The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1891-05-02

chiefly relating to damp socks and re"
cipes for sore throats; three dainty,
affectionate ones from Grace, all about
nothing, but very prettily worded, and,
which [ am ashamed to say, the
foolish young fellow read and re-
read till they were frayed at the edges
by constant reference: one from his
cousin, written simply with the design:
as it seemed to him, to induce him to
let Mark Henderson know, if he
CHANGED to meet him, what an uncom-
monty fine young man she thought him;
and four from his mother, long, earnest,
loving ones, full Of interest from first to
last One of these, Of the latest date,
especially claimed his attention and
produced many CALCULATIONS of surprise.
''Your cousin Kate,'' she wrote, ''has
taken pity on my loneliness, and, as her
father has married again, has consent
ed to remain with me until your return.
Grace and she are bosom friends, whose
affectionate sympathies are more keen
ly pronounced because each of them
has a soldier-laddie for an ideal hero.
Now, who is this Major Hopkins, whose
name so often appears in your letters,
and who is evidently SO valuable a
friend to you? [ ask because / once
knew a gentleman of that name, who /
heard the other day was serving in Ten
nessee. If his first name is John ask
him if he remem bers Mary Carter, for
we were fast friends in my youngc.
days, and though he may have forgotten
r 4otr 71f
brance of him and should be glad to
hear more about him. And now, my
dear boy, have some strange and start
ling news to tell you concerning James
Lawson, about whom you are SO persist
emily silent in your letters. Do you re-
member that uncommonly pretty girl,
Jane Murchlson, who was for nearly a
year in my service and who afterwards
lived with the Richardson's? Well,
nearly twelve months ago he secretly
married her, and on enlisting left her
perfectly destitute-her and her little
-boy-and if it had not been for
Mrs. Burrows and myself they really
must have gone to the poor-house. You
must see this man and insist on his re-
hitting them money But | have
something even more startling to
announce to you concerning him.
Last week stranger came to the viii
lage who declares that he is the person
who so many years ago left the infant
Lawson on the farmers doorstep
when he was on his way out West to
seek his fortune. He was crossing the
country in an e1nigrant wagon, and, as
his wife had died on the journey, when
he reached Meltonburg the temptation
to get rid of the child was SO strong
that he could not resist it. He says that
he has been very prosperous and that
he is most anxious to regain his lost
boy. I have had an interview with him
and found him a simple and apparently
good-hearted man hope to interest
him in James wife and child. Give my
kind regards to Captain Henderson, if
you see him, and tell him that every fe-
male heart in Meltonburg except
Grace's is beating for his return. The
news of your promotion has just ar
rived, which would be grand indeed if
I did not fear it would lead you into
further danger. Does a Major go be-
fore or behind his regiment in battle?
Grace and 1 hold different opinions on
this important question. Do satisfy our
doubts"