Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-06-25
SALLY's CHOICE.

The colored frame OF the open window
so set off Sally's yellow hair that it was
pity there did not pass travelling portrait
painter that September afternoon. The
house was silent; it was silent out of
doors; and Sally was involved in mental
contemplation. Within her view were
two roads, which at present were traversed
neither by pedestrian nor rider. One of
these roads ran through. the field oppo
site the house-level, straight, and filled
with the binding rays of the setting sun.
The other crookedy descending past the
garden gate till it made sudden turn into
the village street, mile distant. 1t was
obscured by the tall sycamores and 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, a soldier in a blue jack
ct, leather belt, which had q pistoi-case,
and a cap was pulled over bis forehead.
She turned from the vision with a start,
as though it were reality, and locked 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
porch dissolved the panorama and changed
the current of her thoughts.
Where's your mother, Sally Snow p
he asked on entering.
"She's gone to Mrs. Halls to quilting
party"
"What am going to do for my supper,
I should like to know2"
"It's all ready but boiling the tea
kettle.n
"Boil it, then"
She made tea; and taking off the cover
which Mrs Snow had over the viands ar
ranged by her own hands previous to her
departure, she and her father took seats
at the table.
"Only sour sass, dough nuts, custard
pie and riz cake !" said Mr.. Snow, dscon-
tentedly.
She made no reply.
"AiD't there some cold chicken ?"
''Just enough for dinner to morrow,
mother said"
Fetch out the chckenI" he demand
ed, pounding the table with his knife
handle.
She brought it from the pantry and MIR.
Snow demolished it.
and your mother will be none the wiser.
It's beyond me why she hates dogs So"
"You are afraid Of mother" said Sally,
hotly.
take care, daughter, take care! I" re-
piled Snow, throwing a bone on the
clean floor.
"You are; and 80 am l."
" | declare" he exclaimed, rising, 1" do
perceive that the days begin to shorten
I'll have to hurry up with my chores"
I" You know well, father, that mother
means to make me marry Major Brewer
and you knew that you don't dare to put
your foot down that | shan't. | like
somebody else better-yOu know that
too.n
Freely 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 Gutter have known
that afternoon of bis being in Sally's
thoughts he would have walked down the
street of canvas city in Virginia with
more aiacrty as be was taking letter up
to Major Brewers quarters. As it was, in
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 wonld like
to do, and demand satisfaction. He en-
tered the tent with more abruptuess than
was needful, anG rendered the letter. The
Major, in entire ignorance of Johns feel
ings toward Sally, kindly asked him il he
had heard from Bingham lately, reminded
by the post mark of the letter that it was
his native town.
"No, sir"
Bring my horse up in an hour, for
the General rides this afternoon"
"Yes, sir;" and John disappeared. If
he had stad he would have seen an angry
flush pass over the Majors face as he read
the letter; fer sally, In a 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 scolded MIR.
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 In tue army, and that Sally had
said she would go to the poor-house be-
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 alb
sence, if possible. In the stiffness of that
same night John Gutter penned an elo-
euent episule to Sally, which contained the
offer of his hand-his heart she had long
possessed-but it never reached her. But
RI
and was taken SO him by John himself
To do Mrs. Snow justice, it was by acct
dent she happened to be in the village
store, where the post-ofice was located,
when Johns letter came TO Sally, and was
handed to her by the postmaster. When
she got home, she threw it in the tre witt
its seal unbroken; she had her own code
of right and wrong, and adhered to 1t
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 to the highest family in the county.
The Brewers owned the most woodland,
and lived in a square aristocratIc mansion,
which stood by itself five miles out OF
Bingham. To overcome the proverbial
inaccessibility of the family by an alliance
with he good -natured Major was an act
worthy the efforts of the proud Mrs.
Snow. The Shows were nobody-open-
mouthed, easy, Indifferent to place, and
ignorant. Mrs. Snow herself had been an
humble dress SNEAKER; but ability, courage
and strong will had made place tor ner
in Bingham. Sally, alas! though hand
some, agreeable and lively, was terrible
little nleb;on and cave no indication of