Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-07-06
BY WIN. II. BUSHNELL.
N child

heard not the loving mothers call.
g Lucy, child"
Wrapped in the brilliant scene-the gor-
| geOus pageant that was passing by-she had
! neither eve or ear for other 81 hts or other
sounds Her young heart beat as swiftly
and almost as audibly the drum, and the
flashing of her eye was as ftful and vivid as
| the starry banner that gllttered and foated
| in the bright sunshine.
oIucv. do you hear me ?" And the moth
er advanced and laid her hand gently on her
daughters arm.
Mother? ." came the answer back from
! pale and trembling lips, Though the brow and
cheek were crimson. But no other sound
escaped her save deep, long-drawn sigh
| What will the soldiers think of you?"
persisted Mrs. Vaughn. do you think 1T is
maidenly or becoming TO stand staring at
| these mem"
But they are going to war, and perhaps
| shall never see them again"
| "Well, what of it II amt anything to
you, and am not going to have my daughter
a talk and q laughing stalk for the whole
! town" And the matter-of-fact woman fairly
dragged her within the house.
But the girl had seen all she wished to see,
had learned all she desired to learn, and will
| Fngly screened herself from all curious eyes.
| 4 rose, red as her own soft cheek, was blush
|
| had seen it taken from the button-hole and
pressed to mis- lips as he passed along-had
| seen the waving of his handkerchief, and
| that was sufficient for her young heart, and
| to ill il with rosy dreams of love for many a
| long day.
The little bower where her mother-a wild
| 0w-resided, soon settled down again to its
| usual dullness. "All quiet on the Potomac, !"
| headed the news column of the paper day af-
! 4 h
port of battle and bloodshed would have
been relief. The war appeared more i5e
| a grand encampment one for drill and dis
| play, rather than for stern, unwayering, and
| never-to- be-relinquished purpOse-and those
at home fretted at what they called useless
| delay"
Lucy Vaughn continued her occupation as
| school mistress, which was the sole support
/ other mother and herself, though they owned
the cottage homestead in which they resided,
a shade more subdued, perhaps, than usual
| The secret of her love was unknown to any
| one, even her mother, and all her fears for
| him who had gone to battle for his country s
! flag and his native land, had to be hidden in
| her own heart. Faithful to her duties, she
! banished the loved one during the school
| hours but when they were over, and she sat
on the vine-shaded doorstep of her home or
| watched the stars as they flashed in at her
| sleep came at last, she was ever wandering
amid the dead and aying-threading with her
| delicate feet the CORY battlefield, in search
| of him TO whom her young heart had gone
| out in devotion.
| The army awoke from its lethergy at last,
| and great battle had been fought, but scant-
! tily and slowly the news came. Imperfect,
not to be relied upon, were the published list
of the dead, wounded and missing To-day
/ Il. 4
| sunk to the lowest depths of dispar. All !
| then, indeed, all realized how much more
fearful was uncertainty than even a know
| ledge of the worst.
| Mechanically Lucy Vaughn struggled TO her
little school house and performed her duties
| there. Her step became less active her
checks lost their roses, and her merry laugh
| was no longer heard. She lived no longer in
the sunshine of the past, but in the shadow
OF the future. Her young heart was crushed
| as by neither milestone, yet she neither fall
| tered nor tainted.
| Lucy" said the gray haired, infrm, and
! Speo'acled old postmaster as he hobbled into
| the school house Just as her enormous task
! for the day was finished. Lucy here is a
| letter for YOU. 1t ha'nt often that YOU get
one, and thought that l would bring it my
! self"
Oh, thank you-thank you" and she
| glanced hurriedly at the superscription, and
added " but l don't know the writing"
In truth she had not seen it before, but it
needed no clairyOyant to tell her who it was
| from. Her heart was sufficiently gifted with
" second sight for that.
well, l do, Lucy. 1t is a wondrous fair
hand though somewhat shaky now, l should
say He is a brave boy and a good one, and
| used to help me often. Yes YES, many a day
he saved my poor, old eyes by writing tor me.
| But he has gone now-gone TO the war: and
so l thought I'd just bring the letter to you
before any one saw it, even my wife. for she
| Is a master hand in finding out things. and |
don't know what might be betwixt you young
folks. There, there, don't blush, Lucy It's
all right, nobody viii ever know ANYTHING
about it from Paul Rogers"
With cheeks like a peony, and wildly
| tiuttering bosom, the girl was glad to escape
from the garrulous, though kind-hearted Old
man, and III the retirement of her chamber
read her first love letter. With trembling
hands She tore open the envelope The
words and story were old as youth and beau
" itself, and yet new to her-uew and dear
as they be TO young hearts, though repeated
ten thousand score of times. He loved her,
and when he come back again, wearing the
victor's laurels, or the war was ended
would she bless him with her hand and be
an earth angel to him? But, ali! he wa:
wounded, and
Lucy, darlings"
Mother :" and Capt. Graham's letter
touhd a safe hiding place nearest her heart
as she hurried TO her mothers side.
Lucy
Mother, dear mother, what is the matter
with you.' The pale face and trembling
ashy lips struck such terror to her hear
that she could hardly artieulate the words
as she dropped on her knees by The bedside
The doctor quick! l am very sick"
But no human physician had power to aver
the fiat OF death. No cunningIv prepared
drugs could stay the soul from its upwar,
flight. No earthly prayer keep the angel
from bearing away to God the priceless iewe
that was TO be reset in unfading glory
The star-lights in the mosaical floor O
heaven flashed out aud another was adde,
to their number. The moon arose, and it
silver light shone through the snowy cur
tains of the window upon a corpse, pale an,
holy in its sleeping. The night wind stole il
through the clustering vines and lifted tn
eurls from the brow of one who sat in ston,
silence with her young head resting on tn,
coffin. The widowed mother chad gone OF
before" and the orphaned daughter was lef
! alone in the world.