The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1875-10-30
The Ordeal of Battle.
BS AMY RANDOLPH.

| Anu IhiS 10 Your uutti ueOloiun
Miss Clay2"
She was beauty born, that rose-
mouthed little Rachel Cary, with heI
large, wistful eyes trembling with blue
radiant light, like veiled sapphires, and
her velvet cheek satained with pome-
granite crimson-an empress of hearts
from her cradle up And sitting in
the framework of roses that trailed
athwart the easement, with white rib
bons fiuttering from her satin.brown
curls, and one red jewel flashing among
the folds of her muslin dress, you
would almost have fancied her some
fair pictured saint
Harry Cleveland was leaning againt
the window, a tall, handsome young
fellow, with dark eyes and hair, and
brown cheek flushed deeply with sup
pressed anger and modification.
u" Yes, Mr.. Cleveland, it is" said
Rachel, calmly lifting her clear eyes to
his face. d" You have asked my reas-
ons = and, although 1 question your
right to make such demand, still
have no objections to render them."
Speak on" said Harry, biting his
lips furiously &c let me know why 1
am condemned -
"They are soon spoken" said Rach-
el, quietly. 81 have liked you very
much, Mr.. Cleveland-I still like YOU
but in the man whom marry l look
for greater fiImness and decision of
purpose than you have ever displayed.
Earnfstness resolve-these are the
only qualities that I can respect. Do
not misunderstood me do not suppose
that blame you for the lack of quail
tications which-which''
Rachel paused instinctively. while
the pomegranate tinge on her cheek
blazed into vivid scarlet in sympathy
with the deep flush that dyed the Low.
er's whole face. He bowed simply,
and walked out of the room with firm,
naughty step.
Late that evening he sat at his win
dow with clenched teeth and lowering
brow, watching the fiery embers of sun
set fade into purple gloom and noting
the silver feet of innumerable constel-
lations as they followed one another
over the blue concave of heaven. But
the glow of the sun and the stars might
have been Egyptian darkness for all
that he knew or cared about their gem
tie influences.
Life - he murmured darkly to
himself, "what is 1t worth to me now ?
What care who wins the glittering
prizes in fate's lottery, or who is en-
gulphed in the whirlpool of despair
To be rejected-apd for mere whlm,
too 1 If 1 could only forget her as
quickly as she will forget me the fick-
le, beautiful enchantress -
Halo, Cleveland I'm going up to
call on pretty Rachel Clay | viii you
come along, too?"
Captain Morell had paused under the
window, with his brown, merry face
turned upward, and the dim gas-lamp
Pickering over his gold shoulder straps.
Cleveland shook his head.
Not to night %
And Morell went on his way, the
fiery eye of his cigar cleaning fitfully
through the darkness.
"There he goes /" muttered the soli-
airy msanthrope, with his military
airs and graces-and it is for such as
he that Rachel throws away my love !"
$50 you've enlisted, Harry /" said
old Squire Clay, deliberately polishing
the glasses of his spectacles. well,
it's what I'd do myself. if was forty
years younger. Amt you comm in to
tell our Rachel goodbye? Haven't
time? Well, do declare -
The squire gazed in astonishment
after the vanishing figure of Harry
Cleveland on horseback as it disappear
ed among the trees.
" / wonder what Rachel will say,"
was his unspoken comment.
But Rachel said nothing.
While, day by day, the old wound
ranked and grew aorer in Harry Cleve-
lands Eeart.