The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1886-02-25
A SOLDIERS TRUST.
By DAVID LOWRY.

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 enjoyed
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 Paines through sickness
and idleness; the increasing family and
growing responsibilities all were &C
cepted cheerfully till one day the sun
seemed to drop out of the armament
Andrew Paine was brought home I'M
conscious, a terrible accident had hap
pened; in twenty-fOur hours Mrs. Paine
was a widow.
Time moved on. Providence raised
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
the burden began to fall on Caroline.
The mother strove to tighten ito make
the girls life as joyous as she could. 1t
WAS il1S al DcSlT lIC
when she fell i'll with rheumatism. The
future looked dark. but the uncle still
turned the cloud aside until the silver
lining shone again.
Suddenly trade stopped. Then it
really seemed as if all the world stop
ped, so far as Mrs Paine and her daugh-
ter were concerned. The establishment
where Caroline worked ceased opera
tons 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 We're queries
mother and daughter asked themselves
an hundred times.
Before the question was answered.
fate-remorseless fate-swept away their
last hope The uncle, Arthur Paine,
was summoned TO his final account
with more swiftness than his brother.
The two women-one suffering, III
broken health; the other hungering fol
iovs she saw herself forever shut out Of
looked at each other fearfully. They
did not dare to breathe their fears. The
mothers heart ached for her child, the
daughters for her mother
But the world wrings answers from
all The day came when the mothe
and daughter had to speak plainly, anC
when it came, it found the mother a
babe.
Mother there may lie Il way" said
Caroline Paine, hopefully Mrs. Paine
shook her head, still keeping her eye
covered.
I'm sure mother-wait until Mr.
Brooks comes home. Then l will tel
you what mean
Mr.. Brooks was well up in vears-aI
old bachelor who roomed on the sam
| floor with the Paines He was clerk
with a varied experience. To Carolin,
he was walking encyclopedia. Al
hour later, Mr.. Brooks, in response IL
Caroline's request, stepped noiselessl,
into the room the Paines occupied.
mir. Brooks" said Caroline, briskly
Il want TO ask you about soldiers
claims. You know what soldiers arr
entitled top
Il ought to. was chief clerk for 1
claim agent eight years, and five year!
in the Pension Office here" Mr.. Brooks
wasted no words. He sat down, look
ing inquiringly at the earnest face be
fore him.
| want you to sell the land nv father
never sold it. did he, moth"r?'
Mrs. Paine looked bcwiidered. VIVA
landP"
why. the 100 acres / used to heal
father say was lying out West waiting
for him."
''O!'' said Mr. Brooks. that's all a
here he checked himself The GIRL
face fell. Why not soften the disap
pointment. You see-there reall1
never was anything in that. mean
You don't mean father sold hi
cLaim?"
MIR. Brooks couldn't invent lie, Of
he would have done it. He blurted on
the truth: 1--WE no doubt your father
thought he was entitled 10 the land
"Why, Mr. Brooks, I've heard hin
say, time and again, the Government
owed him the land; that he would sci
his claim when the time came if he evel
was-was, as We are now-hard press
ed
Il remember now; so he did," sait
Mrs. Paine. Caroline is right" Mrs
Paine spoke cheerfully.
THE truth is the Government never
really promised the land.
"Why, Mr.. Brooks, I've heard of sol
diers selling their land warrants said
Caroline.
$50 they did. Miss; that's just where
the mistake was made. You see, before
the civil war, the Government gave
soldiers land warrants: the volunteers
were led to believe they'd get the same. y
Yes, and pay in gold" said Mrs.
Paine.
"Yes-pay in gold. But they were
paid in paper money, worth forty To
fhx IxIl.r.
sawed up and down. 1t was a swindle
on the soldier, but big thing it has
proved for the bondholder."
"And mother has no claim to any,
thing?"
Not an inch of land. -
Caroline thought rapidly. Then,
since you know the law, she is entitled
to pension money. Everybody knows
my IaIner lost MS neaIJn IN the army. -
Ibid he ever apply for a pension?n
HE was too independent to do that, +"
said Mrs. Paine, YEARLY
well, if there never was anything
done about it, it is too late now. Is his
doctor iving?''
..Dr. Hamilton is dead-he was our
physician for twenty years"
mo case" said Brooks.
els there no way-no hope in any de
rectionP''
Brooks pondered. 1t was disagree
able, but the truth was best in this case.
Il don't see q glimmer of hope. Miss
Paine-only disappointment If your
father had been wounded-lost an arm
or leg-but. you see, dying so long after
the war-making no sign-doctors dead
its a case deharred, as might saw"
Caroline's brows contracted involun-
tarily. She looked at Brooks steadily,
revolving new thoughts in her mind.
''H man lost an arm, and is in good
health and can clerk just as well as ever
he could
Brooks anticipated her. IF he has
an income of ten thousand a year. and
Only had his big toe hurt, he gets PEN
sion. / know people who draw pensions
for less
But a man whose health was bro.
ken-who couldn't show any wound
and"
Precisely, Miss Paine A cemplica-
ton Of diseases carries man Of Il
don't matter if he went into the army
as healthy as any man who never had q
pain or ache. or never was in bed day
in his life-h the doctors were sure the
service ruined his health, there's lots of
cases where its hard to prove it-they
don't prove it in such eases, as rule. II
there was any doctor who could swear
to the facts
Mrs. Paine and her daughter shook
their heads slowly.
Thank you, Mr.. Brooks
How Brooks managed to get out Of
the room he never knew himself The
picture the mother and daughter pre-
sented at that moment was stamped ON
T.. -
much about them that. instead of going
TO the theatre. ne went to = cigar store
where he was IN the habit Ok meeting
some friends. and. in a very discreef