Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1864-02-16
A GIFT BY TmE wAVsTDE

struck seven, and all over the hills the
purple Vapors of twilight were coming
down, waking spicy odors among the sweet
tern 10 the pastures and the Elue will
grapes ripenIng in the woodr, while the
whlp-poor-wili sang sadly on the uaossy
rails on the broken dowE fence that skirted
the ravine, and the katydids chirped shril-
y through the morning glory leaves above
the window.
Seven O'Clock 2 echoed SiIas Miller,
just as tho he had not been watching that
slow creeping miunte hand for the last half
hour. He will soon be here now-my
boy will soon be bere.'
What strange softeniug Of the rugged
features, what an unwonted culver of the
harsh voice there was, when he uttered
the two simple words, my boy yes, it WAS
his boy who was coming back from the
smoke Of bali score Of battls-felds; no
wonder that the Thought sent thrill OF
pleasure through his iron nature. His
soldier-bis hero.
Surely, | oughtto hear the stage born.'
said the old man, feverishly pacing up and
leaves lay like earoet Of pale gold, Listen,
Sybil. can't you hear it
Its too early yet, father
/ his side, and both together they leaned
over the garden gate, gazing into the opal
gloom Of the twilight with a wistful and
searching gaze.
She was not pretrier than another New
England girl, yet there was delicate type
of beauty in her face and form that belong.
ed as much to the FRI zen North as its
pine forests and cliffs of eternal snow.
Pale brown hair, with NUreate lights
crossing its surface ct times, ewes like the
blue larkspur, and lips that had stoler. the
dewy crimson of the wild rose; in pearls
and blue Grape Sybii Miller would have
been beauty; but in her dress of raw
blue ginghsm she wac something far more
Dobls, and far better. ~-' -
Suddenly the old man started, and Mt
tered an indistinct, glad cry.
It's he. Sybil; don't you see beyond the
elder busiest Child, 6on's hold me back:
let me go and meet my boy
No. father, you are mistaken; it is not
Lawrence; Lawrence is shorter by half a
head. and that is NOT his quick, Luoyant
step
Yes. you are right, Sybil.' said Silas
Miller almost petulantly. Why do these
vagrsnt soldiers 60 wanderir z by, giving
honest folks such a start?'
Il suppose be did not know We were
watching for lawrence said SvbiI half
laughing in the dusk.
1t was only this morning that a bev-
gar disgracing-I won't say wearing o
), uniform, game I'D had the audaci.;
to ask me for money
Did you give him something p
Give him something 7 repeated Silas
angrily. ia have seen him starving frst.
l have no patience with these stroIlinP
beggars. Here's another specimen Of the
kind, l suppose. No, my man, YOU need
not trouble yourself to recite your pitiful
story
For the tall figure, with hating step,
and coat shiekly powdered with dust, had
paused 10 front Of gate, and SybiI could
just discern dark. piercing eyes, and q
forehead euriOusly traversed by a crecent
shaped scar, apparently nearly healed.
have nothing for you, said Silas,
sh IA T. Yes. 3 yes. / know What xou
serving, the proper euthoritIes will take
charge Of you, and if you are not. the
county jail is the best place for you. Don't
tell me shout want where are your boun-
ty money and your pay, if you ara really
what you pretend to be-s soldier ?"
Even through the dim twilight Sybil
could see the scarlet flesh rising to the
CARED forehead
Sir. you are mistaken did not beg
No, you prefer to play the bully, have
no dUubt. But | am not a proper suhjec
for you, 50 start about your business, my
man.
The soldier turned silently away. with a
step more batting. perhaps, snd head more
depressed, and passed slowly into the gath
ering dusk.
Father whispered Sybl. reproachfully,
had you forgotten that our Lawrence, too,
is soldierf'
No. returned Silas, abruptly 4 re-
membered it, and it convinced me ell the
more that a man, paid and pensioned like
our lawrence, has Lo need to beg on the
public highways.'
But, father, he did not beg ~
Because would not allow it, child.
pay taxes for the support Cf such as be,
aud swear / will do no more
He spoke 10 the sharp. high pitched ac-
cents Of passion, and when he looked about
him again, Sybil was gone.
:, Footsore and weary, the travelworn
pedestrian bad sat himself down on a mos.
~ boulder by the roadside, when quick,
light fOotstep came mp little path, lead
Jog from the back door Of the old farm
house, through blackberry pastures, and
new mowu fields, and slight figure bent
above him. -.
'Don't mind my fathers words; he was
angry and unreasonable, she said huIried~
ly.
Il have but little to give; but / want you
to take il for the sake of my soldier broth.
err
Before be could speak she had unfast>
ened from her neck blue ribbon with
tiny gold piece suspended from it, put il
10 bis hands, and was gliding acro-s the
fields like some gray nun, in her sober
hued dress. He rose up, as il to follow
and osertake her, but it was too late, and
as be bent head over the cleaning token,
something like tear dropped upon lis
circle Of tiny stars.
And now tell ne everything that has
happened to you, Lawrence Oh, Law
renee. when walked this morning it seem.
ed all dream that you had come home to
! us again in very TRUTH
The brouzsd, handsome young soldier
looked down into the radiant Young face
that nestled against bis shoulder, and Q
serious look 81, le into his eyes.
i can tell you, Sybil, it came very near
beng nothing more than dream ouce or
twice. have hadlmors bairbreadth es-
capes than you know Of, little sister. 1 did
not tell you, did Of that skirmish slong
the Potomac, whore stood face to face
with death, an ugly death, TOO, ct the point
OF rebel SayOnets when some brave felI3W
charged down upon them and saved my
life with HE own right hand'
who was II, Lawrence 2 said old Silas.
With trembling lips and dilated eyes, i
would give ms best wheat field to grasp
that hand
don't know-I never eaae across him
again. Probably be was in some oc the
other regiments. All'thas know is, that