The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-05-23

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About three months after Frank, son
of Thomas and Ellen, left home for the
seat of war, his father sew wayworn
I and weary man coming toward his house,
and he cried out, Mother, our Frank is
coming home-he is right here, and he
locke as if he was all but dead, too"
They both ran to meet the man, and
they said everything kind and tender
that loving, indulgent parents might be
expected to say to beloved son return
ing, after long absence, in suffering.
That man was Frank. the nephew, but a
thought that he was other than their
own SON never entered their minds He
was in an almost fainting condition, and,
in their excitement, they carried him to
7 the house in their arms.
Frank had waded streams, swan rivers,
had climbed mountains, and trayersed
marshes, enduring hunger, and cold and
a constant fear of being fetaken, while
his locks were wet with the drops Of. the
night; and he was feyered ands sick.
The family physician was called, and
when he came and looked at his patient,
thought that the young man was 8
stranger there never entered his mind.
Was not that the same black, silky
beard, those the same jetty curls that he
had seen so often? Were not those the
same speaking black eyes9 Had DR..
Wilson been called into q Court of JUS
tice to testify to that mans identity, he
would have sworn that his patient was
/; Frank, SON of Thomas and Ellen Will
sliamsy and that he had known him all
his lie. And he would have been per
fectly honest, zoo. For thus he believed.
And thought that he was another
never entered the mans mind. Nellie
was summoned to see her betrothed.
And neither did she think other than
that she was looking at the man that
had breathed VOWS Of love, and fidelity,
a few months previous, for her ear alone,
as she stood beside the sick mans couch.
But she was; very bitterly disappointed
by the coldness of her reception by the
sick man.. She bent and kissed hiptf
and the young man opened wides
speaking black eyes, and looked ather
{ in a way that said palmer than words,
aWhy are you heref That was uncalled
for"
he closed his eyes and thought, "a
strange state of society, I should think |;
where pert little beauties kiss gentlemen
that they have never seen before. In
truth, / can scarce tell which is most dis
< agreeable, the rain Of bullets left behind,
or the rain of kisses that have met; for,
in truth, did fear that Aunt Ellen
would smother me. hope there are no
more blue-eyed, baby-taced girls to
I. come" =
And while he was thinking thus, Nell
lie hunted up Ellen and said: "I think
that Frank is much worse than you
imagine. You think that he is improy-
ing, in truth almost we'll; and I cannot
think 30, for he does not know me; and
he greeted me soldly, as he might
hired girl that he had never seen before"
And Nellie began to cry and choke,
and choke and cry. And Ellen went
into the room, and said
s.My SON, why do you not speak kindly
to Gilmore? She is crying herself sick.
She says you greet her as you might
hired girl that you had never seen be-
fore.n
g an truth, ma'am, never did see her
before; and how could possibly know,
with none to tell me, whether she is your
daughter or your hired help?" replied
Frank. ain fact" he continued, II
{ thought her pert and oficious, and that
abe had no right to kiss me"
Ellen turned away and sought her
husband, and told him that Frank did
not know Nellie, and that he had said
she was pert an6 of6cious. Thomas
Williams went into the sick mans room,
ana up close to the side of his bed, and
looked at him. closely, then he laid his
hand upon his forehead and said: "How
do you feel to-day, my sonf"
-,>tII am almost well, dear uncle. I
think that am not really sick, only
fatigued almost to death"
Thomas Williams heard nothing but
the two words, "dear uncle" and he
went out of the room and out of the
house at his best speed, and finding
boy, he, sent him for DR.. Wilson, charg-
ing him to tell the doctor to ride for his
life, for Frank is 80 crazy with fever that
he does not know Nellie, nor me, his
own father"
Then finding Nellie, he said: "Don't
fret, darling / hope for the best: The
doctor Will soon. Be here, and when he
understands the case think that he can
arrest the disease"
"Ol Or sobbed Nellie, she has
ceased to love me. 1 fear that he has
seen q f,irer face. while he was gone"
,ssNellie! Nellie !" said Mr.. Williams,
"you cannot possibly think that our
Frank would prove false? He would
have to lose his identity to do that.
Why, our Frank is honor itself. And,
again. the poor, was-broken soldier has
had little chance to see fair faces of fair
women
"But, Mr.. Williams, he seems so we'll
and strong, and perfectly rational" said
Nellie. :,
"Does he seem RATIONAL" said Mr..
Williams, "when he does not know me,
his own father?"
ssIs that the case" said Nellie.
- "Indeed, he called me his dear uncle
iust little while ago."
30, dear Oh, dearr" said Nellie, and
she began to wiring her slender, white
bands, and cry. again. When Doctor
NWllSOH Cau6s u1Es. piiiouio hiSo htoA ne
the door, and told of what he considered
the fearful alteration of mind of his pa
tient. The Doctor examined the sick
man very carefully, and then said, IL
see no signs of fever, or, in fact, anything
else wrong about the man; he seems to
be doing well enoug b."
Mr.. Williams spoke privately with the
doctor, and told him to ask the young
man his name. The doctor did So.
Frank was rejoiced to hear the question /;
and he had wondered why they did not
: ask him something of himself, and he
answered, "My name is Francis Marion
Williams"
81 thought as much," said the doctor.
sWhat is your fathers name?"
"My fathers name was Francis Will
liams. He died years ago. He was
Thomas Williams brother, therefore