Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1877-09-21
= @Ieasant Story.
AFTER THE BATTLE.

1t was somewhere between three and
four on a warm afternoon The trees,
bathcd in soft, mellow sunshine, were
catching the first handsome tints Of COM
ing decay, The air was peaceful, broken
only by COW lowing in some neighbor-
ing farm-yard, or the tinkling bells of
wagoners horse plodding ap tho hill
Hawthorn Hill; Hawthorn, from tho
two old hawthorus shading the stile on
the summit, dividing the main road from
path leading across meadows to the
town of Pcnnicott.
One of the prettiest views of the
country was from the stile, and so a dust
covered traveller, at the time mentioned
must have thought, as for nearly half an
hour he had been leaning over it, con-
tomplatng the little village nesting just
where the hill dipped
The traveller was soldier, sergeant.
Apparently he was nearly fifty. His
frame was slightly stopped his hair and
moustache and shaggy brows were griz-
zled his countenance was bronzed, and
he carried one arm in sling, while
la baudago was bound over his left brow
and eye.
For half an hour he had leaned there
looking, not 50 much at the village as at
a handsome house, cleaning out Of fne
old trees which westward dwindled Of
iuto stately avenue ending "a lodge
asd tall iron gates
'Iss pretty picture after scenes Of
war and bloodshed," murmured the old
soldier, crossing the stile and slowly pro-
ceoding down the road
Reaching the lodgc-g gate, he paused
I gazing wisGully, as it seemed, up the
stately avenue. While he stood, the
lodge-keeper's buxom wife appeared a
the clemati.-festooned porch, Growing
child in her arms, another clinging t
her skirts The soldier raised his hanc
to his cap.
Would it be too much to ask for a
drink Of water or a cup Of milk ?" he
said in strong northern dialect. "Thc
ways so long and weary to those on the
sick list, dame"
"Sure now, to my thinking, my
man, mug o ale is better than either, y
smiled the woman, tossing the baby
"You are soldier and all soldiers arc
welcome here; for my master, General
Burnstock,i is a soldier, and has nephew
at the war"
"Tho war What's the gentleman s
name Two Just como from the Crimea
ordered home and disabled" was the
rejoinder.
you be come from the war p cried
the woman. You Then it amt with
the lodge ale the General will treat you
Run, Johnny to the house, and tell Miss
Fannie that here's a poor soldier come
from the war. You follow, my good
man--you'll be welcome, be certain
Of it,"
The soldier seemed to hesitate a little,
but finally, with frmer planting Of his
stick he followed Johnuy's twinkling
legs along the avenue.
Halfway up, however johnny diverg-
ed, and the soldier, turning, beheld
through the trees a pretty sight, and the
owners Of the silyery voices he had been
listening to for some minutes
On an emerald. velvety lawn, three
pretty girls in suitable tasteful toilets,
we're practiciug archery, while a fine,
groy-hoadcd military-looking old gen
tleman, seated in garden-chair and
smoking, was playing umpire
The soldier halted and watched Johnny
speed on with his news. Johnny, Of
eight, halted also, but right in front Of
the General, and making the military
salute with his plump hand, told bis tale
The girls had turned to listen. The
ono who had been fitting an arrow to
her bow, pausing to bend her eyes with
amusement on the child. She was a
clear, oliyo-complexioned brunette, with
dark hair, brilliant eyes, and long black
silken lashes, which gave fire and gem
tleness too sweet, womanly countenanee,
as their owner chose. The old soldier
resting on his stick, thought it the love-
liest face, The mort grrceful figure, he
had ever boheld.
The scene however, was abruptly
changed; The old General had sprang 10
his feet; the girls clustered round hin,