The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1867-05-02
written for the News.
The Soldiers Reward.
A Story of the War.
BY YTLETTE vILLARs.

nobody could tell exactly when. Aunt
Margaret Brown, good, mOtherly
soul, who never lost the dates of mar
riages, deaths or births, and deserted
the progress ofIove affairs by the signs
of the times, thought that Sallie Wes-
ton and James Barton had loved each
other from the day he first peered into
her crib, when she met his gaze with
her round blue eyes, raising her chub-
by hands and bird-like voice at once
In friendly greeting. Aunt Margaret
said that he came directly from Mrs.
Weston's to her house, and told her
that ''the little baby over there was
lsweeter than an angel"
Time wore away, and Jimmy wore
ihigh-heeled boots, and was one of the
advanced pupils in the village school.
lsallie, having attained the dignity of
twelve years, sat demurely at her
ldesk, studied diligently, and won every
lbody by her gentleness.
The snow lay upon the earth, spark
lGng in the cold, bright sunlight. Oh!
how provoking it was, to see the hands
of the clock move so slowly, when
there were sleds just outside the door,
Iawaitlng their masters. Four O'Clock
came at length; as it does on the long
lest day, and the boys rushed out ca
Igerly.
81 say, let's take the girls home
It's too bad for 'em to walk" cried
Charley Holmes, a handsome fellow
with black eyes, and hair that cluster
ed in curls. "Come, SaIlie, step on
here and T'll be a jolly horse"
! Sallie started towards him, but al
the same instant she felt strong arm
around her, and Jimmy Barton sal
her down in his own nicely painted
sleigh.
Charley said nothing, lie was not
so strong as Barton, you see, and tried
to laugh with the rest, but as he sal
by the fire at home that night, he sait
to himself, ''I wish 1 could whip Jim
1 do indeedv'
The summer came and went, un
marked by any event of interest to the
village but before autumn had pass
ed the church choir lost its riches
voices, for young Holmes and Bartor
went to College, and Sallie Westor
and Meta Holmes to a finishing schoo
for young ladies. They did not al
meet again till Nature had three time
worn her spring robes.
War had begun her work of desola
ton when they met at a reunion, Civ
en- in honor of the young folks return
The youth and beauty of the town wa
: congregated in the parlors, but Mis-
Weston was "the bright particula
star"
= "I don't want to hear any NOR
). bout College life spoilin' boys ant
girls. It's no such thing. Why,
J. would ra'ally improved 'em if the,
+ hadn't been perfect before they went.
1t was Aunt Margaret, talking to
group Of elderly people, who agreed
with her entirely on this point.
DR.. Reynolds sought Miss Weston
side, and paid her numberless compli
ments; but finding they were not fall
o ing on soil ready for their reception
changed his tactics and drifted into
pleasant conversation.
: Holmes and Barton passed by, arr
in arm. The former was handsome a
a first sight-his words brilliant an
!, pleasing. His companions face mu.
r be studied before you comment on i
h HIS words were measured, his voic
l. low, but firm, and he smiled only ono
Il in a great while.
:. awe may we'll be proud of thos
S, two," said the Doctor. at is strang
e, that Barton has decided to enlist. H
l. would have graduated next year.
y You ought to keep him at home"
- "Indeed 1 ought not. He has g
y good right to go as any one. He
a no better than hundreds who hav
d gone"
,s Now Sallie was playing a part, an
she Overacted it, for the words an
tone, meant to seem Indifferent, aoa
y ed out upon the air and reached Ba
=, tons ear, as light, sarcastic and defan
d 81 have been a fool! mo bette
f. than hundreds who have gomez Neve
!, thus spoke woman of the man sh
y loved. Well, well! it shall save m
" from farther humiliation" He sal
d it under his breath, and moved ava
y from the engraving he had seemed t
e study.
= Miss Weston was cold as an iceberg
q She could see nothing but stern battl
d array, and hear naught but the elias
e, of arms.
> The greater part of the company ha
4; gone to another room. SaIIie sat alon
i a moment, but her friend Meta CAM
Ie and buried her face in her hands, an
d wept over her first grief. "Charle
/ + has volunteered. Oh, if he should di
" away from me-" she sobbed, and sa
Lies eyes filed with tears while 81
d strove to comfort her sorrow-stricke
4 sister. Barton saw the bright droI
y y sparkling in her eyes, and though
d they were for his friend; but he was