HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Times, 1900-02-09, Page 7sea
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terAwr4a4,,,,..gamolvatusmisi.
OWE'S TRIUMPH.
A Si oRr OF LOVE AND WAR,
,
. BY MARY J. HOLIVIES,
Author of "Lena Rivers'," "Edna Browning,"
"Tempest and Sunshine," Etc., Etc.
4"...4.w. Mikii;VaiV4744,7091=0=ZIM- Megi,=-
?‘sv darling. I know it what ire the tatal ems, line lain emu lee. bed,
1
.' like. 'Twits on that terrible day %shell more dead than alive, with a look upon
our brave boye met the Coe, 'way ilP her white thee which told better than
there ut Manassas. Teere were hours, worde of the anguish the was entitie-
s and home anti hours when we neither - 13314t, t
. ate noi drank, and til:. July etin poured Nothing could induce Rose to leave
; down so hotly, drying tee perspiration her fpr a moment. Will hue titayee by
walla, Limped from my hale like ruin.
George," she said, "and the theale stay
,'Twas lny very life 1 eweat itway that
awful day, fightiug for tbe, Theme Iiitl bS'' Annie." •
With her sitting by, ' Annie grew
you hear the battle. Annie , -hear the
. cenuon's bellowing thunder P.8 it eche- stronger, an4 could at last talk (slimly
of what was expected on the morrow,
7 ed through the Virginia woods? Wesel "It will be terrible," she said, "to
it grand, the yell the Ilighlandere gate, hen the tramp of feet comiug up the
- as, with the 69th, they bore clown hitt- walk, and -know they ore bringing
tow atter battery, und plunged into the George; Oh, Ilea elathele yotell otay
enemy's midst! How bravely our cinn- ,
.pany played their part, - eghting their ue tine won't you, eents It eour hus-
band is among the itunther?"
'way through ehot and shell, mut bleore
.A.nnie di& not mean to be selfish, She
. and bellies, wading elde-doee in hte
was too ranch benumbed to realize any -
man gore! Hurrah for 'the eters •i'ntl thing fully, and she *never thought
!Stripes, my boys! Three cheers fee the
what it would eest Itose to stay there,
. Federal Flag! Yes, give us three times
thee; knowing her. hueband would eek her
and when, it floats again over till
at home, and be so disappointed at not
- the land, eeraember the soldiere hee" ending her there. Rose could not re -
'helped defend it. klurreili, hurinlir fuee a request so touchingly made, but
Mr. Mather shuddered ats , the tvild just as the morning broke she went
shout rang through tee room.' it eeem- home for a few momeets to see that
ed so iike mockere, that dying soh all neceseary prepasettions were imede
dice shouting tor liberty, end trying in* for Will's comfort; then, penning him a
. vain to \MVO aloft his poor, scits.red note to tell why she was uot. there to
;stump. Anon, however, elle patriotic meet hint, he ngoin eo, the
• mood was elienged, and the volce vas cottage , where "Wiclow Simine was lined,
Very. sad which whieperedi
ly at Work setting things to rights or
"But hush! what sounds are thesef the •expeeted whited, her tears felling
mingling iu the glad notes of victory,/ upon the furniture she, was dusting, and
"Xis the -widow, She orphan, the mo-
; her chest heaving with sobs vs she
ether, weeping over the slain! Theree heard in the distance the. soarel ef e
'mourning Bost mid West; theee'S NeeePe gathering crowd, and thought:
!lags North and South, for elle cleae who , "It ineey,
Ise my boy they'll go up
will return tit, more! A I.:rushed. rebel-- nes
. next to
'lion le hardly worth the fearful priee,
Oh, Annie, Qray for the poor soldier,
'-everybody piny. Muer our- Memory,
.-forget our faults, --speak Wildly of u$
when we nee gone. We gave our life
fox -freedom! "Xis all that we can, (10.,
%leak kihdly of the soldiers slain!"
Belem Was• struggling back destine
:
and, bending lower, Mr. Mather -odd:
' "George, we will honor the soldiers
:dead, and care for the soldiers living."
s"Yes, yes!" George answered faint-
ly. "They need it io mucile-more than
the peepie gams who stay at home end
• reed about the war. It will be long,
and the contest terrible. • The North le
strong, and the South determines', and
both will fight like fiends. e But riebt
must 'conquer at last, •and the Star
Spangled Banner shall -wave again esven
• °Ter rniguided Charleston, 'whose sons
and daughters • than weep for •lee. as
they greet the foytul sight. God speed
: the happy day!" . •
Mr, Mether could only -
press the hand
which lay again in his. He could not
espeak, for he knew there was a third
presence now in the sick -rooms -that
its dark form. • was eilindiug the bed
, whereon. he set, and with that feeling
of awe death elways inspires, he sat
silently watching its progeess, and
thinking, it may be, of the entire
'time -when William Mather woul(1 be
the -dying' one instead of 'George Gra-
-thane Slowly the marblepallor and
• the- etrange chill orept -one teething the
. nose, eoutrecting the lips, tettehing the
. pretend and moisteeing the'soft brown
hair which William smoithed ewes-
ingly. as he -bent dowel to well the
• last. eabit whisPerings of a Spirit neat-
ly gone.
