Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-12-26

ing a leave of absence, could be obtained
at headquarters 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 good night. 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.
1.-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 a gay
bunch of the sumac and mountain ash ber-
ries. and then going into the meadow back
of the cottage, she hastily gathered a bunch
of autumn flowers.
MY sister says that she never before
saw such an expression as crept over Mar
gery's face as she stood In the doorway
listening for the sound of wheels. 1t re-
minded her of that place In the Bible
where Elijah stood waiting for the chariot
to take him home; she wondered if his
face did not wear just such a look of joy
full yet solemn anticipation.
Suddenly a sound broke the stiffness
it was not the merry cracking Of rapidly
turning wheels, not the joyful laughing of
the officers, and when the turn in the road
was reached the mournful sound was sue
ceeded by a more ominous stiffness. They
were not wholly unprepared for the unus-
ual appearance of Zeb, Col. MarSden S body
servant. His face wore such a frightened
expression that my sister fastened tomeet
him, exclaiming: "Why, Zeb, what is
the matter? Where is the colonel? For
an answer the negro threw himself on the
grass, moaning and sobbing. 'Oh | can't
tell, Missy Margery, I can't tell, Missy
Margery.
''She finally learned from him how the
party of officers had encountered a band of
guerrillas, and In the skirmish that re-
suited Col. Marsden had been killed. 'Dey
had to go back to warn de camp and tole
me to take keerob de kunnel.'
Poor Margery must have heard Zeb's
story, for when they reached the house she
has unconscious, and before night her
brain was raging with the fever from
whose effects she has never recovered"
The remainder of the ~landlady's story
was told In few words.
Col. Marsden' S friends came for his body,
and upon learning Margery's condition,
placed in the hands of our pastor a sum of
money sufficient to supply her wants for
many years, for the doctor told them that
it was very probable her reason would
never be restored.
God In his mercy blotten from her mind
the whole terrible tragedy, and she was
again like a little child, happy when the
birds were singing and the flowers bloom
ing. Year after year all memory of Col.
Marsden seemed forgotted until the sumac
began to crimson the mountain sides, when
she would seem possessed of spirit of I'M
rest, and until the frosts came ever listen
ed to the sound of the l~ong-expected car
rage.
After hearing the story of Margery my
heart was filed with thankfulness for the
home and many dear friends belonging to
me, even though they were distant, and
all inconsistencies had vanished ere | open
ed the schOol-hOuse door ON the morrow.
My scholars were like others, idle and
mischievous at times, but their good quail
tiles predominated and | soon lenrned to
love them.
How wildly all the bright faces float out
of the past. but the chief among them are
little Con Dawson, my jolly Irish boy. and
Hattie Hosmer, with long. fine curls float
ing 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 III telling them some of the old stories
which all children delight to hear. One
evening when In the midst of that de-
lightful romance, 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.
Here was my opportunity, andthe 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 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 a fire to roast some apples,
and as there was some necessary work
awaiting my return, | left them in Mar
gery's care while | completed it. How do
accidents so happen? WHO car tell, who
explain them? Suddenly Con Dawson
rushed into the room screaming: They're
on fire; they're burning up!'
1t took but a moment to grasp a shawl
hanging near the door, but ere | reached
the frightened children I saw that Mar
gerry was enshrouded in a robe of fame.
The shawl smothered the fire, but we saw
that she was terribly burned, and sum
moning assistance she was conveyed to
the nearest farm house.
Con tried to tell me how it occurred.
'Yousee, Margery tried to keep us all far
enough away from the fire, especially the
girls; all at once Hattie Hosmer's apron
was afre and her curls began to sizzIe, and.
and-well, she was all right, but Margery
was burning up, so | ran for you"
By dusk a messenger came to the inn,
and we learned that we must go immedi-
ately if we wished to see Margery alive.
1t was very dark In the valley, but a
golden light hung over the mountains
crest as we drew near the cottage. Out
side an old negress was grooming a plan
tation melody, ''Oh, de chariot oh fire, de
chariot OBJ fire" and as | lifted the latch
Margery's eager voice was saying: 'List-
en-! | hear the sound of wheels. He is
coming at last"
As the doctor dressed the terrible burns
a well remembered verse came to mind,
There appeared horses of fire and a char
lot 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 a wonder
full change came over her face, and we
knew that for her 1.-The long disquiet was
forever merged into perfect rest"
The directors ordered that there should
be no school until after the funeral, and at
the scholars request | asked that she