The Democratic press. (Eaton, Preble County, Ohio) 1860-1865, 1862-11-06
Y, A7lH-ITINq AUuII9T THT5 u ~
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The blue September mist hung; like 9
Translucent veil, tyer the chain Of distant
hiIl.tops; all dsy long the cicada piped n;
aacl'aS NJ i166di ana Ioa, and purple
asters, sprinkled all along the fields, ,snoke
of autumn time. ts-....., .,..-,..
Minnie Towers leaned idly oyer the gate,
her fair head almost overStOpped by imperi
al dahliasp whose coroual of tinted velve'
swayed majcsticallyin the evening breeze.
She was a round, dimplcd little thing, with
eyes shadowedlike the hazelruts ripenirg
in thousand hollows, and lips that might
have been carved in dewey cornelian, Sc
perfect were they in their scarlet freshness.
No foreign silks could have set of her rus,
tic beauty better than the simple azure mus
lin that she wore, buttouedup to the throat
with blue things that looked like magnifcd
sapphires, a#' .
"only five o'clockp p said Minnie to her
self, playing unconsciously with one stray
riuglct which had escaped from its faSten'
ing, and hung upon her shoulder, and the
mail will not be in foran hour yet. l wonder
ifit will bring me letter from Charley The
careless fellow to think of my not having
heard from him in four whole days +
No wonder the poor little thing started SC
nervously, when there was rustic and q
step Gloss beside her. But it was only tall
gaunt gipsy-like woman, worn and emacia
ted to degree that made her large black
eyes seem supernaturally brilliant. i.
4 didn't mean to fIighten you, lady, bu
you never heard me till I was close to you
Would you please to give me nights fooc
and shelter My little one is sick-seeI
And she turned back the corner of a tai
tered shawl, disclosing the ghostly face 0
something so pinched and shrunken tha
Minnie could scarcely believe it to be child
She recoiled instinctivcly.
we have nothing for you, good woman
why do you not go on to B, where Their
is an almshouse
How far is it?' said the woman, YEARLY.
Three miles, only
The woman turned away, with a sort o
sobbiug sigh, and walked silently downth'
road For an instant, Minnie felt inclined tt
call her back, but the next thought was
L cannot be troubled-it is nothing tt
mer
The village postoflice was only about twc
miles distant from Towers Farm-Minni'
had walked it many time, and as she tieC
on her sunbonnet, and adjusted her gloss!
ringlets, there was a bright color in hel
check, for perhaps she should bring back t
letter frcm Charley Frampton, her soldier
lover! .t t
Il won't be gone long, mamma" she sai'
tripping down the path, where the fragran
dews of evening we're already beginning tt
distil, and the purple twilight made dream
like indistinctness.
Along the still country road-under tht
leafy arms Of whispering woods, she passed
watching the evening star burning on thu
horizon. and wondering, the while, whether
'Charley's' letter was waiting for her
What was that crouched-up heap beside
the mossy pile of boulders on the roadside
Minnie Towers heart stood still, with un
defined apprehension, for one moment-th'
next she boldly advanced and laid her hanC
on the shoulder Of bowed woman.
What is the matter why do you sob 81
violentlyT "
The oman started up with dilated eyes
and rigid lips, and Minnie recognized til,
wan creature who had accosted her, tw'
hours ago, at the garden gate. "A
Why ? See there .L-
She pointed downward, to something tina
lay, still wrapped in the tattered shawl
among the withered leaves at her feet a-
Dead, deadr she moaned And it wa
oil | had in the worldp
Z am. sorry, stammcrcd Minnie, sbocke,
and pale, 'but---- .r
'Sorry7 what is your sorrow 10 me ? Yo,
refused us food or shclter--you turned u
from your door, like dogs-and now
She paused, and suddenly lifting up on
lean arm towards the sky, said, solemnly:
God will see US avenged You are young
child, and, like enough, don't know wha
sorrow means, but the hour will surely com
when you will reap the harvest you hav