-"We fought the Wale brnvely.
.ehein not to be discouramel beceuse of
'one defeat. Our catise is. loot. 'Twill
strinmph at the hut. Doil't be too bit-
e tee toteard the Smith; there are kind
hearth them as well as here, and its
• daughters weep as da.dly as any at the
.North. Got help and pity,' them all.
Annie, darling, 1 en inmost itomee so
near that I can see the pearle gates
stand open night and dsty,' • It is
not hard to die, -no pain, no unleash
now,-hothing but joy and gladness and
everlasting rest, rest, -perfect rest for
the redeemed,"
Drearily the November wind went
sweeping down the street,' mid the ...job-
bing rain beat against the wiridow,
-whilst the misty daylight came etrug-
.gling faintly into the silent room which
held the living and the deed; the ene
cold, and white, and still, his featuree
*wearing a smile of lichee, as it he had
indeed entered into everlitsting
the other kneeling by his side, and with
his faceburieh in the pillows, praying
that, when his time should come, he,
too, might die the death of the right-
eous, and go where George had gone.
CUAPTER,XIV.
. With qtfeiveiting lips Mr. Slather told
hthe members of Company It that their
lieutenant was dead; and steong men
as they were they did not deon them-
selves tiumanly that they wiped the
• big tears away, end crowding arouhd
their informer anxiously asked for par-
tieulnrs of their departed corneae, all
op,eaking kindly of him, end each think-
• ing of the sweet girl -wife at home, on
'Whom the 1.1eVita would fall ro mule
• ingly. A soldiers dying was no novel
' thing in Washington, and sO, aside
front Compelny R, there were few elm
knew . or eared 'Oust Another soul Intd
Poor Annie,. too, shuddered end
moaned,- as she caught the ominous
• sounde, mid knew whet they portea,led.
It would be better to bring him back
quietly," she said. "It seems :almost
like mockery, this parade, *which heenn
never knowI may be glad by -and -bye
that they honored him thus, but it's so
hard now," and covering her head with
her pillows Attnie wept silently as the
heard :the meurriful- beat of the mut-
tled •drum, and knew the march tetitee
depot' had commenced.
How Roee wanted' to be in the, stmet
• end see her husband. when he irauile;
but with. heroic soli -denial she forced
down. every longing to be away, and,
sitting.' down by Annie, busied lierielf
with counting off the minutes and won -
doing. of the clock would ever point
to half -past -ten, or the train ever er-
ten. •
, There -ems it great crowd out that
morning to meet the interning soldiele
and George'a dream of what :night be
when he came back ageine was mete
than realized.. There were nem .aud
carriages epee the Street, xtd groupof
women at the- coruees, while the little
boys rim up and down. But in the
bent of the -muffled drum there wos a
tone which. made the hearts' ef these
swho heard, it overflow with tear's, as
they remembered what that dirge -like
• music meant. . Axoluid the jammed
whim hat of the man who peevedthe
fife them was • a badgesof mourning,
and in the notes he edited. a marenful
cadence far. different ,from the Jeetrio-
tic strains he played :14 a farawell to
Rockland soldiers, going forth to battle,
with hopes so sanguine of success.. One
of that youthful band wataeconling tack
-hot full of lite and fiery ambition ns
when he went Away, dreaming beighv
dreams of the glory he would win end
the laurels. he would wear when onee
again he trod the streets at home. Not
as -it- cenquering hero, with the crown
of tante onbusbrow, though the crown
'indeed was won; and where the golden
light of heaven shines from the. ever-
lasting hills, he Was wearing it In glare.
But his ear was -deaf toall earthly ine-
sic, and the tribute of respect his
friends fain would bestow upon hint,
n,Wakened no thrill in his eold; pulse.
less heert. Still they felt that ell lune
nr. Was due to the .dend, and so .they
had come up M meet shim, a !greater
throng than any of which he had
dreatnedwhee ambition burned' within
his bosom.. There was 'ha earring°
'waiting, too, just es he hoped -there
might pe; a carriage sent expressly for
him, but the children on the Sidewalk
shrank thvey and teased their noISY
clamor es at, went by, its sombre ap-
pearance somewhat relieved by the gni
coloring of the Stars and Stripes laid
reverently upon it.
