“Why, a terrible battle has been fought—it was on yesterday at ——: an awful fight.”
“No, sir, I have not heard of it,” answered Mildred changing to a more gentle tone, yet expressive of indifference.
“You do not seem to take much interest in military affairs?” remarked the clerk. “I thought everybody was eager to hear of the success of our arms. The Rebels received a fearful chastisement yesterday.”
“They did?” asked Mildred, trying to appear indifferent under the searching gaze of this impudent clerk.
“Indeed, they did. You will hear the guns booming presently in honor of the great victory. There were ten thousand rebels killed, yes, left dead on the field. Wasn’t it glorious? Wasn’t it glorious?” he exclaimed rubbing his hands in glee.
“I see nothing glorious in shedding human blood,” replied Mildred.
“Don’t you rejoice at hearing of the defeat of the rebels, and that so many thousands were killed?” inquired the clerk.
“God forbid,” exclaimed Mildred with more warmth than she intended to manifest, “that I should rejoice at the death of any human being.”
“But the rebels have got to be killed, you know, in order to bring the war to an end and to restore the Union.”