The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-03-06

| l,
and her constant repining because
some of her neighbors had things so
much "nicer" than they could afford
added the last drop to the cup of mis-
cry. The breaking out of the civil war
brought to him a CLEAN of hope. Nat
urally patriotic, he was among the first
to enlist. For two years he served his
country well, and in a aregiment known
for its bravery he stood among the
first. So far he had escaped with
slight wounds; but he was not always
thus to escape-he was wounded and
taken prisoner. Then after long,
dreary months, ah! such months to
the prisoners at Andersonville and
Libby" such months of anguish to
the loving hearts at home, he was re-
ported dead" Dead, and then the
wall of an unbroken silence. Ida
mourned with bitterness of anguish
that found no relief save in hard work,
and caring for other stricken hearts.
Alas! there were plenty to care for in
those sad days. Mrs. Brown mourned
loudly, and wore the deepest mourn
ing-for six months. Then she was
married again-widowhood was so
''lonely." But her last choice was a
very bad one. Whether she had mar
ried him for fancied love, or what had
influenced her, no one could tell; but
he, the new husband, was drunkard,
and after several months of misery,
the woman who was once Jack Browns s
wife, was laid to rest-and few mourn
ed for her.
That was all of the past that Miss
Olney reviewed to-day, as she sat in
her lonely room, but oh, how it filled
her heart, till her eyes overllowed in
tears. The day that had been SO
bright in the morning grew overcast
as the afternoon wore on, and ere night
snow and sleet filled the air. Miss
Olney lighted her lamp, but she did
not close the shutters. Better let the
light shine out she thought; it might
cheer some lonely passer-by, and guide
them on their way.
So she set out her supper, with
'snowy damask'' and dainty china
and the silver that had been in the
family for more than generation. 1t
was her choisest treasure, her only in
herited wealth, and as she laid the
solid knife and fork beside her plate
and placed the other pieces to her sat
isfaction, she stood back to note the
effect, as she often did, and then she
sighed to think no one was with her to
sympathize with her in any of her feel
ings.
Just then she was rather startled by
a heavy rap at the door. ''Only some
neighbor," she thought as she stepped
to admit the applicant.
The wind blew in with its attendant
sleet and snow, and the stranger at
the threshold stepped in with it, neither
waiting for an invitation. A gentle
man by his dress, but Miss Olney,
though not given to fear, felt sudden
chill as she saw that he was stran-
ger. He might be robber despite his
gentlemanly guise, and her silver, her
precious silver. How imprudent to set
it out before her unshuttered win
dows.
The stranger did not wait for her to
speak; he was shaking as if with an
ague chill.
"Excuse me, madam" he said, in
voice tremulous and hoarse, II be-
lieve l am chilled through. If you'll
allow me-"
But before the words were fairly
spoken Miss Olney had drawn her own
easy chair to the fire, and the stranger
dropped into it evidently entirely ex-
hausted. Ida forgot her fears in
compassion for the stranger, and when
his trembling fingers tried in vain to
unloose his muller she offered her as
sistance in tones she found trembled
too.
The next moment she fairly blushed
at her act, as the face, clear of its
wrapplngs looked up at her. The
pale face with the mustache and hair
tinged with gray, and the eyes! He
looked but said no word his lips
worked as if he fain would speak, but
no sound came. Only the tears welled
up and fell over the pallid cheek. Ida
stood mute, transtxed by that look.
..What does it meanP' she said, at
last, in an awe-struck whisper.
Then the stranger stretched forth
his hand. He had no strength for fur
ther gesture, his agitation was SO ex-
tremc.
"Lida," he whispered. "Lida, don't
you know me. Don't you know
JackP"
Was the world receding from her?
Had the grave given up its deadP She
felt no fear even in that first moment.
Spirit, or mortal, it was Jack. But |
for a few moments her senses seemed |
to fail her, and then with whispered |
"Jack," she clasped him close only |
for a moment though, for she must
look at him.
"Is it really you, Jackp" she said at
last. ''Are you quite sure it's youP"
"Yes, quite sure" he answered,
with laugh that, if he had been a
woNld have been hysterical.
"But l thought you were dead,
Jack"
"And was you sorry P''
Such look as she gave him. "How
,an you ask! But tell me how it
was.
Aud then he told her of the long OBJ
ivion, from which he woke to find
himself reported as dead. The terri
de prison life had driven him mad.
de was taken and cared for by good
for three long years, and
hen when he was himself again, he