Litchfield enquirer., 1863-11-26
Alisfellanu.
A Gift by the wayaide.

en, and over aIi the hills ithe purple vapos o twilight we'e coming down. waking spicy odor. among the sweet fern in the pastures and ths blue wild grapes ripeDing in the woods, while the whip-poor-will sang sadly on the messy rails of the broken down fence taat skirted the ravine. and the katy aids chirped -shrilly through the morning glory leaves above the window. e
 Seven o'clock !" echoed Silas Miller. just as though he had not hssn watching thst slow creeping minute hand for the last half hour He will soon be here now--my boy will soon De here." . = ..-. -
 What a strange soitsning of the rugged fsa- lures, what an unwonted quiver of the harsh voice there was when he uttered tho two sim pie words my boy" Yes it was his boywho was coming back. from the smoke of half a score of battle fields i; no wonder that the thought sent thrill through his iron nature His soldier-his hero s Surely l ought to hear the stage horn, '' said he ieverishly passing up and down the mar row path. where the maple leaves lay like a carpet ofpals gold. Listen. sybil. don't you hear it ["
 |" It's too early yet father."
 The light figure. came stealing out to h;s side, and both together leaned over the garden gate. gazing into the opal gloom of twilight ~ith wishful searching gaze.
 She was not pre.tier than many another New England girl. yet there was delicate type of beauty in her face and form that belongs as much to the frosen north" as its pine forests and elias of eternal snow. Pals brown hair, with aureate lights crossing its surface at times, eyes ike the blue larkspur. and lips that had stolen the dewy crimson of the wild rose in pearls and crape Sybil Miller would havs been a "bsauty ;" in her dress of gray gingham, she was something far better and nobler.
 Suddenly tie old man started and uttered an indistinct, glad cry.
 It's he, SybiI don't you see beyond the el. der bushes. Child don't hold me back, let me go aud meet my bOy.'
 " No. father, you are mistaken it is not Laurence i; Laurence is shorter by hulf head; nnd ,ha. is not his quick, buoysnt step." s6s
 "You are right. Sybil,' said Silas Miller, al- mo pe.ulaut'y. ' Why do these yagranl sol- diers go wandering by. giving honest folks such sturt 2"
 Il suppose hs did not know we were watch ing for Lsarence,'' said Sybil. half smiling in the dusk.
 l. was only this morning that beggar, disgracing,-I won't sayssswearing. the United States uniform. came by and had the sudaciiy to ask me for money"
 Did you give him something!'
 Give him something :" repeated Silas m grily, :" I'd have seen him starving first. I have no patience with these strolling heggars. Here's another specimen oi the kind, suppose. No, my man, you needn't trouble yourself to recite your ptifal story"
 For the tall figure. with halting step and coat thickl. powdered with dust had paused in front of the gate, and Sybil could just discern dark, piercing eyes, and forehead curiously traversed by oresest shaped scar apparently nearly healed. -Ea~ s7
 .' l have nothing for you" said silas sharp. ly. Yes. yes, I. know what you would say, but is's no use. Ifyou are deserving the prop or authorities will take care of you. and if you are not. the county jail is the best place for you. Don't tell me about want, what have you done with your bounty money and pay. # you are really what you pretend to be-. soldier Even through the twilight Sybil could see the scarlet flush rising to the scarred foreheat..
 Y" Sir. you are mistaken. did not beg
 !" No, you'd prefer to play the bully, I've no doubt. But T'm, not proper subject for you. so be about your business. my man."
 The soldier turned silently away with step more hal.ing perhaps, and head more depress, d. aad passed slowly into the gathering dusk
 g" Father" whispered Sybil responsibility. .' had you forgotten tha. our Laurence too is . soldier '"
 Mo-" returned Silas, abruptly. I remem- bered it, and 1t convinced me all the more that man. paid and pensioned like our Laurvnce, has no need to beg on the public h,ghwaya" {" But father. he did not beg" "Recause would not allowit child. pay taxes for the support of such as he, and Isweai I will do no mors !''
 He spoke in the sharp. hixh-pitched accent. of passion. and when hs looked up again. SyLi was gone. sa ss st sss. ge
 Foossors and weary, the travslworn pedes srian had sat himself down on amosey boulder by the roadside. when . quick light faatateF came up lit.le path. leading from the bscl door ofthe farm hoass. through blaskberry pastures and mown felds, and siight fesIs bsnt above him.
 ," Do not mind ny iathsr's words. hs VT n lgry end unreasonable" 1" shs said harEiedly. .l have litsle to give but want you to take It fo the sake ofmy soldisss sbrothcr." Y l Bsfors he could speak she had unfastsna.