Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-11-16
Gboitt Tittrature,
From the Southern Illustrated News.
SYBIL MILLER;
NDED OLDER!
OR THE

struck seven, and over all the hills the
purple vapors OF twilight were coming
down, waking spicy odors among the
swcet-fcrn in the pastures, and the blue
wild grapes ripsning in the woods, while
the whip-por-wifl sang sadly on the mos
sy rails of the broken down fsnce that
skirtsd the rsvine, and the katydids
chirped shrilly through the morning gle
ry leaves above the window
Seven o'clock = echoed Silag Miller,
inst as though he had not been watching
the slow creeping minuts-hand for the
last half hour. He will soon be here
now-my boy will soon be hers!
What strange softsning Of the rug
ged features, what an unwonted iquiysr
of the harsh voice there was, when he
uttered two simple words, Ny boy!-
Yes, 1T was his boy, who was coming
back from the smoke of half score of
battle fields; no wonder that the thought
sent thrill through his iron nature
lis soldier-his hero
Surely / ought to hear the stage
horn, he said feverishly pacing up and
down tho nsrrsw path, where tho mapl.
leaves lay like carpet of pale gold
Listen, Sybil don't you hear it?'
It's too early yet, fatker.' ..."
The light figure came stealing out to
his side, and both together leaned over
the gasden gate, gain. into the opal
gloom OF. twilight with wistful, searching
gaze. She was not prsttior than many
other Southern girl, yet there was
delicate type of beauty in her face and
form, which belongs peculiarly with the
sunny South Pale brown hair. with
aureate lights crossing its surface at
timex eyes like tho blue larkspur, and
lips that had stslcn the dewy crimson of
-''"-.-y-Fr fses.fs' rT7E tccSs4pS
oybiL Miller would have been "a beauty
in hsr dress Of gray gipshanh she was
something far better and nobler
Suddenly the cid man started and ut
tered an indistinct glad cry.
It's he, Sybil; don't you sec be-
yond the elder bushes! Child, don't
hold me back let me go and meet my
boyp
Ne, father, you are mistaken it is not
Laurence; Laurence is shorter by half q
hsad, and that is not his quick, buoyant
stcpP
You're right Sybn,' said S;lal Miller,
almost pstulantly. Why do these va
grant soldiers 60 wandering by, giving
honest folks such a start,
= suppose he did not know we were
watching for Laurence, said Sybil, half
smiling IN the dusk
1t was only this morning that bag
gar, disGracng--I won't say wearing
the hs-ConfeSsrate uniform, ca%e by, and
hSd the audacity to ask me for msnsy =
Did you not give him somethn.?'
Give him something p repeatsd Silas,
anGrily, I'D rather sec him starving
first! | hays no p.tience WITH these
I. "trolling besgars. Here's another speci-
men Of this kind, | suppose No, my
man, you nec.ln't trouble yourself to re-
cite your pitifuI story
For the tall figure, with halting step
and coat thickjy powdered with dust,
had paused in front of the gate, and
Sybil could just discern dark, piercing
eyes, and forehead curiously trsversed
by crcscent-Shapsd scar, apparently
newly healed.
L have nothing for you,' said Silas
sharply. Yes, YES, know what YOU
would say, but its no use. IF veu're
deserving, the proper authorities will
take care OF you, and if you're not, ths
county jail is the best place for you. =
Don't tell mc about ua,at. what have
you done with your bounty ,honey and
your pay, if you're really what YOU pre-
tend to bs-a soldier :?
Even through the twilight Svhil could
sse the scarlet flush rising to tn, SCARED
forehead.
Sir, you are mistaken I did not BEG y
No you'd prefs~to play the bully
I've no doubt But I'm not a prone
subject for you, so be about your bust
hess, my man.
The soldier turned silently away, with
step more halting perhaps and head
more depressed, and passed s!srly irts
the gathering dusk
Father whispered Sybil, reproach-
fully, had you f~rgotten thst our Lau.
4 renee too is n sol,iier p
II No returned Silas. abruptly, sIre-
inembered it, and it convinced m. all tn.
more thata man, paid and pensioned Iik .
2 eur Laurence, hiss no need to b.g on In.
public highways - - a1#
But fathe~, he dH not beg ~ Z.
Because | would not allow it, child