Slowly up the street the long,proees-
.sion passed, unmindful of the rain
which,- Mingled with the show •end
sleet, beat upon the prevonents, end
deshed agnitet the wimiese-Panes, from
Which many a tear-sMieed face looked
out epon the gloomy 'scene, %lade' ten
times gloomier by the sighing ot the
Wind and the rifts of lemleit donde
veiling the Noverribet. sky. Over the
eastern hills there was a rising wresth
of smoke, mid 4. shtliI, aiSCOritint
scream told thnt the train was coining,
just as the earriage sent for George
drew up td its appointee plate.
Gently, carefully, tenticely they Wesel
him out, and set hint dowa In thee
midst; but no loud theering tent the
air, no neelemetioto ofs applause, noth-
ing save that dreadeul muffle,l. beat, nnd
„gene to the God who gam la -that an. . the soft notes of the fife, telling to the
ether vietine was ,added to the Diet passengers leaning from the windows
tehtelt nholl one day come up with leer- that the dead as web as the living tind
ful blaekness before the hrovokers been their fellow-trieveller. The bane r
tmon the henrse told the Mit .of the
'gory, and with a nigh to the memory
of the unknown poldier, the passengere
resumed their seats, and the train sped
On its way, leaving the Rockland peo-
ple alone with timid dend.
Reverently they 1)111e04 him in the ear-
riage width none cariel to share with
him. Careftilly they weepped aroma
him the Stnrs and fetripee and, drop-
ping the heavy meeting, followed
throegh the velvets to the cottage In
the name, which he lind left ito fall
of life end hope. Atoned that caftans
of the war. The drums bent Jest the
same, -the bends played jest as merri-
ly, end the betty tide Went on me if
the quiet (haunter la — Street held,
Ito stithenee form, mute es till of life
and hope as the gay troops marching
by.
Brit away to the Northland there 'Was
bitter mourniug, and Many a bretht
ere wept as the sad news rim rilaiig
the streets that Rockland's young lieu.
tenant, of whom the people were justly
terieltd1 hkr deed at Weehingtore ond
nitene heart beat,with petite for
tere Meter t *two a eve 8 see horriaer
' •,
4 t.
"
4 lovi\O)N " Art
there was a paltered multientle next
day, ate though ne the unsheltered
hensia of thew. without. the eriviug IxiII
wile falling, they weevil patleutly while
the pewee watt one the funeral me
them chanted. Thee there ta1310 a blest.
liitg moment, -people meatus besetith
the Star ppluagled Bawler, end pans -
lug to look at the death There were
Stobs and tears, and words -of fond re-
gret, and then the- vottlielid was closed,
intee more that muted In'at Wala
heard, as with arms reversed the Rook.;
lend eltuirds marched up the walk,
where, leaning. upon their guns they
stood, while strong men carritel ont
thole into enenhanion, and pieced eint in
the hearse, the carriage sea for him.
There was no relittive to go with him
te the grave, -none 111 'whose velue his
blood wati flowing, eo Mr. :Mather and
Rose took the lend, folloWhe by a pre-
miscuoue crated of (weeps; and pelee
Miens, the very homes keeping time
to the solemn nuude beaten bv the drum
stwohdifeplahytteti! by the ratan in the jamtried
•
Slowly through the November- rtxip,---
through
y
hieu on through the streets which he es
oft had trodden.; eu hag the eatthge
he meantto buy for poor Annie, wid*
peeing to herself with (were note of the
tolling bell, "Georgehas gone to bees
Yen." Onwera, etIll ouward, till streets
and Cottages were left belend, and they
came to where the marble, columns,
gemming through the iteturrinal fog,
told who peopled thnt silent eard. eeet
by the gate, the bearers patteed, mut
stood with uncovered heels while the
solemn Ivor& were uttered, "Both to
mirth, ashes to ashes, fleet to- (Mete,
Then., when it was all over, thc long
procession moved through the spectre%
ellestelleard, past the tall amitemente
betokening worldly wealth; past the lees
imposinehetones, whose -lettering told: of
treasure 111eheweeu; past the group et
cedar trees and pine; Pest the gravies ef
the nameless dead, and t1-0 out upon the
highway, Rose Mather etarring in
alarm as the band stPuek up it eldeke
er, merrier march, whose eteentg,
bilnnt uotes seemed so ineeh like mock.
• ery. She knew it veils the custeill, het
the music grated noose the lees hershts,
and, drawing her veil oiere Iter face,
she wept silehtly, 'occasionally. glancing
-•leackward to the spot of freshly up,
turned earth where Itochlantrs first sol-
dier was buried, -the braye, selfseeny-
. in George, -who gam hill he tele ear
hie country, antl diedin hee behalf.
