Litchfield enquirer., 1863-05-07
Alislella11p.
Alice Bankgrove,s Soldier.


 The gnarled old veteran of an apple tree that overhung Squire Bankgroves red brick house was tossing it's boughs of pink-streaked apples to and fro in the September sunset the level beams looked straight into the deserted robins nest, in it's messy frock and Alice Bankgrove stood in the doorway, shading her eyes with pretty browned hand, and looking the while as the western light. sitting through canopy of moving leaves, covered her with narrow lines and zig-zags of tremulous gold, like bird peeping through the gilded wires of it's cage
 z Home already, boys,' she called out, as the garden gate swung on its creaking hinges, and the hazel eyes flashed sunny welcome down the path.
 Boys, indeed The boys whom Miss Alice apostrophized so patronizingly were two stall wart fellows, either of whom could have taken the young lady up with one hand-handsome olive checked young giants, with the strength and symmetry of Hercules in their thews and snews, as might have satisfied the shining heaps of newly thrashed grain they had left piled on the floor of the echoing, fragrant old barn under the hill !
 : But why do you look so serious 2 she ad- ded, the next minute. An, what curve of the lip, what quiver of the brow, ever escaped a woman's quick eye ,? She read the two faces as if they had been open books. We have been talking. Alice,' said the younger, a dark, open-browed young man of about twenty, leaning up against the doorway. I am going to ask your father to get another hand to finish off this falls work
 Alice stood in astonishment.
 What for, Harry Trad hasn't been teasing you again, has he ? a..s
 And Harry Moore burst into a great mellow laugh.
 As if Trad's nonsense ever seriously annoy ed ma! No, Alice the truth of the matter is that I feel like fool, thrashing here, when I ought to be standing in the ranks with mus. ket on my shoulder, fighting for the stars and stripes. as my grandfather fought at Lexington and Bunker Hillr @ And as he spoke his dark eyes sparkled with inward fire, and flush came on his sunburned cheek.
 Hear him talk ? said Trad Curtis, shrngging his shoulders. [ All moonshine, say I. Time enough to fight for the old flag when the old flag hasn't men enough to do it's work and sends word for Hal Moore and Trad Curtis to come along and lend hand. Meanwhile, lei every man mind his own business-that's my maximr h
 I shall not wait for any such message re turned Moore, quitely. I mean to be off soon,-that is, Alice, if you think I'm doing right
 would volunteer tomorrow, ifIwere . man ' said Alice, instinctively clasping he, hands together, and drawing a adeep breath,-- Moore's face lighted up.
 l That's enough, Alice T said he. Trad Curtis, standing in the shadow of tn, old apple, quietly watched the two faces be yond with half f-closed, vigilant eyes and disa greeable curve in his lip.
 Wonder what Squire Bankgrove will sa, to this,' was his internal comment. If reall, means to give his daughter to farm hand, don't see why my ehanse--with little man l agement lis not as good as Harry Moore's-- She don't exactly like me but if Harry reall. is in earnest about this volunteering business it's the most obliging thing he could do. jus now. Once give mea clear field, and-' l Trad Curtis set his lips closely together as h, entered the wide, cool hall where Squire Bank grove-a hale, portly parsonage of faboat fifty s.tn rnddv cheeks, and locks thickly sprinklet .'sn si:ver--sat in his slbow chair, doxiDg oye tho newspapsr. T.,s s' ss Harry Moore walked straight up to him an, breaehed the subject, without unnecessary cir eunlocution, .