Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1863-06-24
sALLY'S CHOICE.

palnter that september alieTuOon Inc
house was silent; it was silent out of
doors md Sally was involved in mental
contemplation. Within her view were
two roads, which at present were traversed
neither BY pedestrian nor rider. One CT
these roads ran through the field oPpo-
site the nouse-level, straight, and filled
with the binding rays of the setting sun.
The other crookedly descending past the
garden gate till 1t made d sudden turn into
the village street, a mile distant. 1t was
obscured Dy the tall sycamores aud will
lows which hid the houses standing be-
hind them, and which were already In the
shade of twilight. With her minds eye
Sally saw, toilipg up the crooked road,
along by the trees, soldier in blue jack
ct, leather belt, which had q plstol-case,
and cap was pulled over his forehead.
She turned from the vision with start,
as though it we're reality, and looked down
the other road. With her minds eye she
suddenly beheld another vision. An officer
with flashing buttons and shoulder straps
was strolling leisurely toward her, AT
this moment her fathers voice outside the
perch dissolved The panorama and changed
the curren. of her thoughts.
Where's your mother, Sally Snow ~
he asked ca entering.
"She's gone to Mrs. Halls to a quilting
party"
"Vhat am going to do for my supper,
/ should like 10 know2"
ats all ready but boiling the tea
kettle"
''Boil it, shen."
She made tea /; and taking off the cover
which Mrs. Snow had over The viands ar
ranged by her own hands previous to her
4 l. {, /
at the table.
"Only sour sass, dough nuts, custard
pie and riz cake !" said Mr.. Snow, discon-
.eGtedly.
She made no reply.
Amt there some colo chicken Z"
"Just enough for dinner TO morrow,
mother said"
Fetch out the chicken I" he demand
ed, pounding the table with his knife
handle.
She brought it from the pantry and Mr..
Snow demolished it.
"The dog will have something now,
and your mother will be none the wiser.
It's beyond me why she hates dogs So"
"You are afraid .. MOTHER said Sally,
holly.
Take care, daughter, take care" re-
piled Snow, throwing bone on the
clean floor.
lyon are; and SO am II
81 declare" he exclaimed, rising. I" do
perceive that the days begin to shorten
I'll have to hurry up with my chores"
You know well, father, that mother
means to make me marry Major Brewer
and you know thet you don't dare to put
your foot down that | shan't l ike
somebody Else better-you know that
too.n
Rely RELY RELY - said Snow, de-
spairingly, Selling his old hat and slapping
it against the wall, as If he might shake
out of it the idea that was not in his head
but nothing came of it, and he edged him
self out OF the house.
Could Orderly John Cutter have known
that afternoon OF his being IN SalIy's
thoughts he would have walked down the
street OF a canvas city III Virginia with
more aIacrity as he was taking letter up
to Major Brewers quarters. As it was, in
a rage He must present the letter. which
he knew was from her, in accordance with
the rules of military etiquette, instead OF
thrusting it before him, as he would like
To do, and demand satisfaction. lie en-
tered the tent with more abruptness than
was needtul, anG rendered the letter. The
Major, in eutire ignorance OF Johns feel
ings toward Sally, kindly asked him 1t he
had heard from Bingham lately, reminded
by the post-mark Of the letter that it was
his native town.
"No, sirn
Bring my horse up in an hour, for
the General rides this afternoon
Yes, sir;n and John disappeared. Ii
he had staid he would have seen an angry
flush pass over the Majors face as be read
the letter; fer Sally, in postscript, had
asked him TO give her respects to her old
friend John Gutter.
Between seven and eight, Mrs. Snow
came home very cross, and sculded Mr.
Snow till he took refuge in bed, aud scold-
ed Sally into her chamber. Her crossness
originated from some gossip at the quilt
ing, who told her that Major Brewer drank
terribly IL the army, and that Sally had
said she would 60 To the poor-house he
fore she would marry him. Although
Mrs. Snow did not believe what she had
heard, she was irritated enough by the
report to write Major Brewer that very
night, advising him To get leave of ab.
sence, if possible. In the stiffness OF that
same night John Cutter penned an elo-
quent epistle to Sally, which contained the
offer OF his hand-his heart she had long
Major Brewers letter came safely 10 hand
and was taken 80 him by John himself
To do Mrs. Snow justice, 1T was by acct
dent she happened to be in the village
store, where the post~ofhce was located
when Jehn's letter came 10 Sally. and was
handed TO her by the postmaster When
she got home, she threw it in the fire witt
its seal unbroken; she had her own code
of right and wrong, and adhered TO it
faithfully. She believed it was right for
her TO take Sally's destiny into her own
hands she knew what Sally wanted bet
ter than Sally herself Major Brewer be-
longed 10 the highest family in the county.
The Brewers owned the most woodland.
and lived in square aristocratic mansion,
which stood by itself five miles ont of
Bingham. To overcome the proverbial
inaccessibility of the family by an alliance
with the good Major was an act
worthy the efforts OF the proud Mrs.
Snow. The Shows were acknowledgements
mouthed, easy, Indifferent To place, and
ignorant. Mrs. Snow herself had been Nh
humble dress maker; but ability, courage
and strong will had made place for her
IN Bingham. Sally, aiasi though hand
some, agreeable ana lively. was terrible
little plebian, and gave no indication 81
- \, -.