The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1889-10-30


that themnchlong ged-for missive containing
leave Of absApcc could be obtained at head.
quarters o.. ne next day. A group OF
brother oths1rs were TO accompany them to
the little churchin which they were to be
quietly married. kSs{A
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 at the
window. i must have flowers, said she,
and at her throat she pinned gay bunch
ofthe sumac and mountain ash ber. les, and
then going into the meadow back Of the
cottage she hastily gathered. q bunch Of
autumn flowers i,
my sister says that che never before
saw. such an expression as crept over
Margery's face as she stood In the doorway
listening for the sound OF wheels. It re-
minded her Of that place in the Bible where
Elijah stood waiting tor the chariot to take
him home; she wondered II his face did not
wear such look Of joyful, yet solemn an
ticipation. ~.
ouuuOhlJ - bOuuu UIOhO buO DbllluCoo-
1t was not the merry breaking Of rapidly
turning wheels Moth Joyful laughing of
the officers, and when the turn In the road
was reached the mournfnl sound was sue
ceeded by q more ominous stillpesss They
were not wholly unprepared for the .pn-
usual appearance Of Zeb, Colonel Marsden's
body servant. His face wore such q fright
ened expression that my sister fastened TO
meet him, exclaiming; 'Why Zeb, what Ia
the matJerl Where is the Colonelp For
an answer the negro threw himself upon
the grass, moaning and sobblng. 'Oh,
can't tell Missy Margery, 1 can't tell Missy
Margeryr
"She finally learned from him how the
party Of officers had encountered band OF
guerillas and in the. SIX rmish that resulted
Colonel Marsden had been killed. Dey had
TO go back TO warn de camp and told me 10
take keer OBJ dc KunneL HHi
"Poor 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" e.H
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 copdi-
ton, placed in the hands OF our pastor o
sum OF 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 blotted 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 alsnemory Of Colonel
Marsden seemed forgottsn until the sumac
began TO crimson the mountain ides, 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 filed with kindness for the home
and many dear friends belonging 10 me,
even though they were distant, and all
inconsistencies had vanished ere opened the
school-house door on the morrow.
My scholars were ike others, idle and
mlschievous at times, but their good quail
tics predominated and soon learned TO
love them. ..rr
How vividly 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 oil the recitationsi 1t 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. Ono
evening, when in the midst OF that delight
full romance, "King Arthur and His Table
Round, :" we saw Margery standing near the
doorway, eagerly inten. upon all that was
said, but upon the conclusion OF the story
she Immediately disappeared.
Here was my opportunity, and the listen
ing children soon heard how we Of to-day
might do the same work as did the brave
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 in the school-room.
One day during the dinner hour the chill
dren had built fire TO roast some apples,
and as there was some necessary work
awaiting my return, left them in Mar
gery's care while completing It. How do
accidents so often happenl Who can tell,
who explain theml Suddenly Con Dawson
rushed into the room screaming; They're
on fire; they're burning upW
It took but a moment TO grasp shawl
hanging near the door, but ere l reached
the frightened children saw that Margery
was enshrouded In q robe Of fame. The
shawl smothered the fire, but we saw that
she was terribly burned, and summoning
assistance she was conveyed To the nearest
farmhouse.
Con tried TO tell me how 1t occurred.
"You see, Margery tried TO keep us all far
enough away from the fire, especially the
girls; but all at once Hattie Hosmer's
apron was afire and her curls began TO siz-
zle, and, and-well, she was all right, but
Margery was burning up, so ran for you" !"
At dusk messenger came TO the inn, and
we learned that we must go Immediately II
we wished TO see Margery alive.
TWAS very dark in the valley, but a golden
light hung over the mountains crest as we
drew near the cottage. Outside an old
negress was grooming plantation melody:
''Oh, de chariot OBJ fire, de chariot oh fire."
and as lifted the latch Margery's eager
voice was saying: Listen Ihear the sound
OF wheels. He is coming at last"
As the doctor dressed the terrible burns
a well-remembered verse came 10 mind 4:
''There appeared horses OF fire and a chariot
Of fire" and thanked God that In place OF
a parting, It here meant for two souls a
blessed reunion.
Before leaving for the night wonderful
| change came over the face, and we knew