Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-10-15

;onged, but I found hopeleas maniac. My sister told me the whole sad story.
 "An the wedding prepafst were com. pleted, and at last came the welcome news that the much-longed-form missive containing leave of absence could be obtained at head. quarters on the next day. A group of brother officers were to accompany them to the little church in which they were to be quietly married.
 ''After bidding her goodnight, his last words were: Be on the lookout, dear, and when you hear the sound of wheels be sure that am coming to take you home.'
 ''The dawning of the next day was all that could be desired, and long before the appointed time Margery was standing atuh window. I must have flowers said she, and at her throat she pinned @ gay bunch of the sumac and mountain ash berries, and then going into the meadow back of the cottage she hastily gathered bunch of autumn flowers.
 My sister says that she never before saw such an expression as crept over Margery's face as she stood in the doorway listening for the sound ot wheels. It re- minded her of that place in the Bible where Elijah stood waiting tor the chariot to take him home; she wondered if his face did not wear such look of joyful, yet solemn an- ticipation.
 Suddenly a sound broke the stiffness 1t was not the merry creaking of rapidly turning wheels, not the joyful laughing of the officers, and when the turn in the road was reached the mournful sound was suc- ceeded by more ominous stiffness. They were not wholly unprepared for the un- usual appearance of Zeb, Colonel Marsden's body servant. His face wore such fright ened expression that my sister hastened to meet him, exclaiming: 'Why, Feb, what is the matter2 Where is the ColonelH For an answer the negro threw himself upon the grass, moaning and sobbing. Oh. can't tell Missy Margery, I can't tell Missy Margeryr :;
 'She finally learned from him how the party of officers had encountered a band of guerillas and in the skirmish that resulted Colonel Marsden had been killed. 'Dey had to go back to warn de camp and told me to take keer ob de Kunnel.'
 stPoor Margery must have heard Zeb's story, for when they reached the house she was unconscious, and before night her brain was raging with fever from whose effects she has never recovered"
 The remainder of the landlady's story was told in few words.
 Colonel Marsden's friends came for his body, and, upon learning Margery's condi- tiou, placed in the hands of our pastor g sum ot money sufficient to supply her wants for many years, for the doctor told them that it was very probable that her reason would never be restored
 God in His mercy plotted from her mind the whole terrible tragedy, and she was again like little child, happy when the birds were singing and the flowers bloom ing. Year after year all memory of Colonel Marsden seemed forgotten until the sumac began to crimson the mountain sides, when she would seem possessed of spirit of un- rest, and until the frost came ever listened for the sound of the long-expected carriage.
 After hearing the story of Margery my heart was filled with kindness for the home and many dear friends belonging to mo, even though they were distant, and all homesickness had vanished ere opened the school-house door on the morrow.
 My scholars were like others, idle and mischievous at times, but their good quail ties predominated and soon learned to love them.
 How wildly all the bright faces float out of the past, but chief among them is little Con Dawson, my jolly Irish boy, and Hattie Hosmer, with long, fine curls floating over her shoulders.
 After hearing all the recitations it was my custom to spend the last half hour in discussing the leading events of the day or | in telling them some of the old stories which all children delight to hear One evening, when in the midst of that delight | full romance, t'King Arthur and His Table Round" we saw Margery standing near the | doorway, eagerly intent upon all that was said, but upon the conclusion of the story she immediately disappeared.
 l Here was my opportunity, and the listen ing children soon heard hoay we ef to-day might do the same work as did the brav,s knights of old, and after speaking of the heavy cross laid upon her, the sympathetic faces assured me that she would never again lack champions. She very soon learned that we were her friends and spent most of her time tA the schoQl-feem:
 One day during the dinner hour the ehiis dren had built fire to roast some apples, and as there was some necessary work awaiting my return, l left them in Mar gery's care while completing 1t. How dc accidents so often happen} Who can tell, who explain them9 Suddenly Con Dawson
 rushed into the room screaming: ''They're
 on fire; they're burning upp'
 It took but moment to grasp shawl
 hanging near the door, but ere | reached the frightened children ! saw that Margery
 was enshrouded in g. robe of flame. The
 shawl smothered the fire, but we saw that
 shs was terribly burned, and summoninR
 assistance shs was conveyed to the nearest farmhouse.
 Con tried to tell me how It eeeurrea
 "You see, Margery tried to keep us an fa.
 enough away from the fire. especially the girls; but all at once Hattie Hosmer'f apron was afre and her curls began to sig
 zle, and, and-well, she was all right, but
 Margery was burning up, so I ran for you. .
 Atlqsk messenger came to the inn, and
 we learned that we must go immediately i