Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-10-31
THREE YEARS A PRISONER.

NO, GTeQ, WHAT IS II
Il don't advertise it as a fact, yOu
know; but some Of the boys were say
ing few minutes ago that All HOugh
ton was married last night to Susar
Leigh
Tom Sterling lowered the breech 0
his Springfield rifle till it rested on the
ground. and became suddenly very
pale. Fred Ashton noticed the tortured
cxpl ession that swept over the counte
nance of his friend, and hurried to mod
ify the impression he had already made
by assuring him that the story, after all
might be nothing more than rumor
But any one could see that the young
soldier was vastly troubled by the unex
pected report whether true or false.
Tom Sterling and All Houghton had
long been rivals for the affections of the
young girl in question, who was the belle
of the little city in which their regiment
was now forming, and rapidly culminat
ing to its maximum strength, when il
was expected they would immediately
leave for the front.
At length Tom found voice to inquire
of his friend who it might be that had
impaired this startling information.
On learning the author from whom
Fred had received the disagreeable
news, he hurried to his company bar
racks and hastily importuned him upon
he subject To his extreme ioy he
learned that the rumor had arisen from
Il statement made by Al Houghton on
the previous night, to the effect that he
intended to propose to Miss Leigh, and
if accepted, to marry her on the eve OF
their departure, thus comforting upon
her-for the young lady in question was
n poor girl-the much desired State aid.
This same idea had already several
times occurred to Tom, but up to the
present he had lacked the requisite
courage to put it in execution. But
the prospect Of being Frustrated by his
rival nGrved him to instant action, and
he resOlutely determined to lose no time
In making-his declaration, whatever
the result. Without breathing word
OF his intention to any one-not even
Fred-he obtained brief furlough, and
hurried to the neat but humble abode
OF his mistress.
His reception, aided by the startling
prospect of losing her if he neglected
the present golden opportunity encour-
aged him, and he spoke his mind freely.
and with that imprisoned eloduence
which characterizes all young and ar
dent lovers when the frOst-work of tim.
ld formality is once broken up; and, in
five minutes from the time thew were
alone together, the blushing face of his
promised bride - his fa,ocee - rested
trustingly against his wildly-throbbing
heart. 1t was settled that the marriage
should take place on the evening pre-
ceding the departure of the regiment,
so that, as al Houghton had suggested,
the fair bride might receive the advant-
ages of the promised State aid.
While the happy lovers were yet con-
versing, and laying their little plans fer
the future, they saw Al Houghton ap-
preaching the house, he also having
obtained q furlough, doubtless for the
same purpose as Tom, to declare his
passion for our heroine.
Tom understood what was coming.
but our heroine did not; and elated
with his success, and DESTROYS OF enjoy
ing the disappointment of his rival. he
told Susan he Wonld step into the adj
joining room, and stay there while Al
remained with her.
And the more fully to enjoy the an
ticipated tete-d-tete, the wicked fellow &C.
tually contrived to leave the door slight
~ ajar after him. He heard all that
passed-the preliminary advances OF
Al, and his final declaration; and, with
something akin to triumph in his pleas
IRE, he witnessed the painful discOmfit.
ure of his disappointed rival on receiv-
ing the assurance from Susan's own lips
that she could never be his-that she
loved another, and was engaged to be
married on the evening preceding the
departure of the regiment. And when
she impaired to the rejected sutton the
name of his successful rival, Toms
triumph was complete. He saw Al de-
part angry and crest-fallen, and return
ing to his 1td3lcee, he stole q tender kiss
from her rosy lips, and returned to
camp full of high hopes and expecta-
tons. Three days after, Tom Sterling
and Susan Leigh were married, and the
day following, his regiment was on its
way to Washington. But from that
hour Tom and Al were at swords
points, Tom wrote long letters to Susan,
descriptive of camp-lIfe, not emitting
the necessary modicum of love protesta-
tlons and assurances of eternal con-
stancy, and Susan, poor girl, was happy
in the thought that Tom meant every
word of it-and he did.
Then there came briefer letters, more
stirring, descriptive Of skirmishes and
battles, in which he had bravely par
ticipated-for Tom was no coward
but never devoid of those delicate, lover
Ike illusions, so prendeaecious and ring
always to a loving young wife.
Up to this time she had received let
tiers from him almost daily, as though
he never could tire of writing to her,
but suddenly his correspondence
ceased, and Susan fretted and worried
over the delay, attributing all sorts of
evils to this UNLOCKED for remissness
on darling TOMS part. He must be
killed, taken prisoner-perhaps wound
ed or dying in some gloomy hospital
far from home and friends, or, possibly
and she shuddered at the thought
he might have forgotten her. She had
heard that the southern ladies were
very beautiful; but. no, she would not
harbor so mean a thought against him.
Tom was too noble to think of desert