The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1864-12-16
Ghe 4enia Sentinel.
SETH ". BROWN. EDITOR.
FRIDAY. DECEMBER Is, 1864.
GOLDEN PIPPINS.


Far down below thepreeipitous lodges o
/ the mountain path the valley seemed Il
swim in mists of gold, while here anC
i there, among the oyerhanging trees, Z
i deep-dyed sumache tossed its crest Of
/ crimson plumes IN the spicy air of mid
October, and the coal-red berries Of the
dogWood glOwed ike burning Goals in the
I tangled Wildernesses of the woods. 1t
as very pretty background for a wood
nymph OF hamadryad, and Rachel Mar
tins attitude was unconseiously artistic as
she played with the wild blue asters that
covered her little basket of hickory nuts,
spOils from the great old tree whose giant
branches overtopped the whole forest.
She was plump and pretty, with round
wondering blue eyes and a mouth like a
maguifed cranberry, while the. roses on
her cheek seemed to come and go with
every breath she drew, and the faint
touches of sunshine on her brow gave ad-
ditionalcharm to her fresh, rustic beauty.
Mark Douglas leaned over the twisted
beeoh-root that separated them, and tried
to take the brown hand in his, but it was
drawn away with decided quiekness.
.. Ray, dearestl'
All, he did not see the blood mantling
to her cheek under the enviOus shadows
Of the atrocious Shaker bonnet-he did
not hear the quick, stormy thTobbing Of
the petulant heart. Dearest, indeed +!
When Keziah Truman's beau never 50
much as went to Boston without asking
her leave, and Charley jenkins bad distinc-
tly intimated that the whole programme
Of his future existence was 10 be in
dicated solely by Miss Martins wish.
Yes, it was all very well for Captain
Mark to stay at home, officiating in the
Home Guard department; she liked the
uniform, and didn't object to the martial
eclat. But to go down among the rebels
without SO much as consulting her in
elination, the spoiled beauty thought that
vas altogether different thing.
i see you are in no mood to discuss
this matter impartially just now, Rach-
el,' Captain Mark said, gravely. 4 had
thought, I had hoped to End you feeling
in 10 mcodP Rachel colored hot
scarlet What right had Marx Douglas
TO treat her like a naughty ehild2
4 beg your pardon, Captain Douglass
she said, petulently; 1t isn't at all neces-
sary to discuss a matter so perfectly in
different to me-
Now Mark Douglas was only man,
with all the infrmities incident to man
kind. He bit his lip, and his brow grew |
dark.
Rachel, you seem to have forgotten
The engagement.
Engagement she repeated sharply. |
I am tircd Of an engagement that only |
letters one party while the other is free as
lir.
Tired He hesitated q moment, as
f vainly striving to command his voice:
Do you wish to be released, Ray ?
She did not answer-perhaps she was
lot quite prepared for this phase Of af-
Tell me-yes or NOT he demanded,
ternly
YES, she answered with pettish
lbruptness.
Then goodbye, Ray
Gomez Yes, be was gone. She watch-
d him descending the mountain side
With quick, even strides, under the scar
ct drapeFies Of clinging vines, through
patches Of deep, still shadow into bets
# golden sunshine, until the over hang
ng rock hid him from her view; yet it
eemed so difficult to believe that he was
eallY gone.
She looked down on the tiny engage
nent-ring that sparkled on her fore
inger-a simple turquoise set in virgin
gold, whose blue glimmer shOne dimly
brough her tears-and she could ugt
,ut remember the tender words with which
le had placed it on her finger.
Let it be token between US, dearest,
Ike the signet rings of old times.
" Nherever may be, this ring will bring
ny heart back to its queen
4 ought to have returned it, she pom
Tered, shrinking as if the slender circlet
# gold were a ring of fire. 4 aeill-sOme
incl
So Mark Douglas lost his et-heart,
md marched down to Petersburg sOlita-
y man, marveling, as many one has
lone before him, on the inscrutable mys-
cries of the female heart.
sDretful keen wind amt t?' said the
widow Taylor, untying the strings of her
Vorsted hood; powerful sharp frost last
lightl Deacon Pettibone's dahlias is
black as scot, and all Miss MOrrisOn's
norning'-glories is blasted. Tbankee,
Miss Martin, my feet is cold; won't you
axe the roekin' cheer yourself? Why
Rachel, child, what ails you? all the
leigbbors are talkin' bout how you've
Rachel cOlOred, and turned away.
4 am well enough
4 tell ye what, Miss Martini began
Mrs. Taylor, in a mysterious whisper to
be elder lady, you just take double
handful o green willer bark, and bile it
ID we'll or snakeroot tea amt bad-and
1--WE her a pint night and mornin. It's
he most strengthening thing But I've
,ome round to tell you what the Women's
Committee have decided on
'Ab, indeed I? said Mrs. Martin, in
Iuiringly.
we Ill feel to be dretful thankful the
he barvests been so good, and and
every things fetched up just about right,
ntoned the widow; 'and so we thought 1t
would be kind O. squarin up with merci-
full Providence to send box or tew o
things out to them poor soldiers that's
ightin' like all possessed It's only
accordin' to Scripter, you know, and it
would be kind O. nice little Thanks
givin' gift now wouldn't it2'
The widow dropped her eyelids sancti-
moniously, and went on:
Miss Darby's kindly gin US a bushei
O. them sweet-potatoes they raised IN the
south pasture lot. They're little damag-
cd, not exactly ct for market, but there's
no doubt the soldiers II be glad to get
'em; and Miss Deacon Petlibone has
promised US a lot O. that there fermented
peach sass, and Desire Wallis has made
up sight O. book marks, and Widow
Il l. - 4 v,1ykn