The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-06-30
] Zenns Carey. Reward.

eaa Zemas Carcy,s Reward.
! Red and sullen like the eye Of some bale
full demon. the low sun cleaned through
the tangled depths Of the November woods,
casting bloody, lines Of light across the fallen
trees, whose messy trunks were half hidden
in drifts Of faded yellow leaves. ard evok-
ing faint sweet scenes, like Orient sandal
wood and teek, from thousand forest cen.
sors, hidden awav. who knows how or
where. And through that line Of dull fam.
ing fire the sky frowned--a leaden. cray
concave,, areighted. as the weatherwise
could tell you, with snow fakes sufficient ia
turn that broken forest into fairy grove o
pearl and ermine. So the daylight was ebb.
ing away from this Thanksgiving eve.
snow | wonder where I am2 said John
Siddons, pausing abruptly in the scarce Wis
ible faotpath that wound among the trees
"As ,mpletely turned round a. though |
stood in the deserts Of Egypti I wish that
had been sensible enough to keep to the
right road; these short cuts generally turn
out long ones. However, il 4 keep straight
ahead, must inevitably emerge from these
woods somewhere" ..s g 1.s
He sat down on Inossy stump, leaning
his head carelessly on one hand. while he
played unconsciously with the worn brim
Of his blue soldiers cap-a slender pleas.
ant-faced young man. with erav-blue eyes.
and dark hair thrown back from bronzed
forehead, which had been touched by the
fiery arrows many Southern sun in lone.
ly swamps, and along the fever rceking
shores of snllen Iisers.
"Houseless-homeless!" he murmured
to himself. 81 wander how many Others
are saying the same thing this Thanksgiv
ing eve. To think that should fight
through the campaign unhurt. and return
with an honorable discharge in my pocke,
tp place where no one knows or cares
whether I'm alive or dead, while so many
brave fellows were shot down at my side
with bullets that tore through a score OF
hearts at home, carrying sharper pangS
than death has to givel It's a qncer tn 'ng
to have only ane relative in the world. and
he total stranger I'll ino this second
cousin of my father he'll probably kick me
out ofdoors for shftless, soldering vag,
bond. But, hang it, a man can't live alone
like tortoise in its shell remember
wondering, when I was boy. why the Ma.
deria vines over the porch stretched out
their green tendrils. and seemed to gropc
through the sunshine for something to cling
TO-. think understand it now"
He rose up and walked on through the
russet leaves that rustled ankle deep be-
meath his tread, still musing-musing; try.
ing to study out the unknown quantities
in life's great equation, while the sun went
down behind hank Of lurid clouds, and
the chill right wind began to sigh sorrow
fully in the tree tops And suddenly the
sturdy woods tarered off into silver
stemmcd thicket of white birches, and the
white birches fringed lonely country road
with little red house beyond. whose win.
dcws were aglow with fireligbt. and whose
door.yard was full Of the peculiar perfume
Of white and maroon .blossomed chrysanthe-
umS. -, s,s
Zenas Carey was. leaning over the gate,
surveying the stormy sunset with critical
eyes. as .s,i 3sig
81 told Melindy so!' calculated ZenAs,
apparently addressing himself to the
crooked apple tree by the road. ..I'il bet
ny best steer we have good Did. fashioned
fall Of snow to keep Thanksgivin' with 7
smelt it in the air this mornin', but
womep dom: peyer believe nothin', until i,
comes TO pass right under their noses,
for" as Mst. Isl giIFasa
This rather obscure sentence was nipped
ir the bud by : foo'step at his side. Zenas
turned abruptly to rscopuoiter the new Ar.
rival. gsIf s,s.ag 9ss3 8s14j
"WAi you be kind enough 70 give me q
glass Of water, sirs" asked John Siddons,
wesrily. sEs s,aaaa
"SartiF, sira" said ZenAs. $50 you're Z
soldier, heys"
"a Sretrrned. soldier.p said siddons
draining the cool element from the cocoa
nut shell that always lay Close to the vel
curb at the side Of the house.
"Goin' home to keep ,Thanksgivinr'
Questioned Kenas. 1 -
.g''Home! Sir, haze no homet'' saab
Siddons had spoken sharply, IS if,.he
thought were goading to him. Zenas put
out his broad knotted hagd and grsspsd
the retreating mans arm.
"Boyl' he said with kindly abrupt
ness, "you're asoldier, and to tell by yon,
looks should gpess you were about the
age Of him that's buried at Gettysburg
my only sonl i love that blue uniform Toy
David's sake, apdif there's a soldier ID The
world that HASN'T o home TO go to on Thanks,
gisin' eve. there s+a corner for him by Re.
mas Carey's hreside Come in. siri come
|inl You're welcome - flowers in Mayrl
John looked into the vet eyes and work.