The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-03-22

/
BE stated with the plaques that war can give;
As wei thy hatred of the peace is shown,
II now thy soul reject the friendship"
HoRLE's TAsso.
"And you still decline to enter the army
Warren? thought you would long since
have joined the Confederate forces. What
can be the reason?" and the blue eyes of Mil
dred Hayes were fixed on the brother in sort
of absolute wonder. The whole thing to her
was incomprehensible. Earnestly sympathis-
ing herself with the Southern cause, she could
not discover the reason of her brothers luke
warmness and want of spirit.
Besides, she had often, during the Discussions
preceding the war heard him take the most
ultra ground in favor Of secession, and now
that the principles he then advocated have
eliminated in open resistance, and when every
man was needed-when accessions to the army
were daily, and almost hourly called for-she
he was no coward. 1t was not fear that held
him back; what was it? Again she repeated
her question
"What can be the reason, Warren?'
al have a reason, and it satisfies my mind;
that ought to content you"
"But 1 should like to know what it lisp"
$50 1 perceive. But allow me to say that
you ere displaying a very unsisterly desire to
get nd of me. On what amiable pretext do
you found your fraternal solicitude for my
military adventures? 1 suppose that once in
the army, you hope that some friendly bullet
of l.
so frequently shocked your elevated ideas of
morality. Very amiable and ahectionate,
truly"
".Warren, this is cruel, besides untrue. You
know 10 such motives governed me in what j
have said; but since you have so deliberately
misconceived the object of my solicitude, as
you term it, will tell you. had hoped
my brother, whatever his other faults, was at
least patriot and man. Because believed
you not deserving of the politely disguised
taunt TO which I am daily subjected by those
who inquire, if have heard from my brother
since he Left and when / say you are still at
home, they elevate their eyebrows, and say,
'ohl thought he was in the army-how
stIanger Now, Warren, this is hard to bear;
and to tell you the truth, feel Inundated
over it. You aer great, strong man-your
country is in peril-she needs the assistance
and help of all her sons; and yet you turn
deaf ear to all her appeals What does it
meanT
Perhaps have changed my mind, and do
not view the Confederate cause with the same
Partially / once regarded it,"
"Warenl"
"Wen!"
"speakl Areyou mad-are You dementedl"
"No; not that am aware of"
care youworse deliberately treacherous:"
"Humphl"
{" 1 want an answerl" She had risen to her
feet and was regarding him with look that
sent the hot bushes over neck and brow.
"Simply. then, 1 have changed my mind.
have had my eyes opened recently, and do
not chose to involve myself in the ruin that
viii surely overtake the Confederate cause. /
have thought to unite my fortunes with the
ascending genius of the Union. think the
scale is turning, and the loyal element viii
become predominant"
"WaIren Hayes, has ii come to this2 /
have long known you were selfish, ungener-
GUS and vindictive; buta traitor to your native
State-cursed by her sons, condemned and
d rided by her daughters-oh, Godl that
brother of mine should fall so utterly" and
the fair young face curtained by its wealth of
golden curls, looked upon the strong man like
he was a leper And well she might If
shame, snger, mortified vanity and guilt were
ever painted on human countenance, they
were written on the face of the wretched being
at her side
The shock Of sach an announcement to
Mildred Hays was terriblei in the extreme.
She loved her brother dearly if not rever-
entity. Wild and reckless she knew.hi1n to be
-uDmindful of the opinion of others, loath to
receive advice, and regardless of the respect
and esteem Of his elders, she had known him
10 be; but honorable she had always thought
him. And now-it would almost kill her.
The tears came into her eyes-sobs, she
could not restrain, choked her utterance.
She felt that her heart would break, and she
felt that she would be glad if it did The
humiliation and misery of her brothers con-
fession burned on her brain and heart with
poignant intensity. To have him endure the
coldly bitter taunt and contemptuous pity of
all the friends of his youth-this was hard in
itself-but to feel that his course was not
controlled by conviction; that sordid or mer-
cenary motives, or what was still worse,
motive or hope of revenge was the governing
feeling, made her realize in that moment of
unutterable grief, how low he had fallen, how
unworthy be was of sisters love.
ITO be Continued