Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-07-07
Lucy vaughn--A Photograph of War,
BY WM. II. BUSHNELL.

| music OF a thousand voices, keeping tim
with both step and lip, as they sung the wei
known strains, "We're marching along" ant
heard not the loving mothers call.
Lucy, child"
Wrapped in the brilliant scene-the gor
| geous pageant that was passing by-she hat
neither eye or ear for other sights or Othe
sounds. Her young heart beat as swift
and almost as audibly as the drum, and thu
flashing of her eye was as ftful and vivid
the starry banner that gIittered and foateC
in the bright sunshine.
"Lucv, do you hear me?" And the moth
| er advanced and laid her hand gently on he
daughters arm.
Mother ," came the answer back from
pale and trembling lips, though the brow anC
cheek were crimson. But no other sount
escaped her save a deep, long -drawn sigh.
persisted Mrs Vaughn. "Do you think it i
maidenly or becoming to stand staring a
these menu"
" But they are going to war, and perhaps
shall never see them again"
"Well, what Of it 1t amt anything tt
you, and am not going to have my daughter
a talk and a 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 vii
lngly screened herself from all curious eyes
4 rose, red as her own soft cheek, was blush
ing on the breast of a young officer. She
had seen it taken from the button-hole anC
pressed to his Ii s as he passed along-had
seen the waving of his handkerchief, anC
that was sufficient for her young heart, and
to fill it with rosy dreams Of love for many {
long day.
The little bower where her mother-a wild
ow-resided, soon settled down again to its
usual dullness. All quiet on the Potomac, ,
headed the news column of the paper day af
ter day, month after month, until even a re
port of battle and bloodshed would have
been relief. The war appeared more hke
a grand encampment, one for drill and dis
play, rather than for stern, unwavering, anC
never to -relinqushed purpose-and those
at home fretted at what they called "useles
delay"
Lucy Vaughn continued her occupation a
school mistress which was the sole suppor
other mother and herself, though they ownec
the cottage homestead in which they resided
a shade more subdued, perhaps, than usual
The secret of her love was unknown to an,
one, even her mother, and all her fears fol
him who had gone to battle for his countrv'
flag and his native land, had to be hidden il
her own heart. Faithful to her duties, she
banished the loved one during, the schoo
hours; but when they were over, and she sa
on the vine shaded doorstep of her home, Of
watched the stars as they flashed in at he1
window at night, thought ran riot, and wher
sleep came at last, she was ever wandering
amid the dead and dying-threa with hel
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 a 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
the heart was wild with hope and tomorrow
sunk to the lowest depths of dispair 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 i1 the shadow
of the future. Her young heart was crushed
as by neither milestone, yet she neither fal.
tered nor tainted.
Lucy" said the gray haired, infrm, and
specialized old postmaster as he hobbled into
the school house, just as her enormous task
for the day was finished. "Lucy, here is q
letter for you. 1t ha'nt often that YOU oct
one, and l thought that l would bring it nv.
self"
ooh, thank you-thank you! !" and she
glanced huwiedly at the superscription. and
added but l don't know the writing"
In truth she had not seen it before. but il
needed no clairyoyant to tell her who it was
from. Her heart was sufficiently gifted with
" second sight" for that.
Well, do, Lucy. 1t is a wondrous fai,
hand, though somewhat shaky now, should
say. He is brave boy and good one, anC
used to help me often. Yes, yes, many day
he saved my poor, old eyes by writing for me
but he has gone now-gone to the war: anC
so thought I'd just bring the letter to vol
before any one saw it, even my wife. for she
Is master hand in finding out things, and
Gon know what might be betwixt you young
i pn mere, there, don't blush, Lucy. tt
all right, nobody will ever know anvthine
about it from Paul Rogers"
With cheeks like a peonv and Wild,
hutterlng bosom, the girl was clad tn escan.
from the garrulous, though kind-beartad IL
man, and in the retirement of her obor1,ba
| read her first love letter. With +rar,Li;S.
hands she tore open the enyeIone IT,
| words and story were old as youth and baaI,
ty itself, and syet new to her-new and dea
as they be to young hearts, though reneate,
ten thousand score of times He loved ber
and when he come back again, wearing tn
victor's laurels, or the war was ended
would she bless him with her hand and h
an earth angel to him But, ali. he wa
| wounded, and
Lucy, darling?"
Mother !" and Capt. Graham's lette
found safe hiding place nearest her heart
| as she hurried to her mothers side.
"Lucy"
Mother, dear mother, what is the matte
| with your" The pale face and trenholm
| ashy lips struck such terror to her bea,
that she could hardly articulate the word
as she dropped on her knees by the bedside
''The doctor quick I am very sick.n
But no human physician had power to ave,
the fiat of death. No cunningly prepare
drugs could stay the soul from its upwar
fight. No earthly prayer keep the ange
from bearing away to God the priceless iewt
that was to be reset in unfading glory. ~
| The 'star-lights in the mosaical floor
heaven flashed out, aud another was adde
to their number. The moon arose, and +
silver light shore through the snowy on
tains of the window upon a corpse, pale an
holy in its sleeping. The night wind stole
through the clustering vines and lifted Ii
curls from the brow of one who sat in ston
silence with her young head resting on til
coffin. The widowed mother chad gone O
before, and the orphaned daughter was le