Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-01-22
.Recan.e | would not allow it, child.

y
Footsore and weary, the travel worn
pedestrian had sat himself down on
messy boulder by the roadside, when
quick, light footstep came up a little path,
leading from the back door of the farm
house, through blackberry pastures and
mowa fields, and slight figure bent
above him.
DO not mind my fathers words, he
was angry and unreasonable she snid
hurredly j have little TO give, but
want YOU to take it for the sake OF my
soldier brother
Before be could speak she had unfas-
tened from her neck blue ribbon with
a tiny gold piece suspended from it,placed
it in his hands, and was gliding away
across the fields like some gray nun, in
her sober hued dress. He rose up, as it
to follow and overtake her, but it was too
late. and as he bent his head over the
aleaming token, something like tear
dropped upon its circ'et Of tiny stars.
And now tell us everything that has
happened to you, Lawrence. Oh, Law
renee, when I walked this paorning it
seemed all dream ttat You had come
back TO Us again IN very truth
The bronzed, handsome young soldier
looked smilingly down into the radiant
young face that nestled against bis shoul-
der. and serious shadow stole into bis
eyes.
i can tell you, Sybil, it came very
near being nothing more than a dream
once or twice. have had more hall
breadth scopes than you know of, littl1
sister. did not tell you, did l, OF thai
skirmish along the Potomac, where
stood face to face with death, an ugly
death, too, at the point Of rebel bayonets
when some brave fellow charged down OF
EN- and saved my life with bis own righ
hand
sWho was it, Lawrence? said old 81
las with trembling lips and dilated eyes
7 would give my best wheat field to gra5
. that hand
don't know-I never came aero:
: him again. Probably be was in some
: .he other regiments. All that | know
he had fiery eyes, and an odd scar upo
his forehead, shaped exactly like Mool
: ish crescent.
sAnd a straight nose, and a heavy blac
moustache ? interrupted his sister.
Exactly
Father said Sybil, turning roun'
with sparkling eyes and crimson cheel
to where Silas Miller sat, The poor war
dering soldier whom you turned troi
your door last night was the man VIII
saved our Lawrence's life
. Snas rose up from his chair and TOO
an uneasy turn across the room and bacI
his features working strangely.
> 1t can't be helped now he said IN
tremulous voice but it's the last soldl'
: IN ever send with empty hands awa
- from This door. The man who saw
80 Lawrence's life! 0, SybiI! if ! bad o
u " listened to your words ?
But she never spoke Of The little luc'
'p piece of gold. She fancied that it mig
Az seem like ostentation, this shy, fa5tidio
~ liitls wild flower of the hills.
CO.
My sybGl going to be married do'
ny among the dne folks in Boston! W
s'pose l might have expected IT.
as vet it does seem kind Of hard soil
ny ouised Silas Miller, dropping the hapl
's' timid letter in his lap, and looking
OF through dimmed spectacles upon
ia'' snowy, bright hills.
me i wonder who it is. should like
-ith see the man that's going to marry ~
you Miller
"a Silas would have been proud n
could he have beheld his pretty daugf
7bil that self same night in her white even
the dress, with scarlet geraniums lighting
her brown hair and glowing on her
- som. No wonder that Capt. Lesl
I've face Frightened with grave, quiet prid
iect he looked down on his fair betrothed'
my 'Sit down here, dearest, in this q
little music room, he said, with@ares;
With authority. L can't share your sV
cart ewes and sweeter words with all the WI
into anv longer. / must have you all to
self for a while
full She looked up with sweet smile, t
'nee down again.
'Well,' he asked, as if she had spoI
re- Il was wondering, Allen-that sea
the your forehead :
like What of ii?
the why, it is such singular shape
most half circle. / never saw but
like it before