• Four weeks atter George's heath, Au -
tie left the cottage in the Hollow, mid
„
• Weat:t to live fee e time with Mrs. :Sla-
ther. Rawly el -pilau,' ene thrown -111)-
on. the charities o n a:chaining aunt,
who; after. her tuneriege With George,
had cast her Off entirely, there Wes.eow
neobe to Whom she etenid look or help.
and sympathy save Rose, mei when the
beter insisteeethet hoe home ehoold ne
Annie's else, while Williarri, too, joined -
hi s entreaties with those of his Wife,
and urged .ithehne • .reitsoe his promiate
made to George,.Annie consented on
• condition that as SUM as her health
was suiliciently restored, she sheuld do
spmething for herself, either as tench-
er oe governess in sante private
Amid n'wild storm of sobs end thirs,
she had'. read her husbaad's dying mem
sage, ,groeving sials aind faint just as he
Imew ,the would whenfirst she teamed
of his loss, and why it was helm:U.:Stev-
er- written to her himself., But title
was naught to ;the horror which Crept
round her heart ith she road • what
George ead written of ti coming tinge
when the- loug grave by the gate would
not he eisiteti as often as at nest, or
ho w1 -ie 'slept there remembered its tear -
t1.11`15.12,, Gibrge
.:a.. • C
, George!" she
"0ried, "it
*as .ernel .to tell me eca," and sinking
to lice knees she essayed to breethe
Vow. that other love' then she had borne
fer George Graham sheltie never inel
entrance -,to her.hosom. But something
evened her lips,-Lthe_ words she would
have, uttered were uriseoken, And the
rash -vow was not made, .
Still there was an -added drop tie liee
selinady brimming cup of sorrow, and it
sadder, more loving mete to the toue.• of
hee.Veleerhen ehe spoke of her hese
band; as if shewould fortify herself
egaieet the possibility of his pretties-
-• tion ,coming trite. Xt was a sorry day
*hen she finftlly left her cottage home,
, and orily God was. witness Io the part-
ing; bet- the dim, swollen eyes' anti cols
carless Cheek* 'irttested to its bitterneess,
as, with ope gtert estimating sob, she
cressed the threshold end eetered -he
carriage where Itose -sat waiting for
her, while the motherly Widow Simile
wrapped nround her the pile of shawls
Which were to shield. her from the ,cetils
Mel Nide her •godspeed to' her new
home. • ', .•
Rapidly, the eIrringet saetee.
While the widow returriee M. the eot.
toge to pert:tee the last needful ()Mee
• ot fastening down the windows and, lock.
Ing up the doors; then, with a , sigh at .
the cheinges a few thoetatuenths lind
wroaght, she went beck to her owe
.long -deserted home And the busy -title .
of life rolled on in Itoeklend lost the'
sOme as if in the eh:etcher:en there
was no neteenade grave, holding,- the
bnried love. of Armies, 'who, in Rose Ma-
ther's. berattittil home, was earounded
with every poesible comfort axle
ury, end treated with its much eonsid.
emtion Ito if she were a born princete,
thetend of the humble woman, wilO. n
few - months before, Was Wholly le-
kuowei to the little lady of the Mahn,
mission.
C.I/AI'TDIt XV.
Another hiel taken, George's place in,
Company It, rind both the Widow
Simms arid Stumm Sherrie ehod tears of
natant pride when, .they read that
Sohn wae the favored one, iindbore the
title of lieutenant. It more than half
atoned for his long absetice to the young
wife, evho, greatly to her Inotherdnlaw's
disgust, Was made the lumpy possessor
of a set of furs, bought with iy pert of
the new lieutenant's increimed wages. •
"Better lay by tot a wet day; but
easy enne, eney go. They will nevee
be worth a cent, "Tein't like them Itrigs
ghee% to mave, niul to think of the Silly
critter's torninl round in the etorni jute
to show ewe late hn Stithelee night;
I'M glad 1 wa"tat to ham" was the
wirloW's muttered comment, as on the.
Sunday hallowing the receipt of the
fnrs alte pinned around her high, sattatei
shonItlers, the ton yews' old blanket
shawl, and tping tosatt weak stks
I
fedeft 4* &hike*
54 for *soak Auk
ilee or seethe to tete hetetelSekteit
ISM, if glee appeared, es elite wee eve"
te do. in her uow
This. Wilk) Weeny tile right lanA of
visit tor the wtdow to take to eltureh,
but hers Wee a peeuthm leatuee, me the
,grece width weind het% eneflood to
make Annie Graham an awl, would
hardly 'have kept her from boillug over
viathittheirp. fatootatasturiaviatti minuiteaetteheet tis dthels.
