The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1891-06-03

But did Mrs. Besant, in her fine brick
house beyond the walnut grove, sleep
that night? Not much, you may be
sure. But walkeful as the midnight
hours were to her, she fell into fever
ish slumber towards morning, only
arousing to find the sun streaming into
her easement.
With hurrying footsteps she sought
her boys chamber, hoping against hope
that in the lone hours of the night he
had changed his mind and was not
after all going to leave her.
One peep into the bright little bedroom
and the fearful truth burst upon her.
Her boy was gone.
There was the chamber she had taken
such pleasurable trouble over-every
little nick-nack In its place, except .
cabinet portrait Of herself, which was
taken from its frame-the snowy coun-
terpane unrumpled, and on the bureau
letter simply addressed 'To Mother"
All, how her heart beat as she tore the
envelope open and read the contents
Could woman want more loving words
or dearer comfort than those precious
lines contained: Even her hopeless
spirit rose as she read and re-read the
sweet message-nay, she even shared
his anticipation Of happy, though per
haps distant reunion. The pang OF
parting was over, and from that hour
she was another woman. Why, even O
smile played upon her lips as she
perused the oft-repeated injunctions to
be kind to Grace Brentwood in his alb
sence-as if she could be any thing but
kind to the sweet girl.
1t was not remarkable, then, when
an hour or two later that young lady
tripped from the parsons house down
the shady lane to make her peace with
the widow, that she found herself re.
ceived with open arms, even before she
could utter her tremulous plea for recon
ciliation, for the poor child's patriotism
had been put to fearful strain during
the hours of darkness, and with the
dawn she had arrived at the conclusion
] that she could not give Frank to hel
country after all; though all the while
she knew she was weak and selfish. Sc
she was half-glad when she learned
that the temptation of wooing him from
his duty was taken away.
And, while these two tender womeI
were mingling their tears and giving
each other consolation, Frank Besant
In company with James Lawson an(
two young farmers from the neighbor
hood, was hieing away as fast as
local freight train would carry him Il
Columbus.
Three of the little party were miser
able enough, for there had been home
wrenchings, which had played havo
with the emotions of the honest lads
but Mr.. Lawson was in exuberan
spirits, as he had thirty dollars and
bottle of whisky in his pocket, an
was cutting adrift from many un
pleasant "reminiscences. AS for payin,
his debts-such piece Of extravagan
folly had never entered into his head
and he grinned TO think of Miss Ruth
innocence in supposing him capable G
such waste OF money. The cabooe
was full of country-follk going I
market, and, II you had asked tn
rosy-cheeked farmers daughters whic
they thought the bvsvest of the littl
band of raw-recruits, they would has
unhesitatingly given him the palm.
Not SO the officer in command of tn
military depot at Camp Chase, nea
Columbus, who was 80 extensively pel
sonal and rude In his remarks TO hin
that he was disguised with soldierin
before he had even donned his uniform
Thirty days Of severe drill and di
cipline did not tend to improve jaime
Lawson's appreciation Of q militar