The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-11-18

sons, and why should shn be spared tho
pain Of separation. It Has soon arranged
that her son Den should take charge OF the
sarzn aud its work, and, before the stars
same ont that night, Van hasl taken the last
kiss from tho dear old mothers lips, End
had marched away with tie boys in blue.
Lilo had not spoken word concerning
E:icn's unfaishfulness, but tho naOthcr's
intuition told hcr something was amiss be-
tween them.
When Ellen hoard Of her lovers enlist>
ncnt size wept bitterly, hut her pride
prompted her to conceal her rcmorse by
seeming carelessness> After Van was gone
she tlirted desperately with young Romans,
and Ban's vito did not think her duty ac-
compiishcd until she had repeated her
opinion of tho girls conduct to Van. So
thoroughly indignant was the young matron
that shc even confided to him Dame Ru-
mor's report concerning the wedding that
was to take place during the holidays. 1t
might all have boon different had not Van
at this juncture implcred his sistcr-in-law
not to mention Ellen Gilbertss name at all
in the future. So he went on believing that
Ellen-his. Ellen-helonged to another man,
and, feeling that he,was alonein the world,
he became reckless Of his life-
1t was on Thanksgiving Day, go, that
Ellen drove him from her presence, and
when that fcstal-day came around again, he
lay wounded and bleeding on Lookout
Mountains CORY fold. Early on that mem
orable day, tho color bearer was shot
down, and it was Van Bernard who saved
the tattercd flag from capture, carrying it
with him right into tho thickest of tho fight
lie was seen to fall amid the storm Of shot
ana shell that darkencd the air, and when
the smoke of battle cleared away. his conn
ra2cs took up what they supposed to be his
mutilated body, and, wrapping it in the rid
died flag he had borne, laid him tenderly in
the grave their own hands had followed.
Blu: poor Van found far less restfnl bed
than the one they had prepared for him, for
wounded, i'll and in a Southern prison, the
scorching sun beat down numerically upon
him, while his friends in tho North though.
him safe with God. Having learned through
comrade who had been brought into the
hospital in dying condition that his moth
er was dead, and that the papers had been
full of eulogies concerning his own heroic
end, he determined not to undeceive 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 fallen. He
was rot exchanged until the war closed,
and then among strangers, he began his
new and 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 playing the part OF o
ccquette 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 looked 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 penitent letter,
that she was certain would bring 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 ex-
plantations 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
opt to kill, and poor Ellen was destined to
carry her heavy sorrow many long, weary
days. Her brothers and sisters married,
and in due course of time her parents went
to join the slcepers in the silent city of the
dead, and Ellen was left alone in the house
that had once been so full of song and
laughter.
Three days before the anniversary of the
battle of Lookout Mountain, twenty years
after he had been carried into captivity,
an uncomfortable longing to look upon
home and familiar faces seized Van Ber-
nard. Before, he had stif1ed all such de-
sires, but somehow he could not quiet the
heart-yearnings this time, so his valise
was hurriedly packed, and his landlady was
informed that he would be absent q fort
night An hour later he was flying north
ward and homeward.
Day was dawning when he stepped upon
the station platform Of his native town.
Not wishing to arouse Ben's family 50
early, he determined to take a 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 on his mothers
tombstone and drop tear upon her grave.
The sun was just 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 he went away, just twenty years be-
fore. Opening the gate he walked up the
path, and was about to occupy rustic seat,
which his own hands had fashioned, when
woman who had been gathering China
asters and autumn leaves came suddenly
from behind the old elm tree, and once
again Van Bernard and Ellen Gilbert stood
face to face. Ellen was the first to recover
her voice, and there was q perceptible
.remor in her tone as she faltered:
Ivan Bernardo Has the grave really
80 - T a
dress2"
at is Van Bernard, flesh and blood as Of
old, who stands before you, Ellen-but do
not know by what name should address
you now" Van replied, in voice that con-
WINGED his nearer that it was no supernat-
ural being who had made her such an I'M
seasonable call, but that the real Van Ber-
nard, whose face had haunted her for more
than score Of years, now stood in her
presence.
ssCall me Ellen, Ellen Gilbert, as you did
in the long-ago,' she said, quietly.
"But I thought you were married-Henry
Romans 49,
SIS not, and never was any thing to me,n
she answered. "But you look faint. Come
IN and get q mouthful Of breakfast
'sNot now, Ellen. Sit down and let Us I'M
derstand each other"
the breach Of three times seven years was
healed. All the long, doleful past was for
gotten in the new hopes that had come 30
suddenly to them. An hour later, when
old Mrs. Goodman came in to help with the
Thanksgiving dinner, she found them still
on the porch, forgetful Of their breakfast
and every thing else except that they had
found each other, and nothing but death
would ever separate them again.
That was q real Thanksgiving to them
both, and the quiet marriage that was
celebrated in the old-fashioned parlor that
night was as full Of love ~ if there had
been no gray hairs in the locks Of the bride
and groom. BELLE v. CHISHOLM.
We should be thankful not only on
Thanksgiving Day, Lut on all other days -
well, for Gods mercies are continually
showered upon IA
4 n axaf,<y