Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1866-08-17

Epob ANhO" hiS MANY - t'-'-
voice the dog knew his master, and sprane
up with quick, glad whine, licking the
hand that caressed his shaggy head, and
the face that bent down close for an in
slant, as the man knelt on one knee on
the frozen ground, his arm about the dogs
neck.
You will see them all tomorrow, old
fellow-Coralie and Eddie and Baby Floy
but shall never see them again till
meet them up yonder. They'll never
know that I've been here tonight, and
you can't tell them, can you? You'll
keep the secret, and when all the rest
have forgotten me, my dog will remem-
Der. No, you mustn't follow. Back, i
say, and goodbye"
He did not look back once as he went
kept straight on across the fields To-
wards the station, in the same path he had
come over less than an hour before. The
wind was in his face now, that bitter
piercing wind which seemed to penetrate
through the blue overcoat so easily, chill
ing him through and through. lie shiy-
cred atfirst, and shrank as it swept over
him, but after awhile he did not feel its
chilling blasts so much.
1t must be getting late, he thought he
was growing very sleepy--walking slow
er and slower, pausing once as the mourn
full howl of a dog fell on his ear.
Poor Brunei Nobody else'll grieve
Nobody else knows or cares. It's strange
what makes me so tired. j must-si
down--here-and rest. There's-time
enough. No-need-to hurry. Cora
he's--asleep- by-this-time-an Il
leaning his elbows on his knees, and hi
face in his hands, he sat quiet. Not asleep
for he still heard the barking of the dog
but it sounded to him miles and mile
away. His senses were getting dulled
his faculties benumbed.
An hour passed-two-then the shriel
| Of locomotive broke the stiffness, start
ling the echoes far and near. But Mar
Ryder did not move. Had he forgotte
| that he meant 10 take the train? Whc
daylight came he was sitting there still
Later in the morning, Coralie's hu:
band, coming down through this yer
field, paused at the sight of man in un
form, sitting there in that detected att
tude.
/ "Are you sick, sir? Can l help yo
in any way 2"
But the soldier did not look up or speak
A strange fear fell upon the questioner
He came nearer, and gently lifted th'
sleeper's head, pushing back the cap tha
shaded the white forehead and the closed
eyes.
Dead Frozen to death, with hell
near! This is terrible!'
No slightest giimmering of the trutl
dawned upon his smind. He had nevel
oCCh h1aih ANyuSi, anu W q SlidlitoSI oJ
this pale face turned up mutely TO th,
winters sky, bore little resemblance {,
the picture he had seen Corale kiss.
So he called a neighbor, and between
them, with reverent touch, they lifted tn
poor, pallid image of what had been
strong, loving man, and bore it to tn
| nearest house. And the news spread tina
dead soldier, stranger evidently,
passenger from one of the night trains
was lying at DIR. Purcell's house, awaitin
coroner's inquest.
What impulse was it that prompte
Coralie when she heard of it, to take he
two little ones by the hand and go dow
there? Her husband met her at the doc
with an awestruck face. Some one VIII
had known Mark Ryder had recogized tn
body, and one after another of his oil
neighbors, crowling nearer, recognized
too. They would have kept her ava
then, but she only said, 81 must see it.,
and putting away their OBTAINING hands
stepped into the room.
In spite of gray hairs, in spite of wor
feateres and altered looks, she knew hir
instantly.
She did not faint nor cry out-jus
knelt down beside the low bed where the
had laid him, and dropped her head o
his shoulder, and kissing the cold lips tina
would never warm under the pressure Q
hers, calling him by his name" MARI
Mark, my love, my husband y ana th
neighbors standing there lifted up thei
voices and wePt. :.
In his pocket they found his papers
transportation ticket and discharge--an
in his knapsack the gifts he had bougl
for his dear ones shawl for Coralie,
music-box for Eddie, and doll for bab
Floy. The gifts had reached their dest
nation, but alas ! for their giver.
OH true heari, strong for the righ
t.nda- OIL fs;,LcnI rpto Iaa.b Jo 80