Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1866-08-10
, NO 30 PARIS MAINE, FRIDAY AUGUST TO- 1855


before his own craving hunger for home.
happiness. and ehIldrsn's love,
"hsn Marx RYDER glanced again to-ard
the window. the strange nan had moved
aside. out Of his range of vision. and be saw
only CorAlie sitting there With FIoy in her
lap. While Eddie leaned on the arm Of her
char. Home. and wife. and childrea-all
that be had hoped or cared for thro' three
years Of var and eighteen months Of cap
tivify. before has eyes and within his reach
At last! / think none but God knew What
vas IN hat mans heart that moment. ~he n
be gave them al up. and elected 20 become
awandercr. One long long look At the
dear faces be should never see again this
side Of Heavea-then be turned resolutely
awav.
lie hal his hand on the fence 90 get over
when a dog came Ost Of a kennel near By.
growing savagcly. "Brun0. good fe Ilow -
Hearing his name called in that voice. the
dog knew bis master and sPrang up with a
quick. glad whine. lieking has hand. and The
pale face. that bent down close for an IN
slant. - the man kneli on one knee on the
frozen ground. bis arm about the dog .
neck.
1Oa viii see them all 70 morrow. old
feIlov-Coralie and Eddie and baby Floy-
but | shall never see them again till meet
them W yonder. Thevu never know that
I've been here tonight, aud you can not
tell them. can youy Yoa'll keep the secret.
and ~hen all the rest have forgotten me.
my dog win remember. No. you mustn Z
follow Back. say. And goodbye
+ lie did not look back once a. he went
kept straight on across the 6elds towards
the station. IN the same path be bad come
over less than an hour before. The Wind
~as in his face nov. the bitter. piercing
wind which seemed 70 penetrate the blue
overcoAt 50 easily. chilling hIm through and
through. lie shivered AZ frst. and shrank.
a. u swept over han. bot after a time be
did not feel is chilling blasts 50 much.
IL must be getting lAIe. be thought; be
-as growing very sleePy-~Alking slo~er
and slo~er. Paasing once As the nournial
howl o. dog fell on his ear - Poor Bra-
no, Nobody ehe'n grieye. Nobody else
knows or cares. It's sfrange-what makes
me % tired. must-sit down-here-and
rest. There's tiDe-enough. No need to
hurry. CorAlie's asleep by-this time
and-I-.- leaning hi. elbows on his knees
and his face on bis hands. he j. quiet. Not
asleep. for be still beard The barking Of The
dog. bot Il sounded 10 hin niles and miles
away. HIS senses we're getting dailed. bi,
faculties benunbed.
An hour passed-tuo-then the shrek Of
a locomotive broke The Stiffness. Startling
the echoes far and near Bot Mark RYDER
did not move. Had be forgotten that b.
meant 70 take the train2 When daylight
came be Vas sitting there still.
Later in the morning. Coralie's husband.
coming down this very held. paused at the
sight ofa mAn in Uniform. sitting there in
tLat detected attitude.
q" Are you sick. sir? Can help you ia
any wayS But The soldier did not look I'd
o. SPEAK.
A strange fear ier upon the questioner.
lie came nearer and gently lifted tie sleep
er's bead. pushing back tbs cap that shaded
The uhiie forehead and closed eyes.
Dead. Frozen 20 death. uiib help 30
near, Tbs l. terrible.
No slightest glimmering of the truth
dawned upon hs mind. lie had never
seen Marx ~ der. ard % q strangers eyes
tbs psle face. turned Up mutelV % the win
fer's sky. bore Hflie resemblance % the
iftlc picture be had - many times seen
Coral.c Kiss s. be called neighbor.
snd. 9Th rcvcrent touch. they hiied the
poor. paiiid image Of uhai bad been a strong
loving man. and bore n % the nearest
house. And the news spread that a dead
soldier. q stranger evIdently. q passengcr
ircm one Of the night trans. was living a.
ihs house Of Dr. Purcell. Awaiting q coro-
ner's inqnesf.
What impllse vas it that prompted Cor
ale. When sbe beard Of f. 90 take Der fvo
iitiio ones by The band and 60 dovn there
Tier husband met her st the door with an
avc struck face. Sous one vho had known
Mars Ryder hsd recornized the body. and
ore aiicr another OF his oil neigbbors.
crorlinr nearer. recognized it too. They
~oaid have kept her away then. bot BE on
ly said. o. I rsusf see it. and putting auav
their detaiuing hands. stepped into The
-rrrr