The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-08-07

himself worse nor all.
"She were sixteen, as 1 said, and
well educated for her place In life.
We were IN garrison then, and to fit
her for takin' care of herself we let
her go into the town to learn the
dressinakin'-and never a girl had
the good taste in dress likesher.
I "Well, ther' were youhg leftenant
came to our troop, then a gay, hand
some, brave young chap as ever you
see, Barton be name. / respected
hin, as an officer and loved him as
a son.
ut were some ten months after he
come, when one night | went to my
quarters at the barricks and Mary
wasn't theFe.to sit at the table with
me. Thal night before I wint in
Beftenant Barton came to me with
his bright smile and friendly way,
holdin' out his hand. :Good.by, SER
geant,' Pm off tonight of where,
sir?' says /. i resigned two weeks
ago and my papers has just com in,'
says he.
THAT unsettled me. I'me hasty
tempered at times, and when 1 went
home the wife says, says she, you're
late, but there's the illigent stew for
you.'
1.-THE devil fly away with your
stew. Mrs. pelany,' says 1. Where's
my daughter p
"Tain't one of me knows says
she, Il specke she's KEEP late. Ate
your stew, man, and don't be cursin'
me, for 1 won't take it off you nor
no man.
"I'm fond of Irish stew, sir, and no
woman makes it better nor Mrs. De-
lany, but with this and that 1 were
so put out 1 never enjoyed bite less.
Eight o'clock came and L was
worried more and more. Then the
wife came out from the room where
Mary slept with bit of note in her
hand. 1 read it: Dear father and
mother. have gone with my Barton
that | love with all my heart
II was struck cold, sir !; / saw it all
Afore could catch my breath there
were footsteps running up the bar
racks stairs, and Mary burst in, all
in silks and satins and velvet.
"'Oh, father daddy! Oh, moth
er !" she cried, Il couldn't 60, after
all. without seein' you = Her mother
would have rushed to her girl, but
stepped between them.
"You're no daughter of mine 7
says l. Mrs. Delany, don't touch
her! Girl. go! I'll hear no word
from yer mouth. Go! before 1 dis.
grace me uniform by strikih' you, be-
fore l break my heart with cursin
your
"She looked at lne she knew what
my temper was when it up was, and
she turned and went.
"Ah. sorrow like that is hard tc
bear. It's the broken heart l carried
in my breast them days, and long
after. Men tried to speak to me ol
her and him, but swore I'd kill the
first man that named her name, and
I'de done it. 1 could not face the
men and officers, who'd known me
so long. / had the right to ask my
discharge after that length of service
and / did it and got it, and wenl
where I'd never see face that knew
me. .l..- .
"The wife never troubled me about
the hardness, but / knew no Other
trade but the soldering, and things
didn't 60 we'll with US.
"Mary kept, somehow, knowledge
of all our changes, and every month
would come letter with fifty dollar;
in notes to me. No word-nc way
could tell from where it came. Christ
mas times the notes would be for 6
hundred, go l knew she was not in
want,
"The Bartons were rich and high
family. Often 1 swore to 90 to then
with the story of the ruin of my
girl but the love Estelle had for he
and me own pride held me back from
exposin' the trouble. l never played
the fife. never thought of the oulC
thing after, and it's hard life th'
wife had with me tempers, but sh,
bore it well.
"The wound me daughter. me off
Ger and meseIf had given me wer,
KILN me with anger and despair
That wound hurt me longer, hurt m,
sorer and hurt me worse to the lifi
core than any 1 ever got from Mexi
cans, Injuns or rebels, and got then
from all.
swell, sir, 1t was just FIVE year.
from the time l got deadly hurt, ant
| we were livin' in -, with hare