The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-03-25
A SOLDIERS TRUST.
BY DAVID LOWRY.

"HoW we will live Heaven only
knows Ali is dark now"
Mrs. Paine sat down suddenly and
lifted Il hand to her eyes. Her daugh-
ter, Caroline, a bright, pretty girl OF
seventeen, noted among her associates
for her energy and resolution, caught
her breath suddenly. She was going to
cry, but resolved not to yield now when
her mother was overcome with dread of
the future.
The world had been the average
world to Ellen Paine. She had enioyed
its sweets till the war came and robbed
her of her husband for years There
were some jolts in life's journey when
he came home. He was not as strong
as when he went away--lost time, and
of choice changed his vocation. Still
content sweetened the things the gods
provided the Paincs through sickness
and idlencss; the increasing family and
growing responsibilities all were ac-
cepted cheerfully till one day the sun
seemed to drop out of the armament.
Andrew Paine was brought home I'M
conscious, Il terrible accident had hap
pened; in twenty-four hours Mrs. Paine
was 4 widow.
Time moved on. Providence raised a
friend to her in her brother-in-law, who
found work for his nephew, and thus
kept the roof over Mrs. Paine's head.
But death claimed the son, and then
tho burden began to fall on Caroline.
The mother strovc to tighten ito make
the girls life as joyous as she could. 1t
was dull life ut best; the grind began
when she fell i'll with rheumatism The
future lookcddark, but the uncle still
turned the cloud aside until the silver
lining shonc again.
Suddenly trade stopped Then it
really seemed as if all the world stop
ped, so far rs Mrs Paine and her daugh-
ter were concerned. The establishment
where Caroline worked ceased opera
tions unexpectedly. Mrs. Paine. was
unable to move hand that month.
Would they ever, even if work offered
again, be able TO catch up--to repay
what they owed? These were queries
mother end uaughter asked themselves
an hundred times.
B"rf5rc the question was answered.
fatc--rcmorSclcss fatc--SWcpt away their
last hope. The uncle, Arthur Paine,
WAS summoned to his final account
with more swiftncss than his brother.
The two womcn-onc suffering, in
broken health; the other hungering for
joys she saw herself forever shut out of
looked ut each other fcarfully. They
did not dare to breathe their fears. The
mothers heart achcl for her child, the
daughter $ for her mother
But the world wrings answers from
all. The day came when the mother
and daughter had to speak plainly, and
when II came it tound the mother as
a babe
mother, there may be way" said
Caroline Paine, hopefully. Mrs. Paine
shook her head, still Keeping her eyes
covered.
Pm sure mothcr-wait until Mr..
Brooks comes home. Then | will tell
yott what mcan.'
Mr.. Brooks was well up in ycars--an
Old bachelor who roomed on the same
floor with the PHiHcS. He was q clerk.
with varied experience. TO Caroline
he was walking encyclopedia. An
hour later, Mr.. brooks, in response to
Carolinc's request, stepped noiselessly
;nto the room the PaincS occupied.
"Mr. Brooks" said Caroline, brskly,
81 want to ask you about soldiers
claims. You know what soldiers are
entitled to?"
81 ought to- Twas chief clerk for q
claim agent eight years, and five years
in the Pension Ollice here Mr. Brooks
wasted no words. He sat down, look
ing inquiringly at the earnest face be-
fore him.
"Then you can help us, Mr.. Brooks.
want you to sell the land my father
or my mother is entitled to. Father
never sold it. did he, mothcrP"
Mrs. Paine looked bcwildered. "What
landPn
"Why, the 100 acres 1 used to hear
father say was lying out West waiting
for h:ni."
"OH' said Mr. Brooks" "that's all a.
hero he checked himself. The girls
face fell. Why not soften the disap.
ipolntment. "You see-there really
never was anything in that. mcan-''
"1om don't mean father sold his
MIR. Brooks couldn't invent n lie. OF
he would have dono it, He blurtcd ont
the truth: 'Pvc no doubt your fatho,
thought he was entitled to the land-i'
"Why, MIR. Brooks, I've heard him
say, time and again, tho Government
owed him the land; that he would sell
his claim when the time came If he ovn,
WaS--Was, as We are nOw-hard nr,se.
ed" t>''''
al remember now; so he did, said
4, ,9Irs Paine. Caroline is right" Mrs
Paine spoke checrfully.
"Thc truth is the Government novo,
really promised the land"
"Why, Mr.. Brooks, I've heard of sol.
fiers selling their land warrants,n said