Queens University of Charlotte - Coronet / Edelweiss Yearbook (Charlotte, NC)

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The Sacrifice HE soft, sweet April air, filled with the odor of roses, blew against my face. I was very happy in my home. Dad and I had lived there ever since I was born. Mother died when I was born, and for a long time Dad almost forgot that I had a claim on his heart. One day he found me out in the yard playing. I looked so much like mother that he gathered me up in his strong arms, and opened his big heart to me, and I have been there ever since. My Dad was a very busy man. You see he worked for our govern- ment. That meant that he had very little time for me. Because over here in this little province we were always having trouble. We were so small that some of our fond neighbors were always trying to make war on us, or get money or land from us. One morning at breakfast Dad said to me: Daughter, would you like to go to Von with me? Would I like it? ' Well, I am obliged to go on some state business. There is to be a military ball on Tuesday, and you can go to that. You can lounge around the hotel and amuse yourself by reading and thinking while I am work- ing. There is just one thing, dear, don ' t tell who youare. I flashed a quick look at him, but he went on smiling, — You will enjoy yourself more if everybody does not know that you are my daughter. You see my business is very important. Very, very import- ant, and if we are known, it will cause quite a bit of notoriety. He kissed me and went out. I was wild with excitement at the thought of the military ball. I flew around getting ready like a girl of sixteen. As a matter of fact I was twenty-two, but I had never had a serious thought in my life. I was quite tired when we landed in Von, but very happy. Dad engaged some large rooms on the front of the hotel. My room opened on a small balcony, which was covered with thick vines. It took me all of the next day to get settled, because I had left Netta at home, and I did not know how to do things very well. I was so taken up with myself that it was almost time to dress for the ball before I realized that I had not met any one. In fact, I had not been out of my rooms except for my meals. I had quite a picnic dressing, but at last I got ready. When Dad came in for me he said I was beautiful, but love is blind you know. I had noticed that Dad was quiet, and looked a little tired ; but I thought that the light and gayety of that ball room enough to a bring a dead man t o life. The music was intoxicating, and I had just had a most wonderful dance (22) I

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PREPARATORY DEPARTMENT Abbey, Louise Anderson, Margaret Askew, Hazel Atkins, Virginia Belk, Maggie BiGHAM, Gertrude Brazington, Flora Bridges, Mary Brown, Jessie Bruns, Elizabeth Caldwell, Mary Sidney Caldwell, Lettie Carter, Eunice Cave, Carol CuRKiE, Augusta Cochrane, Martha Crosby, Ruth Crosby, Mary Crosby, Elizabeth CoNNERS, Margaret Dardine, Helen Davidson, Carrie Louise Davis, Clara Denham, Beatrice Dibble, Annie Leak DoTGER, Dorothy Dunn, Eunice Edwards, Georgia Flanagan, Pearl Gardner, Margaret Grandy, Rubena Grandy, Galata Galloway, Mary Griffith, Nellie Hardin, Clara Hardin, Margaret Hackney, Lucile Harkey, Myrtle Harkey, Louise Harkey, Kathekine Horner, Frances HoTCHKiss, Eugenia Hudson, Myrtle Hudson, Annie Jamison, Wilma Jones, Rosalie Justice, Mary KiDD, Fay KiDD, Mae Kraivss, Aileen Letiico, Helen Lewin, Mary Long, Elizabeth Little, Blondine Love, Sarah MacNeill, Betsy Maxwell, Margaret Mayes, Helen McQueen, Margaret McGinn, Jean McGinn, Frankie McCann, Madeline MOREHEAD, Catherine Moore, Annie Parker Moore, Likule Morrow, Lucretia Morrison, Elizabeth Parsons, Elizabeth Powell, Dorothy Robinson, Forrestine Randoli ' H, Alice Si ' ratt, Blanche Stewart, Lois Si ' RATT, Mary Sarratt, Elizabeth Thompson, Ruby Neal TURBIVILLE, ClEO Wallace, Marie Wallace, Ruth Wearn, Marjorie Williams, Miriam Williamson, Myrtle Wyatt, Rebecca (21)

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with a young officer. I was just bowing my thanks to him when Dad rushed madly up to me, and carried me out of the ball room. His face was very white and strained, and his eyes were very serious. Helen ! Our province has declared war on Von. It is my place and my duty to be in Bours tonight. It will be very hard and very dangerous for me to try to cross the line tonight. I hate to leave you here alone, but CiOd will take care of you. Come tomorrow. He gathered me in his arms lor a second, and then I saw him rush down the steps, spring into a carriage and rush away into the darkess. I felt as though some one had struck me a blow on the head. My heart skipped a beat, and all the lights went out. How I ever got back to my rooms was more than I ever knew. I went out on the balcony to think. Bours had declared war on Von. I was alone in a nest of enemies. I knew my father loved me better than his own life. Nothing but some big cause, the greatest cause on earth, could have made him leave me alone. My heart was beating so I could not breathe. I wanted to run, I wanted to scream; I was afraid. Then something happened; a wave of warm blood seemed to flow from my heart out to all parts of my body. I drew myself up to my full height. My father was a man, and soldier — he had done his duty, and he expected me to do mine. I raised my hands above my head in a gesture of prayer. The breeze caught my handkerchief and carried it over the balcony. I looked down to see where it had gone, and to my surpries saw the young officer with it in his hand. I drew back, but not in time, he had seen me. It took only a second for him to climb up that thick vine. Allow me, please? Oh, thanks. But instead of my handkerchief his fingers closed over my wrist. ' ' Please, please, lady, tell me your name? I am your enemy, sir. 1 closed the door, and left him. I heard him drop to the ground, and I peeped out just in time to see him kiss my hand- kerchief, and put it in his inside pocket. Then I am sure mv heart did something it had never done before. I ran across the room to the window, put the shade up, and — my ey ' i foil on a very beautiful woman sitting on the arm of a large chair. ' in which was seated an officer. There was something about that scene that held me. Was it the way she was dressed, or was it the fact that he was drinking? I could not say just what it was. I tried to turn away, but 1 was held as by the charm of a snake.. Suddenly it dawned on me that I had seen her somewhere before. She was certamly like, — my gracious, vu ' turned to look in the mirror. Yes, she looked like me. When I looked again the shade was down. I was very glad; and I .set to Work to oack, and get ready to leave the next morning. Oh, if I had known then who she was, how good she was, and yet how (2.0