The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1888-07-20

eN9A0llbAulG WIS HlfunT.
but she was sure he could give her a
home, and she was a dependent on rela.
tlyes, and twenty-five years old. She
mad been taught to believe that to be an
old maid" was the worst and last dis
grace a woman could endure. She was
not very attractive, and Jack was not
nndered In his plan Of furnishing Ida.
Alas though the punishment was hard
for her, yet Jacks punishment was ten
fold the harder to bear. A marriage
without love, even without esteem, and
ha had brought it on himself. Mrs.
Brown was otdisposed to make the bur
den any lighter, and her constant repin-
ing because some of their neighbors had
things so much nicer than they could
afford added the last drop TO his cup Of
misery. The breaking out of the civil
war brought to him a CLEAN Of hope.
Naturally patriotic, he was among the
first to enlist. For two years he served
his country well. ana IN q reg
ment known for its bravery he stood
among the first. SO far he had escaped
with slight wounds; but he was not al
ways thus to escape-he was wounded
and taken prisoner. Then after long,
dreary months, ali such months to the
prisoners at Andersonville and Libby"
such months of anguish to the loving
hearts at home, he was reported dead"
Dead, and then the wall of an unbroken
silence. Ida mourned with a bitterness
Of anguish that found no relief save in
hard work and caring for other stricken
hearts. Alas! there we're plenty to care
for in those sad days. Mrs. Brown
mourned loudly and wore the deepest
mourning--for six months. Then she
was married again-widowhood was so
'1onely." But her last choice was a very
bad one. Whether she had married
him for fancied love, or what had infu-
enced her, no one could tell; but he, the
new husband, was adrunkard, and, after
some years of misery, The woman who
was Jack Browns wife was laid to rest
and few mourned for her.
That was all of she past that Miss
Olney received to-day, as she sot in her
lonely room; but oh, how it filed her
heart till her eyes oyerflowed in tears.
The day that had been so bright in the
morning grew overcast as the afternoon
wore on, and ere night snow and sleet
filed the air. Miss Olney lighted her
lamp, but she did not close the shutters.
Better let her light shine out, she
thought; il might cheer some lonely
passer-by, and guide them on their way.
So she set out her supper with
snowy damask, F" and dainty china, and
the silver that had been In the family
for more than a generation. It was her
choicest treasure, her only inherited
wealth, and as She laid the solid knife
and fork beside her plate and placed
the other pieces to her satisfaction, she
stood back to note the effect, as she
often did, and then she sighed to think
no one was with her to sympathize with
her in any OF her feelings.
just then she was rather startled by o
heavy rap at the door. "Only some
neighbor," she thought as she stepped
to admit the applicant.
The wind blew in with its attendant
sleet and snow, and the stranger at the
threshold stepped iii with it, neither
waiting for an invitation. Agentleman
by his dress, but Miss Olney, though
not given to fear, felt a sudden chill as
she saw that he was a stranger. He
might be a robber despite his gem
tlemanlv guise-and her silver, her
precious silver. How imprudent to set
It out before her unshuttered windows.
The strargar did not wait for her to
speak he was shaking as if with an
ague chill.
Excuse me, madam, " he said, IN q
voice tremulous and hoarse, u believe !
am chilled through. If you'll allow
me-
But before the words we're fairly
spoken Miss Olney had drawn her own
EASY chair to the fire, and the stranger
had dropped into it, evidently exhaust
ed. Ida forgot her fears in compass
sion for the stranger, and when his
trembling fingers tried in vain to un-
loosen his muller, she offered her assist
ance in tones she found trembled, too.
The next moment she fairly blushed
at her act, as the face, clear Of Its wrap
pings, looked up at her. The pale face
with the mustache and hair tinged with
gray, and the eyesl He looked but said
no word his lips worked as if he fam
would speak, but no sound came. Only
| the tears weiied up and fell over the
pallid cheek. Ida stood mute, trans
dxed by that look. What does il
mean she said atlast, in anawe-atsuok
whisper.
Then the stranger stretched forth
his hand. He had no strength for fur
ther GESTURE, his agitation was SO ex-
IRENE. :.
Ida he whispered, 'Ldda, don't
YOU know me? Don't you know Jack9'
Was the world receding from herr
Had the grave given up its dead2 She
felt no fear even ii that FIRST moment.
/ Spirit OF mortal, it wal Jack. But for
3 few moments her senses seemed to
father. and then witha whisper Jack
She .clasped him close-only for 9
moment though, for she must look At
him.
rs II really you. Jackg" she said q
last. Are you sure its your
eyes, quite sure, he answered WITH
4 laugh that IL he had been q woman,
would have been hysteffcal.
But thought you we're dead Jack.
and we're you sorry"
such i look as she gave him. How
can gotrask2 But tell me how II was.
49, II. An bar ~ cha ling oh.