The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-09-29
stopped down again and was busy with


after little, "that be first seemed to fear
how his life would end. Somehow It
seemed be could not end that letter but
inally,in one corner away along the side,
he spoke of the names we talked OF for
the baby and then-lhere was-.GoodE
by.'.,
Her. voice faltered here but the trem
bling hands kept on placing the stones.
"War is cruel, msdam-too cruel" |"
Carroll could not help sayiag as the sad
story brought all the terrible past before
him. at must have been very hard Tor
you. then, and none to help you"
sob, yes. sir; and then 1t came-1hst
had dreaded from the time be left TJ
be sure they did not tell me how bad he
was shot, but oh, Iknew! and left the
children with neighbor and started for
the camp. When I came into the hospi.
tai tent he vas saying: Helen! Helen !
and I thought be knew me, but be didn't.
He had been saying 1t all along tney told
me. Well,the doctor could do no more,
they said, and so they left me with him
All that long night I held his hands, so
white and cold, and I thought OF the lit.
tie ones and of the empty home there
and-but / cannot tell you! Somehow
It ell came back, every little thing he had
ever done for me.
"lt all seemed go plain-I could see
him doing up the chores at the barn
again, and then coming up the path with
the pals in one hand and leading little
Walter with the other. When be came
through the woodshed and into the ki,ch,
en-. | could hear bis steps so plain, and
the door open and shut-just the same
rattle in the latch.
"Oh, / thought I should die! And
when cried out to him they told me ]
must go away II I made noise. So
kept still though it seemed my heart
would burst.
"WeIl. along toward morning, as sal
looking at his pale face all at once be
opened bis eyes and smiled, just ss be
used to. Then bis lips moved and
could just hear him say:
eyes nave come; I always told you
/ would come hack. NV where ia the
baby, Helen ?. Then held my ear close
to his lips for long time but could hear
no more. and when Hooked again be lay
so still"
Carroll could not see the stone be was
trying to place; still be kept his head
bowed and worked on as we'll as he
could.
SWELL, brought him home," che con.
tinued, "and when they laid him in our
little front room it did seem as though
The children would awake him here. And
that winter We brought the baby here and
laid it beside him. l vas go tired then
| wanted to hug the poor little thing up
to me and lie down there With them But
II wouldn't do; there were two left and
they must be fed. So did the best I
could for them till-oh, it don't seem 80
long! NJ, but then it is; yes, It is seven
years ago to morrow since We brought
little Walter here. He was such little
man-so like his fatheri'
Here the wrinkled hands stopped Law.
ing stone, and when Carroll looked up
one was holding the worn handkerchief
under the old bonnet, while the other
pressed hard against the poor palpitatiug
heart.
"Well, my dear woman" he made out
to say, "your lot has been hard one
and ! am sorry for you, indeed I am.
Nav ask II you live neal. here now ?"
mot now, sir" she answered ss soon
as she was able to proceed. II nurse
some in the city. could i'll afford the
time or money to come here now, but |
so longed to, and lately thought go
much about them had to come. O,sir,
I had to come!'
"Then you came here this morning 2"
"Yes, sir. on the four clock train "
$50 earlv; and do l understand You
leave soon ?"
II promised to be back on the next
train"
1T seems pity" said Carroll with
feeling, "that you should be denied even
the privilege of visiting the graves OF
your family"
yes, sir; still have much to be
thankful for. 1t is great pleasure to
be able to come here for few hours
even, to look on them and fix them up
little. Then there is my daughter away
out 10 California she is married now and
jnst getting nice little home, she wrote
me. So some day, though can barely
pay my way just now, hope BY Swing
all ] can, to see her again"
As Carroll looked at the frail form he
wondered how she could hope even to
pay her way much longer.
"Pardon me-" he said after thinking
"may l ask II you have much
laid by for such purposep"
"Oh, not much; don't know exactly
how much, You see, l am unable to work
ong at time. / hoped to have twenty
dollars left when / got back, but let me
Zee: the fare Was little more than ex
3ec'ed, and then the Coffee did not in
end to get that, but somehow 90 got
nearer felt aint-like-and-well, that
cost me q quarter. Still it helped me-
helped me q good deal. Well, let me
'ea." she said again. AMI pulling out the
Did silk handkerchief she united from
'ne corner q few email tils and 'me
'hsnge. Slowly she counted each riece
Ind laid II carefully by ITSELF
Yes, that's all. ! did think It was Q
lollsr or two more, but that certainly is
'll-twelve dollars and sxtv-5ve cents.
Well, don't know; p'r'aps never shall
20, but it helps me TO think may some
iwe."
"How much do you think it would
,ost you ?" asked Carroll.
"Oh, l don't know. never dared 20 |
sk for fear 'twus a good deal. Some.
lines I have thought p'r'aps sixtv dol.
ars. Do you think twould cost much
more ?"
Carroll asked her the exact station she
would leave aud the one 10 which she
would 60. Then be thought little and
ooked up. The faded eyes we're so ex-
,ectant, 90 mixed with a far.off hoped.
or happiness, that he conld not 6nd
,curage to say one hundred dollars. She
watched him closely for few seconds
hen, as though half afraid to speak, ask.
.d If it would he peru much more.