trustfel of herself, mare eiereful to
keeii clowu the linst approathes of her
leeetting she ' But the furs had seri-
()wily 'disturbed her, particularly AO
1:1-.y Sala tca, have cost $35 --"more
than she had spent on leer mortal body
el halt a dozen yeers," elle thettght, the
lier well-worn Prayer Books lu
hard, and a pair of Bit's darned blue
gimes Open her feet, to keep thenrfrom
the slow which had fallen: the night be -
fere, She walked rapidly an inthe di-
rection ot St, leultehe •
There Was an unusual stir about the
doors, a erelvd of eagfielY talking +ea'
ple, and conspicuous among them was
Snsan, toohlilg -so pretty in her neetlY
fitting cellar, and holdiug her little
muff so gracefully filet the widow be-
gan to relent at once, and te feel a kind
of pride that ",Tohn's wife WO'S 08 gen-
teel looldn' as the next one, if she did
come ot them shiftless ItuggleSes," but
inasmuch as it wits Sunday, she eouldn't
Vatter Susan by site:a1e:1g of the
flue; but the filet chance she got .on
a week day she'd tell her "site was gleil
.got hen, it they didn't matte Ime
vain; though I know they will," the
added; "it's Ruggles natur' and she's
etandhe out there now, lust to -show
'em to the dolke in the street goia' to
the Aletbmils' ',netted." •
But the widow was mistaken,s, for
Simla hed scarcely a thought or her
furs, so ebsorbed was she in throwing
what little light she. could upon
mystery which was teoulding thh
people and. Reeving them outside the .
door, while they talked the, matter over.
It seemed that the sexton, when,- at
about ten o'clock on the previous night,
he came to see that the fiie kiudled
in the furnace at sunset "MS Mite, had
stumbled oyer e human .form lying elma
the pile of evergreens gathered for the
Christmas decorations, •and placed for
safe keeping in the miler of the ehlieeh-
There was cry, between surprise ;eel
terror, and a mtettered oath, and Abell
the ragged, tightened infruder'shreng
to his feet, end' bounding up the narroW
stairway; lied theough the even vestrY
door erethe sextons had time .to col-
lect ,his twittered :whiles.
This was his :Sto, corh
ryobornted" by
Susan Sintina, who Maid that when, et
about seeen.olelock the previous. night,
she was ongoing the chinch, she saw
it dark -looking (Abject, which the at
first mistook for a woman, but as she
etene nearer she sew it was the figure
of a Mae, Whb,:sit he Wind of heif
Steps', dropped behind a pile of rubbish,
and thus disappeared from view, -that
feeling timid she did not return home
that, way, but took the moM circuitous
route past her niethersin•law's, where
she sfotiped foe it moment and repeat-
ed the circumstance to the neighbor she
foundstaying there. • • ..
• "Then she (tidiest come half aimile
gut Of her way just to tell of her Me
Rey," thought the widow, coming nearer.
• to Suean, and eeen smoothing the soft
fluror,vowklieliihce',ehralifrean hour before, had so
Varioue were the 'surmises as- to who
the man could be, and why he had en-
tered the lonesome cellar; end the
morning services had eommenced ere
the knot of talkers and listeners at the
(icor bad disbanded and took their tie-
customed -places in the ehrirch. Rose
Mather was there ah usual, and .the
.keelt in her handsome pew alone, for
Will had been gone...from her ..two
• whole weeks, and Annie was still:hem
meth of an fee:Ilia to venture out.
With others at' the. doors -elle. heard of
the intruder, mid, after askieg a.. few
questions the had - pewit inte the
aisle, with it :certain wise air about -her,
ae if she know- something whieh' she
should not tell!' As ones ate" ie.:ether
eiene ire, it might lethe bore observed
that else turned often and, ceriothly to-
ward the door, glancing occasionally -
at the -soot whem Ages. Baker, now; a
tegular attenenneewas in 'the -habit of
sitting, . Shoo was not there to -day, a
fsal4 whieh no one Observed eave Roe°
'and• the Widotv Simms; the latter of
Whom only noticed it becanee..Annie,
the knew, was deeply .ipterested in the
repentant worethe "She's slek; re_het
likely," the widow thought, while
Retie, toite bed her owe opinien. as, to
'What kept Harry's mother from chereh
that Sundae morning.
Menntime tile "objeet of their 6°116-
ft:de at crouching over the lire of wee
given wood she had theteeded in geese
mg mean. blaze, now loolargeiervons-
- ly toward the half-closed door Of the
small room her boys. heed to °come,
and again congratulating herself that
It was Sunday, and eonseqtfently no one
would be toeing there to- pey into the
sweet she was gearding as manfully es
ever tigress gunrdee its, threatemel
young. The letlf-fineep, famished
wretch, fleeing from the shadow, of "the
church gut into , the wiiitee stolen
whith hnd cone up since nightrell, had
gone nett to the tuntbketiown sheets, of
n house which Mrs, Baker eallel her
home, It was late for a light to be
there, for Mrs. Baker kept early :hours;
but through the drivitig snow the wee-
derer, 05 110 filmed .the cornea caught
h friendly gleaming shining out from
the dingy windows, end ,waking 111his
breast one greet wild throb of Joy, Elliot
as' -some lost nettleer feet§ when he
spies in the dietance the friendly bark
end knows there's help at heed.
