, 1889-10-10

Crlcu lne younger lutlN ttlToNIhB hut
arms about his neck.
"Ny dear son, God has spared your
life and returned you to us at last said
the mother with tears in her eyes.
The gentleman made u slight effort to
disengage the clinging arms from his
neck, looking bcwildcred from one tc
the other, saying, II shall be only too
but fear that you labor under some
mistake"
"Oh, Narney," said the young wife re-
proachfully, "how can YOU Jest at such
d time? You thought we would not
know you, so thin and i'll Us you look
Not know my own son, nay NnmcyH'
exclaimed the mother. but how did
III am glad, dear, you have brought
him back, for everything has gone wrong
since he ran away--and the idea of his
going!--of all the boys, the only one
felt could trust to oversee everything"
Ralston suffered the beautiful young
seated herself by his side, while tho
mother occupied a rocker opposite and
looked anxiously at her son.
"Varncy dear" she said, you have
been very i'll.
sYes, madam; Jupe says the doctors
gave me up to die, but he 'spocts he
brought me to liie.
bul NOT Ntl w ltl0pHf WIS Nllt
thought of the mother; this Is the face
of one whose soul wandcrs IN dream-
land"
Ralston suddenly looked up from n
momentary rcverie, saying: 81 really
ought to beg your pardon, madam, for
intruding upon you, but | dare not re-
main out in the night air. am not
fully recovered and wish to obtain
shelter for myself and man and feed
for my horse"
Certainly, my dear son; this house
and all in II is at your disposal. Why
do you use such ceremony with us, your
wife and motherY
A troubled expression fitted over the
face of the gentleman, AS he replied: at
may be al 4s You say, and the one
who Is mistaken. This negro says am
Narncy Ralston, but seem to have had
another name and station in the world
and can rccollcCt nothing
Here thor attention was called to
Flam, on the porch, bowling dcprocat-
ingly to the elder lady, who motioncd
him to enter, when he moved forward
with bent head and earnest eyes.
"Whcre were you, Flam,. when
your master found your said
Mrs. Ralston. "Misse, gone an dun
foun' him, an bring him home, bless
dc Lawd."
"But Flam what made you run away2"
"Nisse, you 'spose if | run away cum
back agin? | jos dun gone fine Marse
Narney in er hospital, an a yankee
woman an a yankee doctor tried To cure
him an Flam help 'em, den brings him
home" said Flam stolidly.
"Ses, my good Jupiter Fiamheau, yOu
have taken good care of me, and shall
endeaver to rcconpense you i'll the near
future"
Mrs. Ralston's surprise was over
whelmod in motherly anxiety, for If her
sons memory was not soon restored she
feared it might never be, and the past
remain blank. Would he never rccog-
niZc her or his fricndsP Time alone
would show.
Several years had passed and Mrs.
Rank had supported herself by teaching
for some time, until weary of this she
had sought and found employment in II
large store in an Eastern city. She had
applied for II pension soon after thcclOse
of the war, but as she could produce no
evidence of the death of her husband
her claim was rejected. Yet she had
been able to maintain herself and child
in a comfortable manner. She had no
story Of suffering such as was the eN-
perienCe of many soldiers widow hers
was concerned, and when she, after years
had elapsed, married a wealthy man
whose home was in one of the Atlantic
cities, her friends deemed hera fortunate
and happy woman.
Her days of mourning were past, for
all knew how for the first years she had
sorrowed for the lost.
The delicate child of her first marriage
had grown to u tall beautiful girl, who
was spending summer with her grand
parents in the old farmhouse In central
New York, where the childhood days of
the mother had been filled with pleasure
One bright day in early summer, when
the apple blossoms were filling the air
with fragrance, Elsie Rank, swinging
lightly in hammock suspended from II
tree, saw u lame and weather-bc man
approach the house. She was afraid of
tramps and knew that the kitchen girl
was even more afraid than she, but as
the girl had said i'm telling the story
later, this man did not look like n tramp,
but like II brokendown gentleman, as
she explained ii, and she invited him
into the house and gave him lunch,
that he did not request. lie had in.
quired for the owner of the house and she
informed him that Mr.. and Mrs. Steele
had gone to the city to return ut night,
but added their granddaughter was in
the orchard "ls that the.little girl Lieu
tenant Rank left?" asked the man, The
girl replied in surprise that Elsie was
the same, adding that Mrs. Rank was
married again and travelling with her
husband.
"What did you say was his namcPr
said the traveller with his head bowed
upon his hands.
"Mr. Denton" said the girl "he is a
great astronomer or geologis: or some
thing, and he travels nearly all the
time"
The man bowed his head still lower
as if in thought; at length hc arose aud
thanking the girl for his dinner walked
out to the orchard where the young girl
was reading while swinging and his APP
proach was unnoticed until lac stood be
side her, when with n little frightened
cry she sprang up Don't he afraid
little girl, " said he tcnderly, 81 would
not harm you for worlds. just wanted
to see how you looked"
"Why, who are you and why do you
want TO see moP" asked Elsie rcgaiuing
! her courage.
because, my dear, used to know
your mother and your father" he fall
tered after pause.
"Oh, did you know my papa, truly;
did you see him2 | never saw him. lie
went to war when was tiny baby and
he never came home. lie was killed in
| battle.h
"Who says he was killed?" asked the
man quickly.
"Why mama knows he was killed in q
battle where great many others were
killed and long after some rebels said
they buried the body"
A groan of anguish burst from the
heart of the man, who only said, .'Pool
little girl, poor little one.h
"Iou need not feel sorry for me, sir
for have my mother and grandma and