The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1865-11-30

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7 come over less than an hour before. TIL
wind was in his face now, the bitter pier
] cling which seemed to penetrate the blu
e overcoat so easily, chilling him through
{ and through. He shvered at first ant
: shrank as it swept over him, but after :
while he did not feel it so much
: 1t must be getting late, he thought; he
: was getting very sleepy-walking slower
and slower, pausing once as the mournful
howl of dog fell on his ears "Peor
Bruno. He's grieving for me Nobody
else'll grieve. Nobody else knows or
cares. It's strange-what makes me so
tired. [ must--sit down-here-and
rest. There's time-enough. No need
to-hurry. -asleep-by--
this-time-and l."
/; Leaning his elbows on his knees and
his face in his hands, he sat quietly. Not
asleep, for he heard still the bowling of
the dog, but it sounded to him miles and
miles away. His senses were getting
dulled, his faculties benumbed.
An hour passed-two--the the shrek
of locomotive broke the stiffness, start
ling the echoes far and near. But mark
Ryder did not move. Had he forgotten
that he meant to take this train? When
daylight came he was sitting there still.
Later in the morning Christie's hus-
band coming down through this very field,
paused at the sight of man in uniform
sitting there in that detected attitude.
care you sick, sir? Can l help you
in any way Z"
But the soldier did not look up or speak
A strange fear fell upon the questioner
He came nearer and gently lifted the SOL
dier's head, pushing back the cap that
shaded the white, white forehead aud the
closed eyes.
Dead. Frozen to death with help so
near ! This is terrible %
No slightest glimmering of the truth
dawned upon his mind He had never
seen Mark Ryder, and to strangers eyes
this pale face, turned up mutely to the
winter sky, bore little resemblance to the
picture he had seen Christie kiss So he
called neighbor, and between them,
with reverent touch, they lifted the poor
pallid image of what had been a strong,
loving man. and bore it to the nearest
house. And the news spread that dead
soldier--a stranger-evidently passen-
ger from one of the night trains, was w.
ing at DR.. Purcell's house, awaiting cor
oner's inquest.
What impulse was it that prompted
Christie, when she heard of it, to take
her two little ones by the hand, and 90
down there? Her husband met her at
the door with an awe struck face. Some
one who had known Mark Ryder had re-
cognized the body, and one alter another
his old neighbors had also recognized it,
They would have kept her away then, but
she only said, Il must see il" and putting
aside their OBTAINING hands she stepped
into the room.
Spite of grey hairs, spite of worn fea-
lures and altered look, she knew him in
stantly.
She did not faint nor cry out, but just
knelt down beside the low bed where they
had laid him and dropped her head on
his shoulder, kissing his cold lips that
Wouiu uCNCi again tulIil UuuCl tuC plcS-
sure of hers, calling him by name =
MARX, Mark, my love, my husband p
and the neighbors standing there lifted
up their voices and wept.
In his pocket they found his papers
transportation ticket aud discharge-aud
in his knapsack the gifts he had brought
for his de ar ones-a shawl for Christie, a
music box for Eddie, and doll for baby
Floy. The gifts had reached their desti-
nation--but, alas !. for the giver.
Oh! true heart, strong for the right,
tender and faithful unto DEATH do you
know, in that "better country" in which
you dwell, how one walks the earth
for the sake Of you, longing on
ly for the time when This mortal shall
put on Immortality, and the little house
mold band be gathered in an unbroken
circle once more.