It. was tt desolate, dreary Mime but
to the wanderer, himiening tOstentd
and g,latheing so around as It
behind enc."' rift Of snow there were
behelleg boyenets sent to Stop ids
teethe., it seeme n splendid palate.
Could he gain thnt shelter he tree We.
Iiie mother would shield Itim front the
dreaded officers ko fit:tried were on hie
treble. and eao. the Flick, tainting man
kept on unlit the old board tenec was
reasehtel, where, letinieg ntaiinnt the
gine, h stood it moment, ntul eteth 1118
fe.veelsh hard eceoped np the. 'vetoed
prow to mot his burning forehead. Ile
triliew candle ertni burning yet within
the testing; but the fire teas inked to
-
Weisser on That lenient and the etreteree,
Ave
".•rX.11114)"'
s
-eteellith a
h vatleiteeteeda iitdtOe- fe ?-
tiatiale tm the vAlk to ttkr
Tviadow, '1* setnetiesi eit the
whish Mee hie view,
Years before, vele hp timed it Nies,
Flagestnel,Ixe emwouthered thet ens altaar
whoa 'slaying in the. omit tea had.
felted in a ellest Of leddrielh, a lateges:
square book, width Net Mel saiti. wee
thole srandmother'e eeeterweah
he heel seen it ft -tending reediest t broke
en light ot glutei to keep out the more
whieli sometimes heat ta ewes eseeseee
and Hal, and that wIla the last he could
remember conotheing filet Bible or any
ether belonging to his mother. Haw,
then, was he astonished to sae It ly-
ing on the eta round stand, the dins tat.
low comile easeing a dickering light are
oz the yellow leaveelle upon the Signe°
of his mother bolding over that, and
loudly whispering the word* elle was
tending, ' It was not au eutirely new,
/Meatless te Baker, the reacting, of
'the Bible, ter After the news or aur-
ry's death she had hunted up the long-
ziegleeted' volume whieh.hed -girt% her
Agee mother so reticle -comfort. It
might brie; comeolation 'to her, the
• thought, end so with tearfitheyes end
aeleug heath she -bee tied to reed mid
underethnd the stewed Pages, Pencil-
marketleeome of them by a sainted, mo-
ther's hand, anti fraught with so mauy
memories of the elden time, when she
wee not the hard, twinkled, desolate
creature people knew as Mrs. Baker,
l'he way of life was still dark and
dint to thet half-heathertielt woman, hut
She was determinedly geoping en, fol.
lowieg the little light she had, and each
eight found het bending over the Bible
• :ere she sought the humble bed stand-
ing there in the dark collier, just
where it stood that mooting when her
two boys went away:
It was far more gomfortathle,lookiag
now than then„ for there was a nice,
„weans blanket on it, while the outer
covering was clean and new, Rose
Mather had kept her promise given in
the hour of the poor mother's bereien-
•ment, and scattered aboat the room
were numerous articles which ence Ud
duty in the sett -ants' apartments et
the Mateo.. mansion, But the intrud-
er did not notice these; he Was too.
ninth absorbed with the stooping fig-
urerwhispering it part of the I:4th chap-
ter a John, ned occasionally wipieg
away a tear no she earee to some pass-
age 'more heautiful than the °there.
There vere tears, too, in the eyes of,
the rough man outside, but he forced
them beck, and, pressieg :closer to the
wind's*, 'watched the lone worunie
side, as. ale -king , down twee hoe kneee,
with the fleehering •nandle Etienne
down upon her wrinkled face, she prase:.
ed first for .herself mil then for 'WM,.
the. boy standing without the door, and
listening while. his heart. bent so- Toed-
ly that he tamest feared she would
hole and know that he 'web there. BM
,
"she Med erul the tremulous
voice went on, vetting. thet Gee would
follow and bless, and care for the Billy
boy far ANV44.Y1 and bring h.m beck to
the mother who had never been to hine
what she ought: The name of Billy
boy Minted a tender' choia.aud, stretth.
ing out his hands :toward her, the .nein
who bore that name sobbed out:
mother, mother, I'm here,, •
here!" Or •
There was e sudden pause, end turn-
ing her head: the startled woman lite
tened. •
Was it tho.wind mono*: round tot
keesome dwelling, orwas it peer dead
Harry calling to her, as in herupse
• slitters imagieatioe. she semetimes
iy-
lkved he • did when she ' was praying
for Billy, reproathing her that ala pray-
er had ever been said for him the lost
one Again the sobbing ere, and a
instate; movement by the door. It
could not be the wind. foe that only
shook the. loeseeed timbers er screamed
through some gaping crevice, while this,
whatever it might he, called:
"Mother, 'mother, come."
