Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-10-30
THREE YEARS A PRISONER.


Have you heard the news, Tom ?"
No, Fred, what is it?"
Il don't advertise it as fact, you
know; but some of the boys were say
ing few minutes ago that Al Hough-
ton was married last night to Susan
Leigh
Tom Sterling lowered the breech of
his Springfield rifle till it rested on the
ground, and became suddenly very
pale Fred Ashton noticed the tortured
eXpl ession that swept over the counte-
nance of his friend and hurried to mod
fly the impression he had already made,
by assuring him that the story, after all,
might be nothing more than a 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 al 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 it
was expected they would Immediately
leave for the front
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
the subject. To his extreme Joy he
learned that the rumor had arisen from
q statement made by Al Houghton on
the previous night, to the effect that he
intended to propose to Miss Leigh, and
# accepted, to marry her on the eve of
their departure, thus comforting upon
her-for the young lady in question was
q 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 nerved him to instant action, and
ne resolutely determined to lose no time
n making-his declaration, whatever
the result. Without breathing word
Of his intention to any one-not even
Fred-he obtained brief furlougn, 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 be spoke his mind freely,
and with that imprisoned eloquence
which characterizes all young and ar
dent lovers when the frost-work of TIM
I'd formality is once broken up; and, in
i've minutes from the time they were
alone together, the blushing face of his
promised bride = his .fancee = rested
trustingly against his wildly-throbbing
heart. 1t was settled that the marriage
should take place on the evening pre-
cedlng the departure of the regiment,
50 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 a furlough, doubtless for the
same purpose as Tom, to declare his
passion for our heroine.
Tom understood what was coming,
out our heroine did not; and elated
with his success, and DESTROYS of enjoy
ing the disappointment CT 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
tlclpated tete-d-tete, the wicked fellow &C
tually cortrived 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-
are of his disappointed rival on receiv-
ing the assurance from Susan's own lips
mat 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 ftaqacee. he stole tender kiss
from her rosy lips, and returned to
camp fullof 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-
tons 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
oattles, in which he had bravely par
ticipated-for Tom was no coward
but never devoid ofthose delicate, lover