Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-01-01
THE FORCED RECRUIT.
from the Boston Journal. |

From the Boston Journal
The afternoon sun sloped around fhe oil.
farmhouse and fell on the cornfed, dance
among the dry stubble and glinted III
among the nOdding tassels OF few re-
naming ears by the fence, touching then
all to gold. A man was there, filing =
basket with the corn, counting the last O.
his harvest. He was we'll built, with
broad massive shoulders, strong arms, ana
hands that were not afraid of work. Hi,
face was not strictly handsome, but some
thing in it was attractive. His darl
brown hair was brushed away from a gooa
forehead and he had honest, kindly blue
eyes. lie did not look like rebel, though,
he did live in the heart of Virginia; YOU
could fear no traitor-blood, when onc4
seeing his frank smile. While be worked.
there was the distant shot of a rifle. He
started, then his brow grew dark.
Another Federal gone SOMEWHERE be
muttered through his closed teeth, as be
stood hercely tearing the husks from his
corn. Just then the silken tassels waved
in the afternoon light, parted, and food
Of sunshine falling through rested on
graceful, childish head, and pair of blu,
eyes smiled at him. The mans whole
look changed
"Why, May I"
"Well," she said, stopping short, with
the faintest tinge on her round cheek,
"don't you want me ~
"Want you? Of course l do; come
here |"
She obeyed and took seat beside him
on large stone in the shadow of the toss
ing corn. 1t was g slight form, and tie
pratty faca with itS mida own.
and happy lips, looked like very child.
yet the girl must have been eighteen.
" | came over with some tomatoes for
your mother, and as you were not at the
house | came down here to see you few
minutes" she said.
'You couldn't have done better thing,
little girl" and his honest eyes looked into
hers, brim full of honest love- May took
off her lat and the light fell full upon her
dropping hair; she tossed it back with
impatience. Perhaps there was the least
bit OF cOquetry in this-all women have it
IN degrees-and she knew how beautiful
George thought her hair was
He took the sun-twisted curls in his
brown hand, and held them tenderly a
moment AT length he looked up graveiy:
May, | want one of these
Of course she could see no reason at all
why be should want her hair, any more
than JaEe Gwinn's, Susan Parker's, Or a
dozen other girls, or even that of the cat
who was dying of consumption at the
parsons, and so she told him. But George
would not laugh.
Il don't know what may happen thee
dreadful days." he said sobery. The
saucy lips were sllenced in moment.
''What DO you meana'
i will explain in a moment, | want
this now." He took small pair of scis-
sors from his pocket, and cut off the
shining mite. May said not word.
"May, it's terrible business-this
war"
81 don't like to think about it," she
said, drawing closer to him, as if in terror.
He put his arm around her tenderly.
"But you must, my little one, we must
both of US think of it, and learn not to
shudder. It's hard thing to be shut up
down here among traitors, and fear for
your life if You say a loyal word; it is
hard to feel the dear old flag SO far off. l
envy the boys who can fight for it; yes,
and shed their blood, too. 1t cuts into
the heart of a man so-curse those reb-
elsl"
Hush, George!"
"Well, know it's wrong to talk so,
May, and / Won't; but it's enough to make
one forget all sorts of goodness to live in
these barbarous times. l would get away
from here into the federal lines, if it
weren't for you, May"
at would be very dangerous"
eyes, | know-Tll try and be patient,
but, see here, l carry this" snt with a
strange smile he showed her a pistol con.
cealed under bis belt.
A thought struck the girl suddenly.
George, what if you are drafted"
"Hush!" he said, as if in sharp pain
q will never shoot federal if | die for
it"
MAY was still; the fear OF coming sor-
row touched her bright face. " think |
must 60" she said at length, rising. Has
tings started, and taking her face in his
hands, looked into her liquid eyes.
May-little May, do you love me?'
"George!"
81 wanted to hear you say it again."
he said, smiling as he saw the grieved
look on the childish face, "because don't
know what will come" There was
strange, oppressive feeling at bis heart as
thew stood together among the sunlit corn,
and he smootbed her soft hair, vaguely
wondering how many more times he
should do it. Silently they went up the
corn field together, and the sadness of
cloud passed over the warm sun as 1t
looked upon them. 80
There was confused mingliDg of shouts
and oaths as the results of the ballot-tox
were made known to the crowd assembled
around the dilapidated building which was
used as town house. The sickly light of
a swinging oil lamp fell out through the