Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1863-06-24

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s,nily was unknown to his own relations. |
aaior Brewer, who was more than thirty, |
vas still without profession, or any bus
mess whatever. The day he rode over TO
Mr.. SHOWS to get his signature to some
paper regarding sale OF land, definite
purpose came into his head for the first
time, and that purpose was to fall in love
with Sally. lie was adroitly aided by
Mrs. Snow. who entrapped him tar more
than Sally did, who received his atsen-
tons passively.. Ata1ie commencement
OF the war, Brewer obtained, through the
family influence, staff appointment, with
the rank of Lieutenant, and John Gutter
enlisted in the ranks. Without seeing
much service, Brewer was promoted to
Captaincy, and then was made Major;
while John only attained to the dignity
of being occasionally mounted orderly
Chance brought Major Brewer and John
in continual contact; from the beginning
they had been attached to the same post.
Soon after Major Brewer received Mrs.
Shows letter, be had eight attack of
iauudice, upon which he obtained
months leave, on the medical directors
certificate, and went home; and IN about
q months time from the day when Sally
contemplated the two roads, he stopped
before the garden gate TO fasten his horse
TO the hitching-post. 1t was In the mid
die of October; fire burned on the
hearth, aud Mrs. Snow was before II, en-
gagged in making fall garments. She was
alone, TOR Sally had gone down to the vii
lage to do some shopping. il
Now" thought Mrs. Snow, sit he
looks as If he drank, III give him up" s.
But he did not look as it he did he
was yellow, his voice was weak, and be
seemed iLchned t. be feeble. Not word
was said about Sally. They talked about
the war, and about Bingham, until she
came home, rosy and animated, with sew
eral bundles. The Major grew more yell
low as he rose TO meet her, and his voice
faltered so, that Sally, in her surprise,
gave him quite cordial welcome. He
stayed a short time after lier arrival, and,
when he went away, said it was doubtful
when he should be able to come again, he
felt so miserably.
He'll be al home long time" SAID
Mrs. Snow, prophetically.
What ails him z" asked Sally.
Hes consumptiye, | reckon; they all
get sick sooner or later"
Sally thought of John, and wondered
whether be was sick. He must be, tor
none of his friends in the village had heard
from him In long time. She sighed.
What are you signing tor?" asked
Mrs. Snow.
"For the soldiers"
"The whole OF 'em e.
"For one," answered Sally, boldly.
Its OF DO use. His thirteen dollars a
month, and his being taught that he is q
mere machine, has demoralized him before
this''
Sally said no more; she was not capa-
BILE OF warning with her mother.
The next day the Major came in car
riage, and asked Sally if she would not go
out riding with him. She objected on ac-
count of the churning.
SO right along, Sally; Ill attend to
it," her mother ordered.
So she went. The Major was so poorly
that he asked her to relieve him from the
fatigue of driving, which she consented
to do, and guided the horse ski)lfully but
not So skilltully as he guided the CONVEX
satIon, in which she could not help feeling
Interested. He Was so meek, this warrior
so deierertlal, and wlthal so grateful
that she could not resist the t1attery of his
manner. Besides, was she not the favored
one Of all Bingham2 There had not been
beau IN town tor twelvemonth the
war had stripped the country, and the
girls had been minus everything in the
way OF amusement. Who can blame
Sally for yielding TO the pressure OF cir
cumstancess
Mrs. Snow played her part so wei. that
the wedding-dress was bought, and pre-
parations tor the wedding commenced,
and Sally bewildered into az acquiescence
which lett no hope for John Cutter. No
sooner, however, was the wedding day
set, than Sally, owing to the contrariety
of the mind, began TO be occupied and
lulled with dreams of what might yet
happen between the now and then of the
marriage-day, wbicE would turn the Ma
jor into a myth, and the day into an i'm
possibility
But the wedding came off; and on the
twenty eighth day OF his leave the Major
was on his way to his post, and Sally
resumed the life she had left the day he
came home, without com pretending any
great change 10 her destiny.
Mr.. Snow often said s'ReelyIn when he
locked at her; and Mrs. Snow silently
wondered at her silence snd entire indit-
ference.
a few bottles of "Old Rye" were open
ed on the occasion OF tie Major return.
The congratulations were in PROPORTION
To the drinks, numerous, and John Cutter
heard OF them. " hen the Major first saw
John, lie looked at him as If ne expected
he would say something of his visit to
Bingham, but John was silent, and the
Major, remembering that Sally had once
asked him TO give her respects to JoEn
Gutter, was silent too.
" " no cares z" said John to himself. sif
she didn'J, I'm sure | don't. Mother
Snow ear put on airs To her hearts con-
tent, now that Sally is Brewer But
who would have thought il Let's sing
Sweet Home, boys" he suddenly burst
oct with, land scare something ~
Soon after this, a part OF the command
ing generals corps was ordered to the
West, and Major Brewer and John were
transferred with 1t. One of those vague
Western battles then occurred, in which a
great many men are killed, and which are
called victories on both sides, and for
which victories both the commanding gen
erals are removed and the Major and
john were concerned in it.
Both were mounted that day-the Ma
jor In anticipation of taking some impor-
rant order, and John with no anticipation
at all; but be had two loaded pistols in
his belt, which he intended TO use. When
the fight was HOTTEST and Tnbp>s sp;ri.