Rachel obey ed; and Mrs. Martin ne yer had h
least jdea OF the tears she shed, with her trim
little figure half into the barrel, as she packed
the great yellow apples among the yeilo Ter
straw. II the golden pippins could only have
spoken what a Thanksgi wing story they might
have told 10 the Army OF the Potomac!
MIR. Martins broad face beamed with salts.
faction as he harnessed up old Dolly to carry
the box and barrel 70 Boston
ats Jest ike you women folks to keep thing
I'M NJ such thin1e.b AM -