Smyrna times., 1878-09-18

put my hand in his. Good help you,
John," | said, brokenly. "Take care of
Robbie for my sake, and-good, ,byer
" l WILL" he answered, bending down to
kiss me. For the sake of what might
have been, what hoped would be, Ruth,
but you know best" And then he was
gone.
Robbie came and touched my hand.
I'm going across by the church-yard," he
said. 1T will be easier saying goodbye
there, think"
Hand.in-hand, as we had often done
before, but never would again, we went up
the hill. Mothers grave was purple with
pansies.
Sweet little things" he said, touching
them with tender, earessing finger. "If
should die" Then n sob choked him,
and he could not speak for many moments.
y-andbye-"if ! shouln't come back,
Ruthie, don't think of me so far off that
you can't see or hear me any more, but
close by-all around you'll l shall love you
just the same. Remember that!"
Oh, my brother, | remember
| cannot write about it-that last hour
with Robbie-for the tears blind me so
that | cannot see the page, but can see
his face. Not even the grave can hide that
from me
X X X X
1t was in the second year of Robbie's
army life that his discharge came and he
was mustered out. 1t was June. The
world was like a child that wakes from
sleep flushed and radiant. The robin had
finished his nest in the cherry tree and
had sung to his mate the whole afternoon.
| had thought so much Of Robbie all day,
Hmm h0 could l-,,o,u oh 4
the robbins Perhaps he knew more about
them than | did. He seemed near me.
Once his presence seemed so real that |
whispered his name. But the only answer
was trill of jubilant song from the robin,
and it seemed as if his little throat would
burst with melody. Perhaps he knew!
a boy came up the road with a letter.
"a telegram, ma'am," he said, looking
at me in such way that l was frightened.
| tore it open, and read:
| Robert died this morning
| did not cry nor faint, CROPPED my way
to the old doorstep, and laid my head
down on the threshold, saying over," Dead
Dead !"
Three days after, letter came from one
OF Robbie's comrades. There had been {
sudden charge upon the enemy Johr
Earle and Robbie were fighting side by
side. " He fell like hero" the letter said
and there were other words of praise, tina
| cannot read over to this day without ;
great thrill of eXultation. Oh, my hero !
K x
I" Tell Ruthie to remember what tolC
her by mothers grave" was his last mes
sage. John Earle was wounded,n raj
the last words of the letter. Gle wa
trying to shield your brother from a bay
onet-strOke and received the blow on hi
own arm. He says, "Tell her was true t
my promise-she will understand-an,
that Robbie died with his hand in mine.
!, write his words down, and what they mea
you will doubtless know"
Oh, so we'll, so we'll
Two weeks after the tidings Of Robbie
| death, another message came to me, Joh
Earle was dying. In his delirium he KEEP
calling me. If l cared to see him on cart
) there was no time to loose. Would
come.
If I>cared to see him! Till that lettc
came | never knew how much John Earl
? was to me. My love for Robbie ha
t blinded me to the truth.
t 1t was Sunday morning when | reache
the place where John was. He was nC
G dead, they told me in answer to my que
| ton. | should see him again this side
s heaven.
An old lilac bush grew by the doc
n There was but one late cluster of blossom
i on it, and | thought Of Johns fancy abol
lilacs and his mothers soul, and broke
g from the bush. A strange excitement toe
e hold of me as | reached the door,
" | came to see John Earl" | said to Il
|. soldier who met me.
y You are the Ruth he talks about
n think ~ he said, questioningly.
d I" am Ruth" answered, and he m
toned me to follow.
g | stood still at the sight of Johns fac
q 1t made me think of an angel, as it !
upon the pillow, wan and shadowy, Ii
a that of a ghost. | saw another thir
I'd Where Johns strong right arm had bee
:" there was an empty sleeve. He had Il
k his arm for Robbie's sake!
will leave you now," the soldier sa
m He will wake up pretty soon."
at He went away, and crept up to job
to bed and knelt down softly. Oh, the pC
pale, patient face The sight of it broug
e- a rain of tears. laid the lilacs down up
at the pillow and waited
ke lie stirred. "I thought l smelled
a lacs," he said, in a whisper. mother,
be you here? Is it lilac time, mother?"
l, John" | said, softly, and with brok
voice, John, l am here. Don't you kn
m me?"
1T Oh, the swift, glad light that broke O
his wasted face! The glad look in
ou eager, wistful eyes Can ever forget it
"Ruth p That was all, but it was
most eloquent of anything l ever hea
De- and then he tried to hold out his one d
Ter hand to me. | took it in mine and cove
pa it with kisses. Then there was o sile
of many minutes that neither of us ca
ry to break. We were together, and
nos sight of each other was better than wol
or By-and-by he whispered, 81 know
Wy lonely you've been since-that," and t
bic his lips quivered, and the tender trutl
lad eyes were like blue violets in a sunni
the rain. 81 knew it would almost break y
hat heart. If it could only have been me I
was Oh, most selfish soul How weak
me. unworthy seemed to myself then, in C
parison with him.
asst. By.and.by, with his hand in mine, he
G, a asleep. The physician came while he
t of sleeping.
ing " l think your coming has done
and good already" he said. Perhaps we
me. save him vet. Womans care will do n
for him than we can"
and Perhaps he would not die dror
my face in the pillow and prayed tina
might be spared to me. Perhaps
can. heard my prayer, and answered it. /
to think of in that way. Perhaps it
the been so willed in the eternal wisdom
full he would have lived if l had not pra
ain. But it pleases me to think the prayer
sud. heard and answered. The next NOR
T.