The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1886-12-02

the fight He was seen to fall amid
the storm of shot and shell that dark
ened the air, and when the smoke OF
battle cleared away, his comrades
took up what they supposed to be his
mutilated body, and wrapping it IL
the riddled flag he had borne, laid
him tenderly in the grave their OWL
hands had followed.
But poor Van found far less rest
full bed than the one they had pre-
pared for him, for wounded, i'll and
in Southern prison, the scorchlng
sun beat down numerically upon
him. while his friends in the North
thought him safe with God. Having
learned through a comrade who had
been brought into the hospital IN a
dying condition that his mother was
dead, and that the papers had been
full of eulogies concerning his own
heroic end. he determined not to un
deceive the world, but, when the
struggle was over, to bury himself IN
some secluded spot in the Sunny
South, and to let his old friends and
neighbors go on believing him asleep
on the battlefield where he had fall
Ell. He was not exchanged until the
| war closed, and then among strang-
ers. he began his new solitary life.
Though Ellen feigned Indifference.
she would have sacrificed her life to
have saved the noble one of her lost
friend Even while engaged in play
ing the part of coquette her heart
was aching for one word from the
honest, sensible man she had sent
from her so cruelty. Week after
week and month after month she look
ed in vain for the letter that she
hoped he would be SO forgiving as to
write
At times she was tempted to lay
aside her reserve and SEND him penl-
tent letter, that she was certain would
bring a reply; but Ben's wife would
say that she was counting his favor
because the city fellow had cast her
aside. So it was that no explanations
were ever made. and when the news
Of Vans noble death came, Ellen was
almost Frustrated with grief. She
went around the house pale and wan,
and at times her friends feared that
reason itself would be dethroned.
But trouble is not apt to kill, and poor
Ellen was destined to carry her heavy
sorrow many long, weary days. Hel
brothers and sisters married, and IL
due course of time her parents went
to join the sleepers in the silent city
of the dead, and Ellen was left alone
in the house that had once been sc
full of songs and laughter.
Three days before the anniversary
Of the battle of Lookout Mountain,
twenty years after he had been carried
into captivity, an uncomfortable long
ing to look upon home and familiar
faces seized Van Bernard. Before he
had stifed all such desires, but some
how he could not quiet the heart
warnings this time, so his valise was
hurriedly packed, and his landlady
was informed that he would be absent
a fortnight. An hour later be was
flying nOrthward and hOmewaTd
Day was dawning when he stepped
upon the station platform of his native
town Not wishing to arouse Ben's
family SO early, he determined to take
stroll through the graveyard and
down past the old Gilbert homestead.
There were many familiar names cut
in the monuments in the cemetery.
but he only paused long enough to
read the inscription of his mothers
tombstone and drop tear upon her
grave.
The was sun beginning to tint the
tree-tops when he halted at the gate
leading to the porch, where he and
Ellen had spent so many happy hours.
But little change had taken place in
the appearance of the old house and
| its surroundings since the day h.
went away, just twenty years before
Opening the gate he walked up the
path, and was about to occupy a rus
tic seat, which his own hands had
fashioned, when a woman who had
been gathering Chinaasters and au-
| tuinn leaves came suddenly from be
hind the old elm tree, and once again
| Van Bernard and Ellen Gilbert stood
face to face. Ellen was first to recov
er her voice, and there was a precepti-
ble tIeluOI III ueI UOIe DIS size latter
ed:
Van Bernard! Has the grave
really given up its dead, or is it q
spirit | address,"
1T is Van Bernard, flesh and blood
as of old, who stands before you, Ell
en-but [ do not know by what name
| should address you now,n Van re-
,Niia1 IN n ypino 4bo+ oo,r,,a,l l,
nearer that it was not supernatural
being who had made her such an IN
seasonable call, but that the real Van
Bernard, whose face has haunted hei
for more than score of years, now
stood in her presence.
Call me Ellen, Ellen Gilbert as
you did in the long-ago," she said
| quietly.
But [ thought you We're married
Henry Romans. -
rs not, and never was any thing to
me-" she answered. But you locl
faint. Come in and get a mouthfu
Of breakfast"
Not now Ellen. Sit down and LEI
us understand each other"
h1Itt Iiltlt. dli1lllSt lLe OH ldlnlldl
scenes, the breach of three times sev.
en- years was healed All the long
doleful past was forgotten in the new
hopes that had come so suddenly tC
them. An hour later, when old Mrs
Goodman came in to help With the
Thanksgiving dinner, she found then
still on the porch, forgetful of then
breakfast and every thing else except
that they had found each other, and
nothing but death would ever separate
them again.
That was a real Thanksgiving tc
them both, and the quiet marriage
that was celebrated in the old fashion
ed parlor that night was full of love
as if there had been no gray hairs IL
the locks of the bride and groom.
BELLE V. CHISHOLM