6- eel f:"- •
- s
• sir -ss 1W1sso.-
. ^ s ,
v?ss.s.
.11.Y.s1K-Tin.7to tars,' 4-11{s, • ;ATVs
holir h(4.' sto Ps:lerssi
-
t3, _ ).-,
. tk.(),) C.14 is-
T.Lit7,) r"."..774•.1ksrs,s,
1".*•11-,r Itrz,
Ae.Y..1sil • (TY', Q-'-11
•
Ps'.1_1147rlocrs.,
1.114sTs-
on
stlin t euspet
the titterer) as to
Islir• • i14:7ett::!:134:::1504tichTalles4;334:,1::an.biltiedn-137:arphisg :1441417tr:
etre, Baker wee
Billiqnkant;ss'l4e t"elect 14
ei'e
itznigt.oefobr t4tuuta dol;,t-ttmeiushivellihBettihew."40,21
hnow that he was then Weau
wanted shim Knot thnit seteeeeded
communicating a part of his term:
her; end she spent the enittee S
by her :child's beilehle, dein wbet
ecorgt.silingto raalpillifs.;stt,Iteamrai gikrtegepiagfhve%e,%,o-_ot
to see that no oue Isom to drag
her boy away.
The next morning It became absoluthe
ev necessary for her to leaves him for its
time, as she must pmeure the few ete,,
.cessarieri he needed, nird, taking when -
time of the heavy sleep into which het
hed Wien, she stole noiselessly out.
hoping to return ere he should wake-
Seareele, however, had the left time
lane and turned into Main street, whoa
Rose came tripping to the gate, drowse
thither by a euriesity eo see it tier sus-
picions were correct. She had Marina
from her husband of Bill's exit from,
Washington, and for some days had
been -expecting to -hear ofehli arrival int
town. That he led come she was cer-
tain; and telling Annie where the wan
going, she lind started rather tallies fop
Mrs. Baker's. As her 'mock non with
no reeponse, she entered without fur-
ther ecretnony; and, paseleg on throtigtk
the low, dark' kitchen, came to the door
of the little room where Bill lay breethe
ing heavily. 'end muttering about cameo
and guardhouses and deserters-. • The
eight of suffering always awoke a chort
of sympathy in Itoee hfather's bosom,
end eithoet a thought of dangee else
bent close to the sick man, eml invol-
untarily laid her, soft cool hand upon,
. his burning forehead. The Meth twoke
him, but lid the wild eyes teepee mien
her there was no glauce of recognition,
or look of fear. He etidently fancied
biniself back in Washington, and' esk-
4i1,44te nTamkteitme.f,,heih.eregierrionetiunteuerL. Still
keepieg his eyes fixed open hoe "you're
theeelotp I took, but you've, fell away
-mightily slime the% Yanhee fere don't
set 'Well oe your rebel stunt:Ice,
guest," and a wild,' coarse laugh, rang
threugh the room, 'sinking Rose shude
I'I' anddraw back, for she felt ihtlet-
titely, that B:11 leas Mad. ,
• - She ens mote however, afraid of
031(1, stendiuseseatestlitfiedistancee
tried to reason erith him, tellieg •
the was not a rebol.--ste wa4 Mrs. Ma- .
thcr, come to stlo- hini "
orsly laughed' dereitely. "Oorild-'
• n't cheat hint.. • titiov.s he ltnew thent
. eyes and them kands, white as cotton
wool. I'll bet I've 'got a rag that'll fit
. 'ent," he • eoutieneil, and, lambing fee
- his pantaloens, whieh, he had insisted
sheuld lie` behind himhon the bed, he
took tronf•the eoeket the eeetlY al-
mond once 11,0111 by his rebel captive,
and eonfikatkr :by 11:m as cont.:11)11d.
