The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-04-11
THE MAN ATTHE DOOR.
BY MARY KYLE DALLAS.
(Concluded.l

- (Concluded.)
We drew up together by the fire when
the tea was done, and he told us
things about the war I'd never heard
befOre-how the soldiers suffered, and
what weary marches and short ratiOns
they sometimes had. And then he told
me how his life had been in danger;
how he had been set upon by the foe
and badly wounded; and how, at the
risk of his own life, a fellow soldier
saved him, and carried him away, fight
Ing his path back TO camp.
"Fd never seen you bat for him." says
my Charlie. "And if there's man on
earth love, it's Rob Hadaway-the
dearest, best fellow We've shared
each others rations and drank from the
same canteen many and many a time;
and if had brother l couldn't think
moro of him."
"Why didn't you bring him home to
see your mother, Charlie, said |. "Why,
I'd love him, too, and anything | could
do for the man who saved my boys
life, couldn't be enough. Send for him,
Charlie
Bat Charlie shook his head and cover
ed his head with his hands.
Mother" said he, 81 don't know
whether Rob Hadaway is alive or dead
to-day. While was still in the ranks
he was taken prisoner. Aud military
prisons are poor places to live in,
mother. I'd give my right hand to be
able to do him any good but l can find
no trace of him. And he has mother,
too, and she is so fond of him! She
lives at GreenbaRk-poOr old lady. My
dear, good, noble Rob, the preserver of
my life"
And | saw Charlie was nearly crying.
Not to let us see the tears, he got up
and went to the mantel piece. | did
not look around until heard cry.
"Great heaven! what is it ?"
And / turned, and Charlie had the to-
bacco pouch the man had drspcd i'll his
hand.
"Where did this come from 7" said he.
gave this to Rob Hadaway the day he
saved me. We soldiers had not much to
give, you know, and he vowed never to
part with it while he lived. How did it
come here, mother |"
And l fell back in my chair, white
and cold, and said /:
"a wandering tramp left it here.
Never your Rob, my dear; never your
Rob. He must have been Gn impostor.
wouldn't have turned away person
really ia want. Oh, no, no; its another
pouch, child; or he stole it. A tall fell
low, with blue eyes and yellow-brown
hair; wounded, he said, and going to
his mother in Greenbank. Not your
Rob"
And Charlie stood staring at me with
clenched hands; and said he:
SIT was my Rob! it was my dear old
Rob, wounded and starving my dear
old Rob, who saved my life, and you
have driven him out in such night as
this, mother. My mother to use Rob
so.w
Condemn me, Charlie" said |; "con-
denim me if you like; I'm afraid God
will. Three times he came back; three
times he asked only for crust and a
place to lie, and drove him away-I,
land he's lying in the read now. Oh !!
if had known! Oh. if | had known"
And Charlie caught up his hat.
"Tll find him if he's alive" said he
"Oh! Rob, my dear friend"
Aud then-I never saw the girl in.
such a taking. Down Went Drusilla on
her knees, as if she was saying her
prayers, and says she:
Thank God, l dared to do it,"
And says she again TO me-:
"Oh aunt, I've been trembling with
fright, not knowing what you'd say to
me. | took him in the kitchen way. i
couldn't see him go faint and hungry
and wounded, and | put him i'll the
spare chamber over the Parlor, and I've
been so frightened all the while"
"Lord bless you: Drusilla," said
Charlie.
"Amen," sad |.
And she, getting bolder, went on:
"And | took him some hot short cakes
and applesass and tea" says she, land
| took him a candle and 4 hot brick for
his feet, and told him to eat, and togo
to bed in the best chamber, Aunt Fair
fax, with the white counterpane and
all, and locked him in and put the key
in my pocket, and | told him that he
should have one nights rest, and that
no one should turn him out unless they
walked over my dead body"
And Drusilla said it like an actress
in a tragedy, and went off into Mysteries
the moment the words were out of her
mouth. She'd been expecting to be half
you know, and the girl was
but sixteen, and always before minded
me as if | was her mother.
. oil cir ~
happy as l wac that night, so thankful
to the good Lord; and it would have
done your heart good if you had gone to
see the two meet in the mOrEing-Char-
lie and his friend Bob. And Charlie,
who got so well, and had mother who
was not poor either, helped Bsb into
business. And he got over his wounds
at last, and grew as handsome as pic
ture, and te-day week he is going to
marry Drusilla.
"I'd give you anything have" said /,
"and l won't refuse you even Drusilla,"
when he asked me, telling me that he
had loved her ever since she was so
kind to him on the night Pve told you
of.
And Charles is to stand up with him,
and L am to give Drusilla away, and
Rob's sister from Greenbank is to be
bridesmaid, and have guess that
some day Charlie will bring her home
to me in Drusilla's place.
don't drive beggars from the door
now as / used, and no doubt am often
imposed upon; but this is what say =
Better be imposed upon always than to
be cruel to one who really needs help"
And Pve read my Bible better of late,
and / know who says: Even as you
have done it unto the least of these, ye
have done it unto me-"
Wash for Apple and Other Fruit
Trees.
One of the best methods for preserv-
ing the health and promoting the vigor