Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-10-01
rba bronzed handsome Young 60

The bronZed, handsome young soldier
looked sznilingly down into the radiant face
that nestled against his shoulder ana serious
shadow stole into his eyes.
81 can tell you, Sybil, il came very near
being nothing more than a dream once or
twice. have had more hair-breadth 'scapes
than YOU know of, little sister did not tell
you, did I, of that skirmish along the Poto-
mac where stood face to face with DEATH an
| ugly death, too, 1.-THE point Of rebel bayonets,
when some brave fellow charged down On 'em
| and saved my life with his own right hand"
who was it, Laurence ?" said old Silas,
| with trembling lip and dilated eyes. 90
| would give my best wheat field for a chance
to grasp that right hand"
II don't know never came across him
again. Probably he was in some other regi-
ment. All I know is that he had fiery black
eyes, and an odd scar on his forehead shaped
exactly like a Moorish crescent
And a straight nose, and heavy black
nustache ?" interrupted his sister.
Exactly"
Father" said sybil, turning with spark
| ling eyes and crimson cheek to where Silss
Miller sat, " the wandering soldier whom you
| turned from your door last night was the man
| who saved our Laurence'5 life"
5las rose up from his chair and took al
iron features working strangely.
1T can't be helped now," he said in a
tremulOus voice; but it's the last soldier
I'll ever send with empty hands from thu:
door. Tie man who saved our Laurence's
life! Oh SybI! if had only listened to
your wordsm
But she never spoke of the little lucky
piece of gold. She fancied it might seem
like ostentation, this shy, fastidious little
wild-fower Of the hills.
"My Sybil going to be married among the
fine folks down in Boston! Well, I s'pose
might have expected it, and yet it does seem
kind O hard" soiloquized Silas Miller, drop
ping the happy, timid letter in his lap, and
looking out through dimmed spectacles upon
the snowy, sun-bright hills. q wonder who
it is. l should like to see the man that's 60
ing to marry Sybil Miller"
Silas would have been proud man could
he have beheld his pretty daughter that self
same night in her white evening dress, witt
scarlet geraniurns lighting up her brown hail
| and glowing On her bosom. No wonder that
Captain Leslies face frightened with grave
quiet pride, as he looked down On his fail
betrothed.
I" Sit down here, dearest in this quiet little
music-room," he said, with caressing authori
| ty. 81 can't share your sweet eyes anC
sweeter words with the world any longer.
must have you all to myself for while"
She looked up with blushing smile, ther
down again.
"Well ?" he asked, as if she had spoken
Il was wondering, Allen-that scar OF
| your forehead p
''What of it ?"
"Why it is such a singular shape-almost q
half circle. / never saw but one like it be-
fore"
'Did you not And where was that 2"
GA poor soldier passed our gate once with
just such a scar on his forehead, and"
She paused, for Allen Leslie had quietly
taken from some inner receptacle in his coat
tiny piece ofgold with narrow blue ribbon
passed through it He held it smilingly up.
"Do you know who gave this to me?'
"Gave it to you, Allen ?"
! $40 me, a fOOtSOre, weary wanderer, who
had missed his way among your tangled roads.
You fancied me beggar-it was not So l
had money, friends, position; yet I stood
sorely in need of kind word just then, for
my brain was throbbing, my limbs weary, nv
wounds scarce healed. That foot-march cost
me weary fever. Yet l do not regret it ;
for"
He took her hand tenderly into his, and
added,
''For although might have known that my
Sybil was beautiful, yet had it not been for
that blue-ribboned piece Of gold / never
should have known how good and true she
was"