Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-04-20

Grace paused It wasn't any of her
people-who could it be? Some one
on business, perhaps; and she left the
fire and went to the door to listen.
There is lady Of the name of
Nelson living with you; can see her? p
There's no such person here" said
Mason. ''only my wife and myself.
But come in; it's a bitter night.
You've made some mistake, probably.
Mason is not an uncommon name here,
and 1 may be able to set you right
The mans pallid face startled him.
Grace drew back as her husband
threw open the door, and ushered in
tall, fine looking man, wrapped and
muffled to his chin.
"Pm very sorry to disturb you," said
the stranger, as Mason presented his
wife, "and beg thousand pardons for
this intrusion. My only excuse is
great anxiety, and my entire ignorance
of this city. It is the first time was
ever here, having only arrived this
afternoon from. My name is Mel
son."
spray sit down by the fire. sir.
Grace, perhaps Mr.. Nelson has not
dined," said Mason Hospitality, but with
utter disregard to the fact that they
had, an hour ago!
Grace looked with dismay at the
fragments of woodcock, and then at
the Intruder, and thought her spouse
had taken leave of his senses.
Thanks. have dined," said the
stranger, with drOll smile. "Perhaps
you can assist me to find what 1 am in
search of. But first let me explain
why am here. Tonight 1 hoped my
anxious search was at an end, that L
had found the clue to labyrinth I've
been travelling the past six weeks. To
he brief, am, or was, an officer in the
Confederate army. Little more than
year ago L was severely wounded and
taken prisoner, after few weeks ser.
vice. For months I was well taken
care of in the - hOspital-you see
my arm has gone-but during that
time 1 heard nothing of my family,
nor could | communicate with them in
any way. My misery was not uncom-
mon. God knows, and it retarded my
convalescence i'll a great degree.
thought day and night of my young
wife's danger, and possible starvation,
till 1 was nearly crazy. At last there
came day when l was exchanged.
and I was sent home as disabled
Homel There was none for me. Strang-
ers lived III our old house, my servants
were dispersed, and every face seemed
changed. Oily one year gone, and no
body to welcome mel Weak and dis
pirited, went to the headquarters f
the division, then stationed at M.
and there learned news of my friends
and family, the hardships they had suf-
fered in my absence, and also that they
had heard Of my death-'killed in the
first engagement after had babe them
farewell My heart sank within me.
My wife's precious letter, the only one
ever received, had been so filled with
hope, love, and resignation, it had sus-
tanned me until then. Then hope died
in my breast, the untold horrors of her
privatiOns flooded over me, and I broke
down completely. Loss of property,
loss of my health and arm, seemed such
tribe, compared with this uncertain.
ty! That she was true to me never
doubted. Well, not to weary you,
found a clue at last. 1 discovered an
old faithful servant of ours cooking at
restaurant much frequented by the
officers Of the different regiments then
in town. She was as delighted to see
me as l to find her, and she told me
how my wife and her brother had gone
North, after struggling to live and
keep the old estate for several
months after the news of my
death. The good soul, with
tears in her eyes, described their life as
well as she could, trying to smooth
over their privations that she may not
distress me. She gave me a letter her
mistress had written soon after she
had reached the north in safety, saying,
as soon as she could find any means of
support she would write again. There
was no date, and no visible post-mark.
Evidently it had been sent by hand.
For two or three days 1 waited with
the greatest Impotence, hoping letter
would come; but as all communication
was cut of, there seemed very slight
hope. One day, three weeks ago, Aunt
Mintie came to see me, bringing anoth-
er letter from my wife. 1 opened it
with a gasp of relief, and read merely
that she was well and living at the
house Of Mr.. Mason in High street,
-, and it contained money for her
dear Mintie.'"
Mrs. Mason's eyes, that first had kept
guard over her silver spoons. were
filled with tears and establishment. as
the stranger told his story. Now she
cried out:
Giving herel How can that bef
We have been in this house scarcely
two months, and alone all the timef
Had it not been for that full ad.
dress" continued the man gravely. 81
should not have ventured to cali at sc
unreasonable an hour. 1 feel sure
however, you will appreciate my impa
thence, my disappointment in findin.
I'm mistaken, and that, after all these
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