The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1869-12-23

1t was o beautiful spot IN summe
time, when the water was low, sheltere
between the high green banks of til
shore and the tall trees of the island
but at that season of the year the curren
was so swollen by the spring rains tina
the island was half overfowed, and tn
pretty cove deep black eddy where tn
waters seethed and foamed in their insan
whirl.
| Annie Linn stood motionless in tn
doorway. From the first instant she saw
the wild race of the children she uuder
stood what had happened. They ha(
found the body; he had been drowned il
the cove.
Then the dreadful doubt whether i
had been accidental or the work of self
destruction. She remembered his las
words, but even in that hour Of Suprem,
anguish she could not see her way to have
acted differently.
She still stood there, while more PEG
pie went hurrying down through the
fields, and the excitement became gene
raj in the village. She heard some one
passing IN the next room. She must be
alone, or her very reason would 60 She
reached the stairs-fsirly crept on hel
hands and knees to the solitude Of her
own room.
Perhaps an hour afterward some i'm
pulse forced her to the window. She
looked out. Up the path came train OF
men carrying something over which was
spread white sheet that futtered q lit
tie in the wind.
Only glance then she fell to the
floor and lost everything for a time in
that blessed insensibiIity.
The body was carried to the old brown
farm house. The face was swollen, and
unacceptable, but the widow remember
ed the clothes. It was the body of her
son.
The evening before the funeral of poor
Charles Mason, Annie Linn wandered on
of the house into the felds-not towards
the path which had formerly been her
favorite haunt; she could not even look
towards that
She saw the old brown house on the
hill, but did not venture to approach
nearer. Some one came out of the door
and walked down the hill. Annie knew
Der in an iustant-it was his mother.
She did not attempt to avoid the meet
ing. She stood there, passively awaiting
whatever might ensue, and even looked
up as she heard the footsteps coming
nearer. tt}E "a semen Et1 wn4
"Annie, Annie" called the familiar
voice, which had an undertone so like
his.
There stood the widow with her arms
extended. Annie fell into them with one
cry, upon which the smothered grief of
the past days went out.
1t was long time before there was a
word spoken then tears came and broken
whispers which made each heart dear to
The other. -
"They say you blame me-" Annie cried.
Child, my boy loved you; that was enough
[ never blamed you--I never shall. We
1on't care what people say-we under
stand one another now"
81 wanted to see you-to come to you
{ 1 know, know. You can do so now,
Annie; your father will never object any
more"
They chung to one another little clos
or after these words. r
" You mustn't come tosthe house to-mor-
row." the widow said. Come to me when
it is all over ana they are gone"
81 have been wishing-I want to see"
"No, no, o, its dreadful. could only
.ook once. Don't, Annie, don't"
She hid her face for moment to shut
out the painful image her own words had
called up that pale worn face, with so
much of the tender beauty of age in it
already.
They had no words of comfort to speak
to each other. 1t was very difficult to
talk at all But it eased their grief to
stand together, feeling that each under
stood the others heart.
Annie chung to her with sudden ener-
gy.
"Don't let them talk to you; I did love
him-indeed did,"
ct know it. You did what was right;
no one shall blame you in my hearing. |
hope they'll let my boy alone now. O.,
my Charley my Charley! !"
She checked the spasam of grief quick
Iy.
"I don't believe he did it on purpose.
He wrote me letter. think he meant
TO so away"
A shudder completed the sentence. It
was fuller of agony than any words or
tears.
They parted almost in silence, and each
stole home, shivering with chill that
struck deeper than the pleasant GOODNESS
Of the spring evening, and would not
wear away for months and years.
X K X
Charles Manson had been buried a year.
Then came the second great trial of Annie
Linns life
She visited the widow very frequently.
Her father never made any opposition,
although he rather kept out of the way
himself However much he might be-
Lieve himself in the right, it was not
L r. Al,1,,,