, "Try it ou," he said to. Rise ewe() me-
elutnically obeetil, wonttering ,wity it
should look so familiar to her,
It was toe- large for her steelier fin-
gers, and; drophiug off, rolled upon the
floor, ltose at once. set hessele to .finde.
ing the miesieg ring, and had just re -
Mined it to its.owner when Mrs. Bilker
came in„ torioddy alttra.cd at iludlut,,-
11.1a, Mather therel lp.se. howevete
quieted her tare at once by telling hers
the had known for some days. past of
desertfop, ane had kept it from
everyone but Armies beceuse hr hus-
leoid thoeght it beat. 1t did not. be-
heve lie M'cauhl be followed, the sal&
-for Will winte that ht, hue become to
reeklees mid eisi•ontented that his abe
seam Wes 141 heti to the army, but, for
'e while 'It liftelit be wet/ that hs Drea-
mier ehoithi etet be known in- ltoehtends ,
the people- might be indignant et a
deserter, end • porlulpl itt them excite -
men do Wee:some letter,
"Ile ought' to have medical ielvica,
thergh," theeadeoil, "for t thee: lede
Vel)' - >reek" s
Ii -s. reeer lotew Ito woe en 1 leer
lest lie ehr eve -menu, evtly (.11108
leelhar,, ran:1;111g her enngs.,tar It!li three
thorld cell their ettaile pltveielen. It
was mallr men ere le, erevee: rine 74,
the ineale"ares 1ttve ima 1 evall,91 .eho
n,751:1111agtinst
i11i:a
.
m.lio ranee her "hie little rebel," •mut
oreetrel her •nbort es if he had been a
einevendele ether. mei Ale 1de militate
&nate. 'novelty ef the thitig was
rather pleneirg to Rose, raid netwIth-
standing Vent the phYsisian prenetineed
the ihiteree phes fever 'wits most vim
kelt fern ve • pereetse its staying, see-
the ssonteme, mutt hide 4t1 8. Baker, mei
she Wtta 1:41 aftetel.
po Aar ester hey foltuil her ie that
vonstreetlearo whie the free Sot
nt the eltether maneloh wouiler-
el where she 'mid be. tt reese nut
:It Met tertt the 1VIS
Ittiltser, 4ld1101'01t51y lilt k el fettling
fever lit lds 'mother* ililapelatee leen%
end then, as -village's wili.• the Reek -
hind people wondered and goesieed,
met woudered omen haw the tnestacree
tie Mem efathee ceuld sit hour eftet
hoer, sin Mutt poverty-ariesicken rotteres
minentering to the Want% Of ass11-11-'0611
11111 linker.- Iteme hardly knew hereelt,.
and when eseeetisined tom the seltt
ecuid ones. reeler'
'Wits it -waiving from the other
werlde-a manatees to follow her first-
born? • Annie Graham had said there
were.no suehtmossages sent to us, a.ml
eel:etc wee rdways eight; sothe fright-.
cried wereen listened again until the
rattling of the latch, and ,a feeble, the -
id knock told her there was eerie than
the winter wind or Spirits of the field
about her house that , Tepee- wits
a htiman being .scelung to gam (ear:Ince
• and tottering to the doer the flsktel who
It' Wits, and whet they \mete& there.
"Mother, mother, let nes- in. I'M yoer
Billy bose.come from the war.",
The words were herdly uttered -ere
the door wee, opened wide. the ereptie
woman einggirig rather then .leading In
the'worn-out man. who, staggering for -
sward, foil into' het- gnus, sole:hie Pitt"
cusly:•
"I'm so sick end. tired. I've been.
v.telte on the road, hieing everywheee
for, teethes -I've s-mothee-slitit thi
doe tight, so nas dy eau lisear,•-
I've • ran • awn -e; ive had enough
of War, AO SO I left one pieta.
You know whnt thee do tit desertese.
They hang them, neck tent heele. Oh,
inother, Mothert don't let thein fine me,
trill you? I've done my beet in one
dreadful Meth. Thep mustn't get Inv
now. Will they, think," :m(1,111113- ceet
n- steeling glance menthe the woes to
see that no 'ottIcer was there with pow.
er to take him back.
Would they get bitn from let? She'd
like to eee them do it, she said, as
Ird.the childish elegerter to the herirth.
he leaning heavily upon heentni fallings
tether than sitting, upon the r hair .the
brought. Weary ot a soldierhi life, veil
tudistied with one taste eof bettle, he
haul stolen 311117 one night when the
rein ond the darkness sheltered hint
from observetiort. Grentle ihognifyine
the senile pat .upon himself, as well an
the chnnees for deteetion, he had not
&reit to take the cars, lot at every set
-
tent there Monte be one of the polite
waifingeto seetette him. So he nettle the
einire Tenney front Washington on
feat, triteelling by eight and resting he'
day, Nottotitaies in barns, but oftener in
the woes, where some friendly *two,
Ihmatdi"regaelVd whins8hherit oantly a:1'1t?l in
hie haggled thee his bloothehot eyes,
hie battered feet and bettereil garmenet
bore wheelie to hie long, solaria loft -
hey.
1Aritit *trawling seYoua th zrt1*r
e 1 •
"I grteite tre heatieltee
and t must de
'Sill knows ft,e ys
and Annie Grellettle
And so, with her hoer
thinking tele Will eisd
her 'cheers% Itessh,
,
eee (hos tes
1